Neymar’s Crazy $1B Inheritance Rumor: Is It True?

Neymar and the Billion-Dollar Inheritance: Fact, Fiction, and What We Know

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Published September 8, 2025 1:32 AM PDT

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Did Neymar just stumble into a billion-dollar fortune from a total stranger’s will—or is the internet blowing smoke around one of the strangest inheritance stories in sports history?

If you're seeing headlines that Neymar has just inherited $1 billion from a stranger—you’re not alone. But while the story is based in fact, the wildfire spread of numbers and certainty misleads more than it informs.

How the Story Started: The Mystery Will

In June 2023, a will was indeed registered in Porto Alegre, Brazil, naming Neymar as the sole heir of an anonymous businessman reportedly from Rio Grande do Sul. The notary office has publicly confirmed the authenticity of the document.

The will’s author is described as a single, childless man in his early 30s who, lacking direct heirs, chose Neymar as his beneficiary out of personal admiration—not familial ties.

Importantly, the will names “all his worldly possessions” to Neymar—but crucially does not legally document their value.

A signed will document — often used to illustrate stories of inheritance and unexpected fortunes.

A close-up of the formal legal will document that was signed in 2023.

Why the Billion-Dollar Claim Took Off

This is where speculation turned into sensationalism. A columnist reportedly attributed a “$1 billion USD” valuation to the estate, and from there the story ballooned.

Media outlets picked up the figure, sometimes confusing the businessman’s alleged wealth with Neymar’s own finances. As the news resurfaced in 2025, head-lines shifted from “mysterious will” to “billion-dollar windfall” according to Gulf News.

But while the will is real, the $1 billion figure remains unverified and likely exaggerated. Brazilian fact-checkers have noted that there's no public record confirming the actual net worth of the testator’s estate.

What We Know—and What We Don’t

What is credible:

The will exists. Neymar is named sole heir in a will registered at a notary office in Porto Alegre on June 12, 2023.
The testator is described as a single, childless man, apparently without close heirs, who chose Neymar because of admiration and a perceived personal connection to the player.
The motive cited in reports: the businessman related to Neymar’s relationship with his father, believed Neymar to be “not self-interested,” and felt Neymar had been unfairly judged by the public.

What remains unclear or unproven:

Whether the businessman is deceased. Some news outlets treat him as a “dying” man, but independent confirmation of his death or estate transfer is lacking.
His actual net worth or the value of the “worldly possessions.” There is no publicly available inventory of assets, and Brazilian notarial confidentiality rules keep such details private.
Any confirmation that Neymar has acknowledged, accepted, or responded to the inheritance. As of the latest available reporting, Neymar has not publicly commented, and the will’s legal status remains subject to court review.

Neymar dribbling the ball in full Brazil kit, skillfully weaving past defenders during an international match.

Neymar showcases his trademark flair while dribbling for Brazil on the international stage.

Neymar’s Financial Profile: A Massive Star Already Rolling in Cash

Even without an inheritance, Neymar Jr. is already one of the highest-earning athletes on the planet. Forbes estimates his net worth to be in the range of $300 million to $450 million USD as of 2025.

The primary sources of that wealth:

Sky-high football contracts: Neymar’s transfers—from Santos to Barcelona, then Paris Saint-Germain, and later to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal—have involved massive sums in transfer fees and high annual salaries.
Lucrative endorsement deals: Neymar has long been one of the most marketable athletes globally, with major partnerships with brands like Puma (his boot deal has been called the largest ever in the category), plus deals with Red Bull, Beats, and others.
Business ventures and image rights: He operates through a family-run company, NR Sports, which manages his branding and endorsements.

If the inheritance ever materializes or is confirmed, it would likely stack on top of Neymar’s already considerable portfolio—but that doesn't mean the full billion-dollar claim is guaranteed, or even plausible, without verification.

Legal and Practical Hurdles

VnExpress International reports that even if Neymar is named sole heir, turning a will into a billion-dollar inheritance is rarely a simple click-and-deposit operation:

Brazilian inheritance law includes “forced heirship” rules, which guarantee a share of a deceased person’s estate to legal heirs (spouses, children) regardless of the contents of a will. If someone leaves everything to a non-relative, courts may intervene and redistribute assets.

Additionally, the will must survive court review, potential tax obligations, and possibly challenges from other claimants. Without transparency into the asset list, it's difficult to predict how much Neymar, if anything, might actually receive.

Neymar performing his signature goal celebration, arms outstretched and smiling, wearing the Brazil national team kit.

Neymar celebrates in style after scoring, lighting up the pitch with his iconic goal ritual for Brazil.

FAQs: People Also Ask

Has Neymar publicly accepted the inheritance?

No credible report indicates that Neymar has publicly acknowledged or accepted the will. As of the most recent reporting, there’s been no official statement or confirmation from him or his legal team.

Is the man who made the will confirmed deceased?

Publicly available sources do not definitively confirm that the businessman is dead. The will was registered in 2023, but the timing of death—or even the identity of the testator—remains unverified in open records.

Could Neymar reject the inheritance?

Yes. Like any heir, Neymar could potentially renounce the inheritance if there are legal risks, debts, forced heirship complications, or tax liabilities. Whether he will do so is unknown.

Does this inheritance really make Neymar the richest athlete in the world?

Even if Neymar eventually received the reported amount, much depends on the actual value and liquidity of the assets. He is already extraordinarily wealthy, but “richest athlete ever” would depend on how much he actually gets, how it’s taxed or contested, and how it compares to the wealth of athletes with long-term business portfolios.

Neymar in the VIP section at a Formula 1 event, dressed in a fashionable outfit, enjoying the race.

Neymar brings his signature style to the F1 VIP section, turning heads while soaking in the action.

Conclusion

The Neymar-inheritance story walks a fine line between fact and folklore. A will naming Neymar as sole heir is real, and the motive—admiration, personal connection, lack of heirs—is bizarre but plausible. But the “$1 billion fortune” narrative? That remains speculative, uncorroborated, and perhaps too good to resist for click-hungry headlines. Until real asset figures emerge, or a court case confirms what Neymar will actually receive, the story functions more as modern legend than financial reality.