On February 18–19, 2026, global football icon Cristiano Ronaldo made a significant move into the business side of health-tech by investing $7.5 million in a subsidiary of Herbalife.
The news, combined with a positive quarterly earnings report, sent Herbalife’s stock (HLF) surging as much as 18% in the following trading sessions.
The Investment: Pro2col Technology
While Ronaldo has been a brand ambassador for Herbalife since 2013, this marks his first direct equity stake in the company’s technology infrastructure.
- 10% Equity Stake: Ronaldo acquired a 10% ownership interest in HBL Pro2col Software, LLC, an indirect subsidiary of Herbalife.
- Next-Gen Wellness: Pro2col is described as an AI-driven, digital operating system for personalized health. It uses individual data to build customized nutrition and fitness plans, featuring a proprietary “Pro2Score” to track wellness progress.+1
- Strategic Commitment: Beyond the $7.5 million, Ronaldo committed to providing specific services and sponsorship rights to help scale the platform globally.
Market Reaction & Financial Performance
The timing of the investment announcement coincided with Herbalife’s Q4 2025 earnings report, creating a “perfect storm” for the stock price.
| Metric | Result (Reported Feb 18, 2026) |
| Stock Surge | Rose 18.32% to close at $19.57 on Feb 19. |
| Q4 Net Sales | $1.3 Billion (Up 6.3% year-over-year). |
| Full-Year 2025 Revenue | $5.04 Billion (Up 0.9% year-over-year). |
| 12-Month Performance | The stock has gained over 194% in the past year. |
Why it Matters
- Transition to Tech: This move signals Herbalife’s shift from a traditional supplement company to a “data-driven wellness platform.”
- The “Ronaldo Effect”: Investors view Ronaldo’s skin-in-the-game as a major validator for the new digital app’s credibility and future user adoption.
- Personalized Nutrition Trend: The investment targets the growing market for AI-guided health, moving away from one-size-fits-all dieting.
“Investing in Pro2col felt like a natural evolution—this is about helping shape and grow a platform that can truly change how people engage with their health.” — Cristiano Ronaldo
