Forbes' list of the world's highest-paid athletes
This is a list of the highest-paid athletes in the world as ranked by Forbes magazine.
All-time list (2017)[edit]
The following is a list showing the highest-paid athletes of modern times, measured in United States dollars, as of 2017:[1]
The list is only about modern time athletes. For example, Gaius Appuleius Diocles, a Roman Chariot racer, is said to have earned 35,863,120 sesterces, by one estimation over $15 billion in today's dollars.[2] This means he would be the best paid athlete of all time, derived from an extrapolation that his wealth would have been enough to fund the entire Roman Army for more than two months, "the apt comparison is what it takes to pay the wages of the American armed forces for the same period."[2]
| Rank | Name | Sport | Nation | Earnings Million $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Jordan | Basketball |  United States |
1,850 |
| 2 | Tiger Woods | Golf | United States |
1,700 |
| 3 | Arnold Palmer | Golf | United States |
1,400 |
| 4 | Jack Nicklaus | Golf | United States |
1,200 |
| 5 | Michael Schumacher | Auto racing |  Germany |
1,000 |
| 6 | Phil Mickelson | Golf | United States |
815 |
| 7 | Kobe Bryant | Basketball | United States |
800 |
| David Beckham | Association football |  United Kingdom
| ||
| 9 | Floyd Mayweather Jr. | Boxing | United States |
785 |
| 10 | Shaquille O'Neal | Basketball | United States |
735 |
2021 list[edit]
The 2021 list:[3]
| Rank | Name | Sport | Country | Total | Salary/winnings | Endorsements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Conor McGregor | Mixed martial arts |  Republic of Ireland |
$180 million | $22 million | $158 million |
| 2 | Lionel Messi | Association football |  Argentina |
$130 million | $97 million | $33 million |
| 3 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Association football |  Portugal |
$120 million | $70 million | $50 million |
| 4 | Dak Prescott | American football | United States |
$107.5 million | $97.5 million | $10 million |
| 5 | LeBron James | Basketball | United States |
$96.5 million | $31.5 million | $65 million |
| 6 | Neymar | Association football |  Brazil |
$95 million | $76 million | $19 million |
| 7 | Roger Federer | Tennis |  Switzerland |
$90 million | $0.03 million | $90 million |
| 8 | Lewis Hamilton | Auto racing | United Kingdom |
$82 million | $70 million | $12 million |
| 9 | Tom Brady | American football | United States |
$76 million | $45 million | $31 million |
| 10 | Kevin Durant | Basketball | United States |
$75 million | $31 million | $44 million |
2020 list[edit]
The 2020 list:[4]
| Rank | Name | Sport | Country | Total | Salary/winnings | Endorsements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roger Federer | Tennis | Switzerland |
$106.3 million | $6.3 million | $100 million |
| 2 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Association football | Portugal |
$105 million | $60 million | $45 million |
| 3 | Lionel Messi | Association football | Argentina |
$104 million | $72 million | $32 million |
| 4 | Neymar | Association football | Brazil |
$95.5 million | $70.5 million | $25 million |
| 5 | LeBron James | Basketball | United States |
$88.2 million | $28.2 million | $60 million |
| 6 | Stephen Curry | Basketball | United States |
$74.4 million | $30.4 million | $44 million |
| 7 | Kevin Durant | Basketball | United States |
$63.9 million | $28.9 million | $35 million |
| 8 | Tiger Woods | Golf | United States |
$62.3 million | $2.3 million | $60 million |
| 9 | Kirk Cousins | American football | United States |
$60.5 million | $58 million | $2.5 million |
| 10 | Carson Wentz | American football | United States |
$59.1 million | $55.1 million | $4 million |
2010–2019 list[edit]
The 2010–2019 list:[5]
| Rank | Name | Sport | Nation | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Floyd Mayweather Jr. | Boxing | United States |
$915 million |
| 2 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Association football | Portugal |
$800 million |
| 3 | Lionel Messi | Association football | Argentina |
$750 million |
| 4 | LeBron James | Basketball | United States |
$680 million |
| 5 | Roger Federer | Tennis | Switzerland |
$640 million |
| 6 | Tiger Woods | Golf | United States |
$615 million |
| 7 | Phil Mickelson | Golf | United States |
$480 million |
| 8 | Manny Pacquiao | Boxing |  Philippines |
$435 million |
| 9 | Kevin Durant | Basketball | United States |
$425 million |
| 10 | Lewis Hamilton | Auto racing | United Kingdom |
$400 million |
2019 list[edit]
The 2019 list:[citation needed]
| Rank | Name | Sport | Nation | Total | Salary/Winnings | Endorsements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lionel Messi | Association football | Argentina |
$127 million | $92 million | $35 million |
| 2 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Association football | Portugal |
$109 million | $65 million | $44 million |
| 3 | Neymar | Association football | Brazil |
$105 million | $75 million | $30 million |
| 4 | Canelo Álvarez | Boxing |  Mexico |
$94 million | $92 million | $2 million |
| 5 | Roger Federer | Tennis | Switzerland |
$93.4 million | $7.4 million | $86 million |
| 6 | Russell Wilson | American football | United States |
$89.5 million | $80.5 million | $9 million |
| 7 | Aaron Rodgers | American football | United States |
$89.3 million | $80.3 million | $9 million |
| 8 | LeBron James | Basketball | United States |
$89 million | $36 million | $53 million |
| 9 | Stephen Curry | Basketball | United States |
$79.8 million | $37.8 million | $42 million |
| 10 | Kevin Durant | Basketball | United States |
$65.4 million | $30.4 million | $35 million |
2018 list[edit]
The 2018 list:[citation needed]
| Rank | Name | Sport | Nation | Total | Salary/Winnings | Endorsements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Floyd Mayweather Jr. | Boxing | United States |
$285 million | $275 million | $10 million |
| 2 | Lionel Messi | Association football | Argentina |
$111 million | $84 million | $27 million |
| 3 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Association football | Portugal |
$108 million | $61 million | $47 million |
| 4 | Conor McGregor | Mixed martial arts | Republic of Ireland |
$99 million | $85 million | $14 million |
| 5 | Neymar | Association football | Brazil |
$90 million | $73 million | $17 million |
| 6 | LeBron James | Basketball | United States |
$85.5 million | $33.5 million | $52 million |
| 7 | Roger Federer | Tennis | Switzerland |
$77.2 million | $12.2 million | $65 million |
| 8 | Stephen Curry | Basketball | United States |
$76.9 million | $34.9 million | $42 million |
| 9 | Matt Ryan | American football | United States |
$67.3 million | $62.3 million | $5 million |
| 10 | Matthew Stafford | American football | United States |
$59.5 million | $57.5 million | $2 million |
2017 list[edit]
The 2017 list:[6]
| Rank | Name | Sport | Nation | Total | Salary/Winnings | Endorsements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Association football | Portugal |
$93 million | $58 million | $35 million |
| 2 | LeBron James | Basketball | United States |
$86.2 million | $31.2 million | $55 million |
| 3 | Lionel Messi | Association football | Argentina |
$80 million | $53 million | $27 million |
| 4 | Roger Federer | Tennis | Switzerland |
$64 million | $6 million | $58 million |
| 5 | Kevin Durant | Basketball | United States |
$60.6 million | $26.6 million | $34 million |
| 6 | Andrew Luck | American football | United States |
$50 million | $47 million | $3 million |
| 6 | Rory McIlroy | Golf |  Northern Ireland |
$50 million | $16 million | $34 million |
| 8 | Stephen Curry | Basketball | United States |
$47.3 million | $12.3 million | $35 million |
| 9 | James Harden | Basketball | United States |
$46.6 million | $26.6 million | $20 million |
| 10 | Lewis Hamilton | Auto racing | United Kingdom |
$46 million | $38 million | $8 million |
2016 list[edit]
The 2016 list:[7]
| Rank | Name | Sport | Nation | Total | Salary/Winnings | Endorsements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Association football | Portugal |
$88 million | $56 million | $32 million |
| 2 | Lionel Messi | Association football | Argentina |
$81.4 million | $53.4 million | $28 million |
| 3 | LeBron James | Basketball | United States |
$77.2 million | $23.2 million | $54 million |
| 4 | Roger Federer | Tennis | Switzerland |
$67.8 million | $7.8 million | $60 million |
| 5 | Kevin Durant | Basketball | United States |
$56.2 million | $20.2 million | $36 million |
| 6 | Novak Djokovic | Tennis |  Serbia |
$55.8 million | $21.8 million | $34 million |
| 7 | Cam Newton | American football | United States |
$53.1 million | $41.1 million | $12 million |
| 8 | Phil Mickelson | Golf | United States |
$52.9 million | $2.9 million | $50 million |
| 9 | Jordan Spieth | Golf | United States |
$52.8 million | $20.8 million | $32 million |
| 10 | Kobe Bryant | Basketball | United States |
$50 million | $25 million | $25 million |
2015 list[edit]
The 2015 list was released on 10 June 2015.[8]
| Rank | Name | Sport | Nation | Total | Salary/Winnings | Endorsements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Floyd Mayweather Jr. | Boxing | United States |
$300 million | $285 million | $15 million |
| 2 | Manny Pacquiao | Boxing | Philippines |
$160 million | $148 million | $12 million |
| 3 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Association football | Portugal |
$79.6 million | $52.6 million | $27 million |
| 4 | Lionel Messi | Association football | Argentina |
$73.8 million | $51.8 million | $22 million |
| 5 | Roger Federer | Tennis | Switzerland |
$67 million | $9 million | $58 million |
| 6 | LeBron James | Basketball | United States |
$64.8 million | $20.8 million | $44 million |
| 7 | Kevin Durant | Basketball | United States |
$54.1 million | $19.1 million | $35 million |
| 8 | Phil Mickelson | Golf | United States |
$50.8 million | $2.8 million | $48 million |
| 9 | Tiger Woods | Golf | United States |
$50.6 million | $0.6 million | $50 million |
| 10 | Kobe Bryant | Basketball | United States |
$49.5 million | $23.5 million | $26 million |
2014 list[edit]
The 2014 list was released on 11 June 2014.[9]
| Rank | Name | Sport | Nation | Total | Salary/Winnings | Endorsements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Floyd Mayweather Jr. | Boxing | United States |
$105 million | $105 million | $0 |
| 2 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Association football | Portugal |
$80 million | $52 million | $28 million |
| 3 | LeBron James | Basketball | United States |
$72.3 million | $19.3 million | $53 million |
| 4 | Lionel Messi | Association football | Argentina |
$64.7 million | $41.7 million | $23 million |
| 5 | Kobe Bryant | Basketball | United States |
$61.5 million | $30.5 million | $31 million |
| 6 | Tiger Woods | Golf | United States |
$61.2 million | $6.2 million | $55 million |
| 7 | Roger Federer | Tennis | Switzerland |
$56.2 million | $4.2 million | $52 million |
| 8 | Phil Mickelson | Golf | United States |
$53.2 million | $5.2 million | $48 million |
| 9 | Rafael Nadal | Tennis |  Spain |
$44.5 million | $14.5 million | $30 million |
| 10 | Matt Ryan | American football | United States |
$43.8 million | $42 million | $1.8 million |
2013 list[edit]
The 2013 list was released on 5 June 2013.[10]
| Rank | Name | Sport | Nation | Total | Salary/Winnings | Endorsements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tiger Woods | Golf | United States |
$78.1 million | $13.1 million | $65 million |
| 2 | Roger Federer | Tennis | Switzerland |
$71.5 million | $6.5 million | $65 million |
| 3 | Kobe Bryant | Basketball | United States |
$61.9 million | $27.9 million | $34 million |
| 4 | LeBron James | Basketball | United States |
$59.8 million | $17.8 million | $42 million |
| 5 | Drew Brees | American football | United States |
$51 million | $40 million | $11 million |
| 6 | Aaron Rodgers | American football | United States |
$49 million | $43 million | $6 million |
| 7 | Phil Mickelson | Golf | United States |
$48.7 million | $4.7 million | $44 million |
| 8 | David Beckham | Association football | United Kingdom |
$47.2 million | $5.2 million | $42 million |
| 9 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Association football | Portugal |
$44 million | $23 million | $21 million |
| 10 | Lionel Messi | Association football | Argentina |
$41.3 million | $20.3 million | $21 million |
2012 list[edit]
The 2012 list was released on 18 June 2012.[11]
| Rank | Name | Sport | Nationality | Total earnings | Salary/winnings | Endorsements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Floyd Mayweather Jr. | Boxing | United States |
$85 million | $85 million | $0 |
| 2 | Manny Pacquiao | Boxing | Philippines |
$62 million | $56 million | $6 million |
| 3 | Tiger Woods | Golf | United States |
$59.4 million | $4.4 million | $55 million |
| 4 | LeBron James | Basketball | United States |
$53 million | $13 million | $40 million |
| 5 | Roger Federer | Tennis | Switzerland |
$52.7 million | $7.7 million | $45 million |
| 6 | Kobe Bryant | Basketball | United States |
$52.3 million | $20.3 million | $32 million |
| 7 | Phil Mickelson | Golf | United States |
$47.8 million | $4.8 million | $43 million |
| 8 | David Beckham | Association football | United Kingdom |
$46 million | $9 million | $37 million |
| 9 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Association football | Portugal |
$42.5 million | $20.5 million | $22 million |
| 10 | Peyton Manning | American football | United States |
$42.4 million | $32.4 million | $10 million |
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Badenhausen, Kurt (13 December 2017). "The 25 Highest-Paid Athletes Of All Time". Forbes. Archived from the original on 18 December 2018. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
- ^ a b Wardrop, Murray (13 August 2010). "Wealth of today's sports stars is 'no match for the fortunes of Rome's chariot racers'". Telegraph.co.uk. Archived from the original on 19 December 2018. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
- ^ Knight, Brett. "The World's 10 Highest-Paid Athletes: Conor McGregor Leads A Group Of Sports Stars Unfazed By The Pandemic". Forbes. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- ^ "Roger Federer Debuts In Top Spot On Forbes' Annual Ranking Of The World's 100 Highest-Paid Athletes, As Naomi Osaka Becomes Highest-Paid Female Athlete Ever". Forbes. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
- ^ Badenhausen, Kurt. "The Highest-Paid Athletes Of The Decade: Mayweather, Ronaldo And LeBron Dominate". Forbes. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
- ^ "The World's Highest-Paid Athletes 2017". Forbes. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
- ^ "The World's Highest-Paid Athletes 2016". Forbes. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
- ^ "Forbes Announces 2015 List Of The World's 100 Highest-Paid Athletes". Forbes. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
- ^ "Floyd Mayweather Heads 2014 List Of The World's Highest-Paid Athletes". Forbes. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
- ^ "The World's Highest-Paid Athletes 2013: Behind The Numbers". Forbes. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
- ^ "Mayweather Tops List Of The World's 100 Highest-Paid Athletes". Forbes. Archived from the original on 18 June 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
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