The top 50 richest sportsman in the world have seen a significant increase in earnings this year. The players jointly earned an estimated $3.44 billion over the past 12 months before taxes and agent fees, a 16% increase from last year’s record of $2.97 billion, with a cut-off mark of $45.2 million, up 20% from the previous record of $37.6 million.
Three of these athletes have accumulated pre-tax earnings of more than $2 billion throughout the course of their professional careers. Over the previous 12 years, they have made a combined total of 25 appearances on the list of the highest-paid athletes in the world. Cristiano Ronaldo, who moved from the English Premier League to the Saudi Arabian football team Al Nassr, is in the lead, having earned an amazing $136 million over the past year.
Let’s now get into a thorough examination of the top 50 richest sportsman in the world.
List of Top 50 Richest Sportsman in the World
11 newcomers are welcomed to the list of the top 50 richest sportsmen in the world, despite having to overcome the most difficult entry hurdle in history. Six people have also returned to the scene after an absence of a year or more. Here is a list of the top 50 richest sportsman in the world by fortune.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo
Total Earnings: $136 Million
Sports: Soccer
Cristiano Ronaldo set a big social media milestone in February 2021 when he amassed 500 million followers on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, earning a total of $136 million. His fanbase had grown to 849 million people by April 2022.
Ronaldo went from Juventus to Manchester United in August 2021, his previous team from 2003 to 2009. In December 2022, he moved to Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia. He is number 1 richest sportsman in the world.
2. Lionel Messi
Total Earnings: $130 Million
Sports: Soccer
Messi’s earnings at Barcelona were significantly higher than previously believed, with the potential to earn up to $165 million annually through salary and bonuses, according to a leaked contract that surfaced in January 2021.
Lionel Messi, who earned a total of $130 million, defeated Cristiano Ronaldo to win the 2021 Ballon d’Or for the seventh time in history. In August 2021, he left FC Barcelona, where he had spent his entire professional career, and joined Paris Saint-Germain.
3. Kylian Mbappe
Total Earnings: $120 Million
Sports: Soccer
Kylian Mbappe, 24, has become a notable character in French football, earning a total of $120 million. He has won three Ligue 1 Player of the Year honours and the league’s top scorer award four times in the last four years.
He’s on course to win his sixth goals championship in the 2022–23 campaign. In 2021, Mbappe published the comic novel “Je m’appelle Kylian” with the intention of encouraging kids to follow their aspirations. He is number 3 richest sportsman in the world.
4. LeBron James
Total Earnings: $119.5 Million
Sports: Basketball
According to Forbes‘ calculation, LeBron James became the first active NBA player to reach billionaire status in June 2022 with total earnings of $119.5 million and a net worth of $1 billion.
James has played for clubs including the Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and currently the Los Angeles Lakers, earning over $430 million in pretax pay over the course of his career. Prior to being selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2003 NBA Draught, he lived in a variety of residences after being born to a 16-year-old single mother.
5. Canelo Alvarez
Total Earnings: $110 Million
Sports: Boxing
Canelo Alvarez, a boxing champion, gets significant pay for each match and has earned a total of $110 million. He joined Excel Sports Management in September 2022 and was the organization’s first boxer. Alvarez owns a taco restaurant in Mexico and has significant business relationships with Hennessy.
He plans sporting events, concerts, and other events through his companies Canelo Promotions and Canelo Espectaculos. He is number 5 richest sportsman in the world.
6. Dustin Johnson
Total Earnings: $107 Million
Sports: Golf
Golfer Dustin Johnson won the FedEx Cup and its $15 million prize in 2020 with total earnings of $107 million. He won the postponed Masters competition two months later, giving him his second major victory.
Johnson gained notoriety in 2022 when he signed up with the recently founded LIV Golf, which was supported by Saudi Arabia, received a sizeable up-front payment, and earned more than $35 million in prize money and bonuses for the season.
7. Phil Mickelson
Total Earnings: $106 Million
Sports: Golf
The PGA Championship was won by golfer Phil Mickelson in 2021 at the age of 50, making him the oldest major champion in history. With a record of six major championships, Mickelson surprised many by placing second at the Masters in 2023 at the age of 52.
After receiving backlash for his remarks regarding alleged human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia, he decided to take a sabbatical from competition and thought about joining an upcoming golf league.
8. Stephen Curry
Total Earnings: $100.4 Million
Sports: Basketball
Stephen Curry, a two-time MVP, was the first NBA player to sign a $200 million contract in 2017, earning a total of $100.4 million. By agreeing to a four-year, $215 million deal in 2021, he extended his record.
In 2020, Curry introduced Curry Brand, a project by Under Armour meant to rival Nike’s Jordan Brand. Additionally, he founded SC30, a business that oversees his investments, brand alliances, and charitable activities.
9. Roger Federer
Total Earnings: $95.1 Million
Sports: Tennis
Tennis pro Roger Federer, who earned $95.1 million in total, has an unrivalled list of sponsors. He was the highest-paid athlete in the world in 2020, and he remained at the top in 2023.
Although Federer has won more than $130 million in prizes over his career, his off-court earnings from appearances and endorsements much exceed that sum. His largest contract, which he inked in 2018, is a ten-year, $300 million agreement with the Japanese clothing company Uniqlo.
10. Kevin Durant
Total Earnings: $89.1 Million
Sports: Basketball
Basketball player Kevin Durant spent three seasons with the Golden State Warriors, earning a total of $89.1 million, before signing a four-year, $164 million deal with the Brooklyn Nets in 2019. He was dealt to the Phoenix Suns in February 2023.
With more than 80 firms in his portfolio through his company 35V, Durant is an active investor. Additionally, he receives approximately $40 million a year in endorsement payments from businesses like Weedmaps, Coinbase, and NBA Top Shot.
11. Giannis Antetokounmpo
Total Earnings: $87.6 Million
Sports: Basketball
Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks agreed to a five-year, $228 million supermax agreement in December 2020. He received the NBA MVP award for the 2018–19 and 2019–20 campaigns, as well as the Defensive Player of the Year honor for the latter campaign.
With Nike and other companies, he enjoys significant sponsorship agreements. He is number 11 richest sportsman in the world.
12. Neymar
Total Earnings: $85 Million
Sports: Soccer
Neymar extended his contract with Paris Saint-Germain in May 2021 to the summer of 2025. His $263 million transfer from Barcelona to PSG in 2017 still holds the record for the most expensive transfer ever.
After leaving Nike’s Jordan Brand, Neymar secured a partnership with Puma in 2020. He is number 12 richest sportsman in the world.
13. Russell Wilson
Total Earnings: $85 Million
Sports: Football
Russell Wilson became the highest-paid player in the NFL at the moment he signed a four-year, $140 million agreement with the Seattle Seahawks in April 2019.
He signed a five-year, $245 million agreement with the Denver Broncos, including $165 million in guaranteed money, after being transferred to them in March 2022. He is number 13 richest sportsman in the world.
14. Russel Westbrook
Total Earnings: $82.1 Million
Sports: Basketball
NBA teams like the Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, and Los Angeles Lakers are just a few that Russel Westbrook has represented. In 2017, he extended his contract with Nike’s Jordan line for ten years.
He agreed to a five-year, $207 million agreement with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2018, which at the time was the richest NBA contract ever. He is number 14 richest sportsman in the world.
15. Rory Mcilroy
Total Earnings: $80.8 Million
Sports: Golf
One of the PGA Tour’s most marketable players is Rory McIlroy. He and Tiger Woods co-founded TMRW Sports in 2022 with the intention of establishing the TGL, a brand-new golf league.
In 2022, McIlroy took home a record $26.7 million in prize money, $18 million of which came from winning the FedEx Cup. He is number 15 richest sportsman in the world.
16. Tiger Woods
Total Earnings: $75.1 Million
Sports: Golf
Tiger Woods has made around $1.8 billion in his professional golfing career, including a record-breaking $121 million in PGA Tour winnings. Forbes recognised Woods as a billionaire in 2022.
His revenues have gone into a number of businesses, such as real estate, golf course design, and the Popstroke brand of miniature golf courses. He is number 16 richest sportsman in the world.
17. Cameron Smith
Total Earnings: $73 Million
Sports: Golf
In 2022, Cameron Smith began playing on the LIV Golf circuit. That year, he took home nearly $7 million in prize money from four LIV competitions.
Smith won the Players Championship and the British Open in 2022, the latter serving as his debut major triumph. He is number 17 richest sportsman in the world.
18. Brooks Koepka
Total Earnings: $72 Million
Sports: Golf
Four-time major champion Brooks Koepka joined the LIV Golf circuit in 2022. In 2018, 2019, and 2020, he held the #1 spot among golfers in the world for a while.
He tied for second place in the Masters of 2023. He is number 18 richest sportsman in the world.
19. Kyler Murray
Total Earnings: $70.5 Million
Sports: Football
The Arizona Cardinals picked Kyler Murray with the first overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draught. In July 2022, he agreed to an extension with the Cardinals that could have paid him up to $230.5 million over five years.
Murray participates in esports for the FaZe Clan team. He is number 19 richest sportsman in the world.
20. Bryson DeChambeau
Total Earnings: $69 Million
Sports: Golf
The winner of the 2020 U.S. Open, Bryson DeChambeau, debuted on the LIV Golf tour in 2022. In 2022, he participated in the World Championships of the Professional Long Drivers Association and advanced to the two-man round.
DeChambeau was compensated handsomely up front by LIV Golf for his participation. He is number 20 richest sportsman in the world.
21. Lewis Hamilton
Total Earnings: $65 Million
Sports: Auto Racing
Michael Schumacher’s record of seven Formula 1 World Championships has been matched by Lewis Hamilton. In July 2021, he agreed to a two-year contract extension with Mercedes’ F1 team.
Hamilton has a number of significant endorsement contracts, including one with Tommy Hilfiger. He is number 21 richest sportsman in the world.
22. Max Verstappen
Total Earnings: $64 Million
Sports: Auto Racing
At the age of 17, Max Verstappen broke the record for the youngest driver in Formula 1 history. He defeated Lewis Hamilton in the penultimate lap of the season-ending race in 2021 to claim the F1 drivers’ championship.
Verstappen has achieved great success in his career, becoming the F1 race winner at the age of 19 in 2016. He is number 22 richest sportsman in the world.
23. Klay Thompson
Total Earnings: $60.9 Million
Sports: Basketball
In 2019, Klay Thompson re-signed with the Golden State Warriors on a five-year, $190 million deal. He has endorsement agreements with brands like NERF, Waiakea Water, and Bevel.
Thompson sustained severe wounds, including a ruptured ACL and an injured Achilles tendon, but he eventually made a comeback in January 2022. He is number 23 richest sportsman in the world.
24. Patrick Mahomes
Total Earnings: $59.3 Million
Sports: Football
In February 2023, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes won the Super Bowl MVP award and his second championship. He committed to the Chiefs for an additional ten years and up to $503 million in July 2020.
Along with his success on the field, Mahomes has also amassed a sizable list of endorsements. He is number 24 richest sportsman in the world.
25. Damian Lillard
Total Earnings: $58.6 Million
Sports: Basketball
In July 2022, Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers came to an agreement on a two-year contract deal. From 2013–14 to 2020–21, he consistently produced for the Trail Blazers, helping them reach the postseason each year.
With Adidas, Lillard has a well-known signature shoe collection. He is number 25 richest sportsman in the world.
26. Max Scherzer
Total Earnings: $56.7 Million
Sports: Baseball
Pitcher Max Scherzer joined the New York Mets. With a $43.3 million annual salary, he has one of the highest playing salaries in Major League Baseball.
With the Washington Nationals in 2019, Scherzer won the World Series, capping off a brilliant career. He is number 26 richest sportsman in the world.
27. James Harden
Total Earnings: $55.1 Million
Sports: Basketball
Basketball player James Harden was traded from the Houston Rockets to the Brooklyn Nets in January 2021, and then in February 2022, to the Philadelphia 76ers.
With Adidas, he enjoys a hefty sponsorship agreement. Harden and the 76ers agreed to a two-year, $68.6 million deal in July 2022. He is number 27 richest sportsman in the world.
28. Anthony Joshua
Total Earnings: $53 Million
Sports: Boxing
British boxer Anthony Joshua, a former heavyweight world champion. He has a sizable social media following and has exacted revenge on Andy Ruiz Jr. after his defeat.
Joshua lost to Jermaine Franklin in April 2023 to get back on track after facing Oleksandr Usyk twice. He is number 28 richest sportsman in the world.
29. Jon Rahm
Total Earnings: $53 Million
Sports: Golf
Spanish golfer Jon Rahm has had success on both the European Tour and PGA Tour. He is now the best golfer in the world and has 11 PGA Tour victories in his career.
Rahm amassed $14.5 million in prize money in April 2023, setting a new PGA Tour record for a single season. He is number 29 richest sportsman in the world.
30. Aaron Rodgers
Total Earnings: $53 Million
Sports: Football
A renowned quarterback who played for the Green Bay Packers is Aaron Rodgers. In 2021, after a turbulent offseason, he accepted a restructured contract and went back to Green Bay.
He agreed to a three-year, $150 million contract extension in March 2022. Aaron was, however, sent to the New York Jets in April 2023. He is number 30 richest sportsman in the world.
31. Mohamed Salah
Total Earnings: $53 Million
Sports: Soccer
Football player Mohamed Salah holds the record for most Champions League goals ever scored by Liverpool FC. In July 2022, he renewed his contract with Liverpool for a further three years, keeping him with the side through 2025.
Salah scored 100 Premier League goals for Liverpool in the quickest time in club history. He is also well known in Egypt for his charitable work.
32. Erling Haaland
Total Earnings: $52 Million
Sports: Soccer
An up-and-coming football prodigy named Erling Haaland completed a splashy transfer from Borussia Dortmund to Manchester City in 2022 for a reported $63 million transfer price.
After a heated auction, he agreed to a lucrative boot sponsorship contract with Nike. In his first season with Manchester City, Haaland broke the Premier League’s record for most goals scored in a single season.
33. Patrick Reed
Total Earnings: $52 Million
Sports: Golf
Professional golfer Patrick Reed made a huge switch from the PGA organization to LIV Golf in 2022 and was compensated handsomely up front by the Saudi-sponsored organization.
He has played for the United States in Ryder Cup competitions, earning the moniker “Captain America.” Reed has had success in his career, winning the 2018 master’s among other accolades.
34. Paul George
Total Earnings: $51.5 Million
Sports: Basketball
In order to partner up with Kawhi Leonard in 2019, basketball player Paul George engineered a trade to the Los Angeles Clippers. However, both players’ performances have been hampered by injury.
George has had many All-Star appearances and has Nike sponsorship deals. In 2018, he agreed to an extension of his contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
35. Kawhi Leonard
Total Earnings: $50.5 Million
Sports: Basketball
Basketball player Kawhi Leonard signed a three-year deal with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2019, then in 2021, he extended that deal. He left the Jordan Brand at Nike to represent the basketball division at New Balance.
Leonard has won championships with various teams and has twice been voted NBA Finals MVP. He is number 35 richest sportsman in the world.
36. Bradley Beal
Total Earnings: $49.8 Million
Sports: Basketball
Basketball star Bradley Beal extended his lucrative contract with the Washington Wizards in 2022. He received great marks in high school and spent a year at Florida before joining the NBA.
Beal has accomplished a number of noteworthy things over his career, such as going over 50 points on consecutive nights. He is number 36 richest sportsman in the world.
37. Derek Carr
Total Earnings: $48.9 Million
Sports: Football
In the 2014 NFL Draught, the Oakland Raiders (now the Las Vegas Raiders) selected football player Derek Carr. In 2017, he agreed to a significant contract deal with the Raiders.
Carr recently signed a four-year contract with the New Orleans Saints and maintains numerous Raiders franchise records. He is number 37 richest sportsman in the world.
38. Orlando Brown, Jr.
Total Earnings: $48.6 Million
Sports: Football
Offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. enjoyed productive runs with the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs. He was selected for the Pro Bowl and helped the Chiefs win the Super Bowl.
Recently, Brown and the Cincinnati Bengals agreed to a multi-year contract. He is number 38 richest sportsman in the world.
39. Aaron Donald
Total Earnings: $48.5 Million
Sports: Football
A defensive player named Aaron Donald signed a large contract with the Los Angeles Rams in 2018, breaking the previous record for the biggest contract a defensive player has ever signed.
He has received many honors, including as being named to the first team All-Pro and winning multiple Defensive Player of the Year awards, and has frequently been selected for the Pro Bowl.
40. Anthony Davis
Total Earnings: $48 Million
Sports: Basketball
Basketball player Anthony Davis has had a remarkable career, getting selected for many All-Star games and being named to the NBA first team. He co-starred in the movie “Space Jam: A New Legacy” with LeBron James, another member of his team.
Davis, who is presently playing for the Los Angeles Lakers but formerly played for the New Orleans Pelicans, inked hefty contracts with both teams.
41. Jimmy Butler
Total Earnings: $47.8 Million
Sports: Basketball
Basketball player Jimmy Butler has represented numerous organizations during the course of his career, including the Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, and Philadelphia 76ers. In 2020, he left Nike’s Jordan Brand and signed with Li-Ning.
Butler signed a hefty four-year, $142 million contract with the Miami Heat after engaging in a sign-and-trade deal with the Philadelphia 76ers. He is number 41 richest sportsman in the world.
42. John Wall
Total Earnings: $47.8 Million
Sports: Basketball
Basketball player John Wall’s career has been turbulent; he was traded from the Washington Wizards to the Houston Rockets and then to the Los Angeles Clippers. He had a serious injury, rupturing his Achilles tendon, putting him out for the whole 2019–20 season.
Wall was later released after being traded back to the Rockets. Additionally, he missed the 2021–2022 campaign while he awaited a trade.
43. Jordan Spieth
Total Earnings: $47.5 Million
Sports: Golf
Golfer Jordan Spieth made history by winning the 2017 British Open, becoming the first male since Jack Nicklaus to win three major championships before the age of 24. His endorsement relationship with Under Armour is solid, and in 2017, he unveiled his unique golf shoe.
Spieth’s performance improved despite the fact that his PGA Tour victories decreased following 2017, helping him to climb back into the top ten of the World Golf Ranking.
44. Luka Doncic
Total Earnings: $47.2 Million
Sports: Basketball
A significant supermax contract worth $207 million was signed by basketball star Luka Doncic with the Dallas Mavericks in 2021. Before turning 24 he had already made four All-Star appearances and had a Jordan Brand signature sneaker produced.
Doncic has had a successful career, and a follow-up model of his signature sneaker was scheduled for 2023 release. He is number 44 richest sportsman in the world.
45. Scottie Scheffler
Total Earnings: $47.1 Million
Sports: Golf
Golfer Scottie Scheffler had a successful year in 2022, climbing to the top of the World Golf Ranking and winning his first four PGA Tour events in just six outings.
He regained the top spot after winning the Players Championship in March 2023 with ease. In 2022, Scheffler broke the previous PGA Tour record for on-course earnings in a regular season by earning over $14 million.
46. Sergio Garcia
Total Earnings: $46 Million
Sports: Golf
Golfer Sergio Garcia signed up for the new LIV Golf circuit and received a sizable, guaranteed salary. His breakthrough performance at the Masters in 1999 as an amateur earned him fame, and he has frequently represented Europe in the Ryder Cup.
Garcia won the master’s once more in 2017 while competing as a pro. He is number 46 richest sportsman in the world.
47. Dak Prescott
Total Earnings: $46 Million
Sports: Football
Football quarterback Dak Prescott, who was healing from a fractured ankle, signed a lucrative four-year, $160 million contract with the Dallas Cowboys in 2021. He has a big list of endorsements and has twice been chosen for the Pro Bowl.
Additionally, Prescott owns shares in multiple Walk-On’s eateries in Texas, and his $66 million signing bonus was the most in NFL history. He is number 47 richest sportsman in the world.
48. Deshaun Watson
Total Earnings: $45.8 Million
Sports: Football
A football player named Deshaun Watson was accused of sexual assault in 2021, which led to the suspension or cancellation of multiple endorsement contracts with brands like Nike, Beats, H-E-B, and Reliant Energy.
Despite the controversy, he was transferred to the Cleveland Browns and inked a lucrative, fully guaranteed, five-year contract worth $230 million.
49. Serena Williams
Total Earnings: $45.3 Million
Sports: Tennis
Serena Williams, a tennis legend, ended her illustrious career and nearly $95 million in prize money in 2022 by quitting the professional game. Will Perform, a firm that specializes in developing beauty and pain treatment products, was co-founded by her.
Williams still actively invests through Serena Ventures and maintains endorsement agreements with various brands. He is number 49 richest sportsman in the world.
50. Tom Brady
Total Earnings: $45.2 Million
Sports: Football
Football player Tom Brady made news when he decided to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020 after playing for the New England Patriots. He won his eighth Super Bowl in his first year with the Buccaneers.
Brady also dabbled in entrepreneurship, establishing the TB12 lifestyle brand and working with others to found Autograph, an NFT business that attracted a lot of money.
Brady proclaimed his retirement in February 2022, although he later played again before calling it quits “for good” in February 2023. He is 50th richest sportsman in the world.
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