The world’s highest-paid athletes earn huge salaries, hefty endorsement deals, and major media attention. These elite athletes are at the top of their respective sports, dominating them with exceptional ability, talent, and dedication. From basketball to soccer, tennis to golf, this list of the world’s highest-paid sportsmen attests to sports’ global popularity and the enormous financial benefits that come with achievement at the highest level.
Facts About Highest-Paid Athletes
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- A widely used annual list published since 1990 by Forbes lists the highest paid athletes in the world.
- The list typically includes athletes from various sports, including soccer, basketball, American football, tennis, golf, Formula 1 racing, and boxing.
- Cristiano Ronaldo topped the list of the highest-paid athletes in the world in 2023, with earnings of $136 million.
- Lionel Messi came in second on the Forbes list, with earnings of $130 million.
- The third-highest-paid athlete in the world was Kylian Mbappé, with earnings of $120 million.
- Kylian Mbappé has the highest playing salary in all of soccer.
- In recent years, football players have often dominated the top spots, as the sport has a massive global following and lucrative endorsement opportunities.
- The majority of the earnings for these athletes come from endorsements and sponsorships rather than just their salaries or prize money.
- NBA players are, on average, the highest-paid athletes in the world.
The following are the top 10 highest-paid athletes according to Forbes:
1. Cristiano Ronaldo ($136 million)
2. Lionel Messi ($130 million)
3. Kylian Mbappé ($120 million)
4. LeBron James ($119.5 million)
5. Canelo Alvarez ($110 million)
6. Dustin Jhonson ($107 million)
7. Phil Mickelson ($106 million)
8. Stephen Curry ($100.4 million)
9. Roger Federer ($95.1 million)
10. Kevin Durant ($89.1 million)
Lastly, being a professional athlete can lead to an incredibly lucrative career. The world’s richest athletes have achieved the pinnacle of their sports and become household names and icons around the globe. While earnings may fluctuate, professional athletes who regularly achieve top performance are guaranteed substantial financial returns on endorsements, sponsorship and prize money. It’s obvious that the world’s finest athletes are not simply skilled and talented at their sport but also smart businessmen who know how to exploit success both in competition and outside of it.
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