Sports have grown leaps and bounds from where they started eons ago. Today, fan engagement, brand partnerships to sports management courses are all part of where athletes, teams, and everyone between them in the sports world are engaged in. This growth has also led to our beloved athletes in many sports becoming some of the richest men and women in the world. Ever wonder how your favorite athletes make money beyond their basic pay and salary?
From their prize money by winning games, to endorsements, sponsorship money, coaching fees and much more, it all adds up when we talk about the top 10 richest of all athletes in the world.
Forbes based the earnings on-field to include the prize money, salaries, and bonus earned between May 1, 2021, till May 1, 2022, and off-field earnings to influence sponsorship deals, appearance fees, and licensing income time and including other business earnings of the athletes. (These figures, as per Forbes, do not have taxes deducted from them or the athlete’s agent’s fee.)
In the same article, Forbes also mentioned that ‘the world’s ten highest-paid athletes collectively made $992 million in pre-tax gross earnings over the last 12 months, the third highest total ever. We bring you the top 10 wealthiest athletes based on the annual ranking at Forbes.
4. LIONEL MESSI- $130 million
• 1.
The Argentinian football superstar at 34 years of age is known to be one of the
richest sportsmen. His earnings for the past year included:
On-field earnings: $75 million
Off-field earning: $55 million
5. • Messi has a $20 million-a-year partnership deal with Socios in this
endorsement portfolio, including Adisa, Budweiser, and PepsiCo.
6.
7. Le-Bron James- $121.2 million
The 37-year-old basketball sensation from the US is the second-highest earner.
While his team Los Angeles Lakers missed the playoffs this season, he has been
dominant off the court. His earnings include:
• On-field earnings: $41.2 million
Off-field earnings: $80 million
8. • This all came together with him starring in last year’s Space Jam: A New Legacy.
• And his talk show, The Shop moved from HBO to YouTube. In October, he sold a
significant minority stake in SpringHill – the production company behind both
projects, which was at a valuation of $725 million which further helped his net
worth to $850 million – basis Forbes estimate
9.
10. Cristiano Ronaldo – $115 million
• World-famous soccer player, Ronaldo, originally from
Portugal, currently plays for Manchester United in the Premier
League. His earnings include:
• On-field earnings: $60 million
Off-field earnings: $55 million
11. • Ronaldo is known to have a massive social media following and his major earnings
come from this strong social media presence.
• His 690+ million followers across Instagram, Facebook and Twitter give him
leverage to demand super-high rates from sponsors such as Nike, Herbalife,
Nike, Herbalife, Clear shampoo and others.
12.
13. Neymar – $95 million
•
This 30-year-old soccer player from Brazil scored his 400th
career goal last November and is a star player in the game of
Football for many years.
• He had recently announced that the upcoming World Cup in
Qatar would be his last. His May 2021 to 1 May 2022
earnings include:
• On-field earnings: $70 million
Off-field earnings: $25 million
14. • His off-field earnings have a valuable set of endorsements with global giants like
Puma, Red Bull and others. He is also the subject of a new Netflix
Netflix docuseries, Neymar: The Perfect Chaos
15.
16. Stephan Curry – $92.8 million
The 34-year-old, star Basketball player from the US will always be
known to have made one of the most amounts in salary for the last
season in the history of the NBA.
Playing for the Golden State Warriors, Curry is also due for a raise
now after signing a four-year – $215 million extension last August.
This brings him to make $48 million on the court for the new
season.
His earnings include:
On-field earnings: $45.8 million
Off-field earnings: $47 million
17.
18. Kevin Durant – $92.1 million
• . Kevin Durant – $92.1 million
The 33-years old basketball player from the US is the Brooklyn
Nets star and is roughly known to be earning $28 million from
Nike alone.
His sneaker deal with Nike is only surpassed by LeBron James’
among the active players.
His earnings include:
• On-field earnings: $42.1 million
Off-field earnings: $50 million
