Who are the highest-earning athletes in the world? Forbes has revealed the names of the highest-paid athletes in the world across various sports.
Forbes, a renowned American business magazine, has released its annual ranking of the world’s highest-paid athletes.
The 2023 list features the salaries (before tax), bonuses, and athletes’ endorsements for the 2022–23 season.
Forbes reports that the 10 athletes on the list have earned an estimated $1.11 billion before taxes and agent fees over the past year.
The figure marks an increase of $20 million, 12% from last year’s earnings of $990 million, and a 5% increase from the record-setting $1.06 billion earned in 2018.
Footballers and basketballers dominate the list of richest athletes
The list comprises 10 athletes, with football and basketball players dominating the top spots. The top three athletes on the list are football players.
Following his recent transfer to Saudi Arabia, Cristiano Ronaldo tops the list with a total revenue of $136 million, thanks to his whopping $75 million salary.
His arch-rival, Lionel Messi, is second on the list, just $6 million behind Ronaldo, with a total revenue of $130 million.
Kylian Mbappe, the French football star, completes the top three with a total of $120 million. Mbappe has the highest on-field income of $100 million in global football.
LeBron James, the basketball legend, is fourth on the list with total revenue of $119.5 million, followed by Mexican boxer Canelo Álvarez, who completes the top five with total revenue of $110 million.
Tennis legend Roger Federer, who retired from tennis in September 2022, ranked ninth on the list, earning $95.1 million from sponsorship activities.
Breakdown of athletes’ earnings
In summary, the top 10 highest-paid athletes for the year 2024, according to Forbes, are:
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Football – Portugal) – $136 million
- Lionel Messi (Football – Argentina) – $130 million
- Kylian Mbappe (Football – France) – $120 million
- LeBron James (Basketball – United States) – $119.5 million
- Canelo Alvarez (Boxing – Mexico) – $110 million
- Dustin Johnson (Golf – United States) – $107 million
- Phil Mickelson (Golf – United States) – $106 million
- Stephen Curry (Basketball – United States) – $100.4 million
- Roger Federer (Tennis – Switzerland) – $95.1 million
- Kevin Durant (Basketball – United States) – $89.1 million