Forbes list of the world's highest-paid athletes

Ever wonder what it takes to be at the very top of the athletic world, not just in skill, but in staggering financial success? Forbes magazine annually tracks the planet's highest-paid athletes, revealing incredible fortunes amassed through both on-field performance and lucrative off-field deals. These lists offer a fascinating glimpse into the economics of elite sports and the global appeal of its biggest stars. Endorsement deals often rival or even surpass salaries and winnings, showcasing the immense power of personal branding and global appeal. Football (soccer) and basketball consistently produce many of the world's top-earning athletes, reflecting their global reach and commercial vibrancy. A select group of superstars, like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and LeBron James, frequently appear on these lists, demonstrating enduring marketability across multiple years.

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AI Summary

Ever wonder what it takes to be at the very top of the athletic world, not just in skill, but in staggering financial success? Forbes magazine annually tracks the planet's highest-paid athletes, revealing incredible fortunes amassed through both on-field performance and lucrative off-field deals. These lists offer a fascinating glimpse into the economics of elite sports and the global appeal of its biggest stars.

The World's Richest Athletes

Forbes magazine has been meticulously compiling its list of the world's highest-paid athletes for years, offering a compelling snapshot of financial power in the sports world. These aren't just figures; they're reflections of talent, global reach, and unparalleled marketability.

Unpacking the Millions: How They Earn

The earnings of these athletic titans typically fall into two main categories: 'Salary/winnings' from their professional contracts and prize money, and 'Endorsements,' which include lucrative sponsorships, appearance fees, and other business ventures. Sometimes, the off-field earnings are truly astonishing.

The 2025 Power List

Let's dive into the most recent rankings. For 2025, the figures continued their upward trend, with staggering sums defining the top spots. The sheer scale of these earnings highlights the immense economic engine that powers elite sports today.

Rank	Name	Sport	Country	Total	Salary/winnings	Endorsements
1	Cristiano Ronaldo	Association football	Portugal	$275 million	$225 million	$50 million
2	Stephen Curry	Basketball	United States	$156 million	$56 million	$100 million
3	Tyson Fury	Boxing	United Kingdom	$146 million	$140 million	$6 million
4	Dak Prescott	American football	United States	$137 million	$127 million	$10 million
5	Lionel Messi	Association football	Argentina	$135 million	$60 million	$75 million
6	LeBron James	Basketball	United States	$133.8 million	$48.8 million	$85 million
7	Juan Soto	Baseball	Dominican Republic	$114 million	$109 million	$5 million
8	Karim Benzema	Association football	France	$104 million	$100 million	$4 million
9	Shohei Ohtani	Baseball	Japan	$102.5 million	$2.5 million	$100 million
10	Kevin Durant	Basketball	United States	$101.4 million	$51.4 million	$50 million

In 2025, Cristiano Ronaldo once again claimed the top spot with an astounding $275 million, largely fueled by his immense playing salary. Yet, observe Stephen Curry, whose $100 million in endorsements alone dwarfs many athletes' total earnings, proving his incredible brand appeal.

Another standout is Shohei Ohtani, whose on-field salary of $2.5 million is dramatically overshadowed by a massive $100 million in endorsements. This stark contrast highlights his unique status as a global icon, whose marketability extends far beyond his baseball performance.

The 2024 Contenders

Just a year prior, the landscape saw some familiar faces and a few shifts, with astronomical figures still dominating the top ten. The consistent presence of certain names speaks volumes about their enduring prowess and commercial draw.

Rank	Name	Sport	Country	Total	Salary/winnings	Endorsements
1	Cristiano Ronaldo	Association football	Portugal	$260 million	$200 million	$60 million
2	Jon Rahm	Golf	Spain	$218 million	$198 million	$20 million
3	Lionel Messi	Association football	Argentina	$135 million	$65 million	$70 million
4	LeBron James	Basketball	United States	$128.2 million	$48.2 million	$80 million
5	Giannis Antetokounmpo	Basketball	Greece	$111 million	$46 million	$65 million
6	Kylian Mbappé	Association football	France	$110 million	$90 million	$20 million
7	Neymar	Association football	Brazil	$108 million	$80 million	$28 million
8	Karim Benzema	Association football	France	$106 million	$100 million	$6 million
9	Stephen Curry	Basketball	United States	$102 million	$52 million	$50 million
10	Lamar Jackson	American football	United States	$100.5 million	$98.5 million	$2 million

In 2024, Cristiano Ronaldo held his reign, but golfer Jon Rahm surged to second place, largely due to a massive salary and winnings from his sport—a stark reminder of the huge prize money available in professional golf. Meanwhile, Lionel Messi and LeBron James continued their multi-year run in the top five, cementing their legendary status both on and off the field.

The Reigning Trinity: Ronaldo, Messi, James

For many years, three names have consistently graced the pinnacle of sports earnings: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and LeBron James. Their sustained excellence and unparalleled global fan bases make them virtually irreplaceable on these lists. Let's look at 2023.

Rank	Name	Sport	Country	Total	Salary/winnings	Endorsements
1	Cristiano Ronaldo	Association football	Portugal	$136 million	$46 million	$90 million
2	Lionel Messi	Association football	Argentina	$130 million	$65 million	$65 million
3	Kylian Mbappé	Association football	France	$120 million	$100 million	$20 million
4	LeBron James	Basketball	United States	$119.5 million	$44.5 million	$75 million
5	Canelo Álvarez	Boxing	Mexico	$110 million	$100 million	$10 million
6	Dustin Johnson	Golf	United States	$107 million	$102 million	$5 million
7	Phil Mickelson	Golf	United States	$106 million	$104 million	$2 million
8	Stephen Curry	Basketball	United States	$100.4 million	$48.4 million	$52 million
9	Roger Federer	Tennis	Switzerland	$95.1 million	$0.1 million	$95 million
10	Kevin Durant	Basketball	United States	$89.1 million	$44.1 million	$45 million

In 2023, Ronaldo and Messi led a strong football presence. Notably, Roger Federer, even in what might be considered the twilight of his active career, still commanded an incredible $95 million in endorsements, demonstrating the enduring power of a meticulously built personal brand, long after peak competitive earnings.

A Look Back: 2022 and 2021

While consistent, the top spot isn't always a given for these legends. In 2022, Lionel Messi briefly topped the list, showcasing the dynamic nature of contract negotiations and sponsorship cycles.

Rank	Name	Sport	Country	Total	Salary/winnings	Endorsements
1	Lionel Messi	Association football	Argentina	$130 million	$75 million	$55 million
2	LeBron James	Basketball	United States	$121.2 million	$41.2 million	$80 million
3	Cristiano Ronaldo	Association football	Portugal	$115 million	$60 million	$55 million
4	Neymar	Association football	Brazil	$95 million	$70 million	$25 million
5	Stephen Curry	Basketball	United States	$92.8 million	$45.8 million	$47 million
6	Kevin Durant	Basketball	United States	$92.1 million	$42.1 million	$50 million
7	Roger Federer	Tennis	Switzerland	$90.7 million	$0.7 million	$90 million
8	Canelo Álvarez	Boxing	Mexico	$90 million	$85 million	$5 million
9	Tom Brady	American football	United States	$83.9 million	$31.9 million	$52 million
10	Giannis Antetokounmpo	Basketball	Greece	$80.9 million	$39.9 million	$41 million

The 2021 list, however, presented a truly unique leader. Mixed Martial Arts superstar Conor McGregor broke the football and basketball dominance, demonstrating how a powerful personal brand and savvy business ventures can propel an athlete to the very summit of global earnings.

Rank	Name	Sport	Republic of Ireland	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

McGregor's $158 million in endorsements—more than seven times his salary and winnings—was largely thanks to the sale of his Proper Twelve whiskey brand. This illustrates how the savviest athletes are not just players, but formidable entrepreneurs.

The Decade of the 2010s

Looking back further to the turn of the decade and beyond, we see an evolving landscape with some enduring giants. The 2010-2019 period was defined by a few colossal names who consistently out-earned their peers.

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

Boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. dominated the 2010s, amassing nearly a billion dollars. His strategic, high-payout fights, often against other top earners like Manny Pacquiao and Conor McGregor, were financial blockbusters that allowed him to command unprecedented sums.

Consistent Performers and Surprising Spikes

Throughout the years, certain sports have consistently featured at the top, like basketball and football. However, boxing and golf often see significant spikes when major events or lucrative tours deliver enormous payouts to their top stars.

Take 2020, for instance. Tennis icon Roger Federer topped the list, primarily through endorsements, even amidst a pandemic-impacted sports year. This emphasizes the value of a clean image and long-standing brand partnerships.

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

Even further back, in 2013, it was golf legend Tiger Woods who commanded the highest earnings, a testament to his dominance in the sport and his immense commercial appeal during that era. It truly shows how the top spot can shift with each new season and career phase.

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

Ultimately, the Forbes list of highest-paid athletes isn't just about raw numbers. It's a yearly narrative of athletic achievement, strategic business acumen, and the ever-growing global spectacle of professional sports. It's a reminder that at the very top, talent pays—and often, pays extraordinarily well.

Article

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.

2025 list

Forbes list of the world's highest-paid athletes

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Name</th><th>Sport</th><th>Country</th><th>Total</th><th>Salary/winnings</th><th>Endorsements</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Cristiano Ronaldo</td><td>Association football</td><td>Portugal</td><td>$275 million</td><td>$225 million</td><td>$50 million</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Stephen Curry</td><td>Basketball</td><td>United States</td><td>$156 million</td><td>$56 million</td><td>$100 million</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Tyson Fury</td><td>Boxing</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>$146 million</td><td>$140 million</td><td>$6 million</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Dak Prescott</td><td>American football</td><td>United States</td><td>$137 million</td><td>$127 million</td><td>$10 million</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Lionel Messi</td><td>Association football</td><td>Argentina</td><td>$135 million</td><td>$60 million</td><td>$75 million</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>LeBron James</td><td>Basketball</td><td>United States</td><td>$133.8 million</td><td>$48.8 million</td><td>$85 million</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Juan Soto</td><td>Baseball</td><td>Dominican Republic</td><td>$114 million</td><td>$109 million</td><td>$5 million</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Karim Benzema</td><td>Association football</td><td>France</td><td>$104 million</td><td>$100 million</td><td>$4 million</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Shohei Ohtani</td><td>Baseball</td><td>Japan</td><td>$102.5 million</td><td>$2.5 million</td><td>$100 million</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Kevin Durant</td><td>Basketball</td><td>United States</td><td>$101.4 million</td><td>$51.4 million</td><td>$50 million</td></tr></tbody></table>

2024 list

Forbes list of the world's highest-paid athletes

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Name</th><th>Sport</th><th>Country</th><th>Total</th><th>Salary/winnings</th><th>Endorsements</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Cristiano Ronaldo</td><td>Association football</td><td>Portugal</td><td>$260 million</td><td>$200 million</td><td>$60 million</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Jon Rahm</td><td>Golf</td><td>Spain</td><td>$218 million</td><td>$198 million</td><td>$20 million</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Lionel Messi</td><td>Association football</td><td>Argentina</td><td>$135 million</td><td>$65 million</td><td>$70 million</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>LeBron James</td><td>Basketball</td><td>United States</td><td>$128.2 million</td><td>$48.2 million</td><td>$80 million</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Giannis Antetokounmpo</td><td>Basketball</td><td>Greece</td><td>$111 million</td><td>$46 million</td><td>$65 million</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Kylian Mbappé</td><td>Association football</td><td>France</td><td>$110 million</td><td>$90 million</td><td>$20 million</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Neymar</td><td>Association football</td><td>Brazil</td><td>$108 million</td><td>$80 million</td><td>$28 million</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Karim Benzema</td><td>Association football</td><td>France</td><td>$106 million</td><td>$100 million</td><td>$6 million</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Stephen Curry</td><td>Basketball</td><td>United States</td><td>$102 million</td><td>$52 million</td><td>$50 million</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Lamar Jackson</td><td>American football</td><td>United States</td><td>$100.5 million</td><td>$98.5 million</td><td>$2 million</td></tr></tbody></table>

2023 list

Forbes list of the world's highest-paid athletes

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Name</th><th>Sport</th><th>Country</th><th>Total</th><th>Salary/winnings</th><th>Endorsements</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Cristiano Ronaldo</td><td>Association football</td><td>Portugal</td><td>$136 million</td><td>$46 million</td><td>$90 million</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Lionel Messi</td><td>Association football</td><td>Argentina</td><td>$130 million</td><td>$65 million</td><td>$65 million</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Kylian Mbappé</td><td>Association football</td><td>France</td><td>$120 million</td><td>$100 million</td><td>$20 million</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>LeBron James</td><td>Basketball</td><td>United States</td><td>$119.5 million</td><td>$44.5 million</td><td>$75 million</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Canelo Álvarez</td><td>Boxing</td><td>Mexico</td><td>$110 million</td><td>$100 million</td><td>$10 million</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Dustin Johnson</td><td>Golf</td><td>United States</td><td>$107 million</td><td>$102 million</td><td>$5 million</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Phil Mickelson</td><td>Golf</td><td>United States</td><td>$106 million</td><td>$104 million</td><td>$2 million</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Stephen Curry</td><td>Basketball</td><td>United States</td><td>$100.4 million</td><td>$48.4 million</td><td>$52 million</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Roger Federer</td><td>Tennis</td><td>Switzerland</td><td>$95.1 million</td><td>$0.1 million</td><td>$95 million</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Kevin Durant</td><td>Basketball</td><td>United States</td><td>$89.1 million</td><td>$44.1 million</td><td>$45 million</td></tr></tbody></table>

2022 list

Forbes list of the world's highest-paid athletes

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Name</th><th>Sport</th><th>Country</th><th>Total</th><th>Salary/winnings</th><th>Endorsements</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Lionel Messi</td><td>Association football</td><td>Argentina</td><td>$130 million</td><td>$75 million</td><td>$55 million</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>LeBron James</td><td>Basketball</td><td>United States</td><td>$121.2 million</td><td>$41.2 million</td><td>$80 million</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Cristiano Ronaldo</td><td>Association football</td><td>Portugal</td><td>$115 million</td><td>$60 million</td><td>$55 million</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Neymar</td><td>Association football</td><td>Brazil</td><td>$95 million</td><td>$70 million</td><td>$25 million</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Stephen Curry</td><td>Basketball</td><td>United States</td><td>$92.8 million</td><td>$45.8 million</td><td>$47 million</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Kevin Durant</td><td>Basketball</td><td>United States</td><td>$92.1 million</td><td>$42.1 million</td><td>$50 million</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Roger Federer</td><td>Tennis</td><td>Switzerland</td><td>$90.7 million</td><td>$0.7 million</td><td>$90 million</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Canelo Álvarez</td><td>Boxing</td><td>Mexico</td><td>$90 million</td><td>$85 million</td><td>$5 million</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Tom Brady</td><td>American football</td><td>United States</td><td>$83.9 million</td><td>$31.9 million</td><td>$52 million</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Giannis Antetokounmpo</td><td>Basketball</td><td>Greece</td><td>$80.9 million</td><td>$39.9 million</td><td>$41 million</td></tr></tbody></table>

2021 list

Forbes list of the world's highest-paid athletes

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Name</th><th>Sport</th><th>Country</th><th>Total</th><th>Salary/winnings</th><th>Endorsements</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Conor McGregor</td><td>Mixed martial arts</td><td>Republic of Ireland</td><td>$180 million</td><td>$22 million</td><td>$158 million</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Lionel Messi</td><td>Association football</td><td>Argentina</td><td>$130 million</td><td>$97 million</td><td>$33 million</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Cristiano Ronaldo</td><td>Association football</td><td>Portugal</td><td>$120 million</td><td>$70 million</td><td>$50 million</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Dak Prescott</td><td>American football</td><td>United States</td><td>$107.5 million</td><td>$97.5 million</td><td>$10 million</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>LeBron James</td><td>Basketball</td><td>United States</td><td>$96.5 million</td><td>$31.5 million</td><td>$65 million</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Neymar</td><td>Association football</td><td>Brazil</td><td>$95 million</td><td>$76 million</td><td>$19 million</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Roger Federer</td><td>Tennis</td><td>Switzerland</td><td>$90 million</td><td>$0.03 million</td><td>$90 million</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Lewis Hamilton</td><td>Auto racing</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>$82 million</td><td>$70 million</td><td>$12 million</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Tom Brady</td><td>American football</td><td>United States</td><td>$76 million</td><td>$45 million</td><td>$31 million</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Kevin Durant</td><td>Basketball</td><td>United States</td><td>$75 million</td><td>$31 million</td><td>$44 million</td></tr></tbody></table>

2020 list

Forbes list of the world's highest-paid athletes

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Name</th><th>Sport</th><th>Country</th><th>Total</th><th>Salary/winnings</th><th>Endorsements</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Roger Federer</td><td>Tennis</td><td>Switzerland</td><td>$106.3 million</td><td>$6.3 million</td><td>$100 million</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Cristiano Ronaldo</td><td>Association football</td><td>Portugal</td><td>$105 million</td><td>$60 million</td><td>$45 million</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Lionel Messi</td><td>Association football</td><td>Argentina</td><td>$104 million</td><td>$72 million</td><td>$32 million</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Neymar</td><td>Association football</td><td>Brazil</td><td>$95.5 million</td><td>$70.5 million</td><td>$25 million</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>LeBron James</td><td>Basketball</td><td>United States</td><td>$88.2 million</td><td>$28.2 million</td><td>$60 million</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Stephen Curry</td><td>Basketball</td><td>United States</td><td>$74.4 million</td><td>$30.4 million</td><td>$44 million</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Kevin Durant</td><td>Basketball</td><td>United States</td><td>$63.9 million</td><td>$28.9 million</td><td>$35 million</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Tiger Woods</td><td>Golf</td><td>United States</td><td>$62.3 million</td><td>$2.3 million</td><td>$60 million</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Kirk Cousins</td><td>American football</td><td>United States</td><td>$60.5 million</td><td>$58 million</td><td>$2.5 million</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Carson Wentz</td><td>American football</td><td>United States</td><td>$59.1 million</td><td>$55.1 million</td><td>$4 million</td></tr></tbody></table>

2010–2019 list

Forbes list of the world's highest-paid athletes

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Name</th><th>Sport</th><th>Nation</th><th>Earnings</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Floyd Mayweather Jr.</td><td>Boxing</td><td>United States</td><td>$915 million</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Cristiano Ronaldo</td><td>Association football</td><td>Portugal</td><td>$800 million</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Lionel Messi</td><td>Association football</td><td>Argentina</td><td>$750 million</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>LeBron James</td><td>Basketball</td><td>United States</td><td>$680 million</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Roger Federer</td><td>Tennis</td><td>Switzerland</td><td>$640 million</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Tiger Woods</td><td>Golf</td><td>United States</td><td>$615 million</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Phil Mickelson</td><td>Golf</td><td>United States</td><td>$480 million</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Manny Pacquiao</td><td>Boxing</td><td>Philippines</td><td>$435 million</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Kevin Durant</td><td>Basketball</td><td>United States</td><td>$425 million</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Lewis Hamilton</td><td>Auto racing</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>$400 million</td></tr></tbody></table>

2019 list

Forbes list of the world's highest-paid athletes

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Name</th><th>Sport</th><th>Nation</th><th>Total</th><th>Salary/Winnings</th><th>Endorsements</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Lionel Messi</td><td>Association football</td><td>Argentina</td><td>$127 million</td><td>$92 million</td><td>$35 million</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Cristiano Ronaldo</td><td>Association football</td><td>Portugal</td><td>$109 million</td><td>$65 million</td><td>$44 million</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Neymar</td><td>Association football</td><td>Brazil</td><td>$105 million</td><td>$75 million</td><td>$30 million</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Canelo Álvarez</td><td>Boxing</td><td>Mexico</td><td>$94 million</td><td>$92 million</td><td>$2 million</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Roger Federer</td><td>Tennis</td><td>Switzerland</td><td>$93.4 million</td><td>$7.4 million</td><td>$86 million</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Russell Wilson</td><td>American football</td><td>United States</td><td>$89.5 million</td><td>$80.5 million</td><td>$9 million</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Aaron Rodgers</td><td>American football</td><td>United States</td><td>$89.3 million</td><td>$80.3 million</td><td>$9 million</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>LeBron James</td><td>Basketball</td><td>United States</td><td>$89 million</td><td>$36 million</td><td>$53 million</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Stephen Curry</td><td>Basketball</td><td>United States</td><td>$79.8 million</td><td>$37.8 million</td><td>$42 million</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Kevin Durant</td><td>Basketball</td><td>United States</td><td>$65.4 million</td><td>$30.4 million</td><td>$35 million</td></tr></tbody></table>

2018 list

Forbes list of the world's highest-paid athletes

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Name</th><th>Sport</th><th>Nation</th><th>Total</th><th>Salary/Winnings</th><th>Endorsements</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Floyd Mayweather Jr.</td><td>Boxing</td><td>United States</td><td>$285 million</td><td>$275 million</td><td>$10 million</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Lionel Messi</td><td>Association football</td><td>Argentina</td><td>$111 million</td><td>$84 million</td><td>$27 million</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Cristiano Ronaldo</td><td>Association football</td><td>Portugal</td><td>$108 million</td><td>$61 million</td><td>$47 million</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Conor McGregor</td><td>Mixed martial arts</td><td>Republic of Ireland</td><td>$99 million</td><td>$85 million</td><td>$14 million</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Neymar</td><td>Association football</td><td>Brazil</td><td>$90 million</td><td>$73 million</td><td>$17 million</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>LeBron James</td><td>Basketball</td><td>United States</td><td>$85.5 million</td><td>$33.5 million</td><td>$52 million</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Roger Federer</td><td>Tennis</td><td>Switzerland</td><td>$77.2 million</td><td>$12.2 million</td><td>$65 million</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Stephen Curry</td><td>Basketball</td><td>United States</td><td>$76.9 million</td><td>$34.9 million</td><td>$42 million</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Matt Ryan</td><td>American football</td><td>United States</td><td>$67.3 million</td><td>$62.3 million</td><td>$5 million</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Matthew Stafford</td><td>American football</td><td>United States</td><td>$59.5 million</td><td>$57.5 million</td><td>$2 million</td></tr></tbody></table>

2017 list

Forbes list of the world's highest-paid athletes

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Name</th><th>Sport</th><th>Nation</th><th>Total</th><th>Salary/Winnings</th><th>Endorsements</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Cristiano Ronaldo</td><td>Association football</td><td>Portugal</td><td>$93 million</td><td>$58 million</td><td>$35 million</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>LeBron James</td><td>Basketball</td><td>United States</td><td>$86.2 million</td><td>$31.2 million</td><td>$55 million</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Lionel Messi</td><td>Association football</td><td>Argentina</td><td>$80 million</td><td>$53 million</td><td>$27 million</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Roger Federer</td><td>Tennis</td><td>Switzerland</td><td>$64 million</td><td>$6 million</td><td>$58 million</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Kevin Durant</td><td>Basketball</td><td>United States</td><td>$60.6 million</td><td>$26.6 million</td><td>$34 million</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Andrew Luck</td><td>American football</td><td>United States</td><td>$50 million</td><td>$47 million</td><td>$3 million</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Rory McIlroy</td><td>Golf</td><td>Northern Ireland</td><td>$50 million</td><td>$16 million</td><td>$34 million</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Stephen Curry</td><td>Basketball</td><td>United States</td><td>$47.3 million</td><td>$12.3 million</td><td>$35 million</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>James Harden</td><td>Basketball</td><td>United States</td><td>$46.6 million</td><td>$26.6 million</td><td>$20 million</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Lewis Hamilton</td><td>Auto racing</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>$46 million</td><td>$38 million</td><td>$8 million</td></tr></tbody></table>

2016 list

Forbes list of the world's highest-paid athletes

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Name</th><th>Sport</th><th>Nation</th><th>Total</th><th>Salary/Winnings</th><th>Endorsements</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Cristiano Ronaldo</td><td>Association football</td><td>Portugal</td><td>$88 million</td><td>$56 million</td><td>$32 million</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Lionel Messi</td><td>Association football</td><td>Argentina</td><td>$81.4 million</td><td>$53.4 million</td><td>$28 million</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>LeBron James</td><td>Basketball</td><td>United States</td><td>$77.2 million</td><td>$23.2 million</td><td>$54 million</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Roger Federer</td><td>Tennis</td><td>Switzerland</td><td>$67.8 million</td><td>$7.8 million</td><td>$60 million</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Kevin Durant</td><td>Basketball</td><td>United States</td><td>$56.2 million</td><td>$20.2 million</td><td>$36 million</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Novak Djokovic</td><td>Tennis</td><td>Serbia</td><td>$55.8 million</td><td>$21.8 million</td><td>$34 million</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Cam Newton</td><td>American football</td><td>United States</td><td>$53.1 million</td><td>$41.1 million</td><td>$12 million</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Phil Mickelson</td><td>Golf</td><td>United States</td><td>$52.9 million</td><td>$2.9 million</td><td>$50 million</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Jordan Spieth</td><td>Golf</td><td>United States</td><td>$52.8 million</td><td>$20.8 million</td><td>$32 million</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Kobe Bryant</td><td>Basketball</td><td>United States</td><td>$50 million</td><td>$25 million</td><td>$25 million</td></tr></tbody></table>

2015 list

Forbes list of the world's highest-paid athletes

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Name</th><th>Sport</th><th>Nation</th><th>Total</th><th>Salary/Winnings</th><th>Endorsements</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Floyd Mayweather Jr.</td><td>Boxing</td><td>United States</td><td>$300 million</td><td>$285 million</td><td>$15 million</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Manny Pacquiao</td><td>Boxing</td><td>Philippines</td><td>$160 million</td><td>$148 million</td><td>$12 million</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Cristiano Ronaldo</td><td>Association football</td><td>Portugal</td><td>$79.6 million</td><td>$52.6 million</td><td>$27 million</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Lionel Messi</td><td>Association football</td><td>Argentina</td><td>$73.8 million</td><td>$51.8 million</td><td>$22 million</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Roger Federer</td><td>Tennis</td><td>Switzerland</td><td>$67 million</td><td>$9 million</td><td>$58 million</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>LeBron James</td><td>Basketball</td><td>United States</td><td>$64.8 million</td><td>$20.8 million</td><td>$44 million</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Kevin Durant</td><td>Basketball</td><td>United States</td><td>$54.1 million</td><td>$19.1 million</td><td>$35 million</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Phil Mickelson</td><td>Golf</td><td>United States</td><td>$50.8 million</td><td>$2.8 million</td><td>$48 million</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Tiger Woods</td><td>Golf</td><td>United States</td><td>$50.6 million</td><td>$0.6 million</td><td>$50 million</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Kobe Bryant</td><td>Basketball</td><td>United States</td><td>$49.5 million</td><td>$23.5 million</td><td>$26 million</td></tr></tbody></table>

2014 list

Forbes list of the world's highest-paid athletes

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Name</th><th>Sport</th><th>Nation</th><th>Total</th><th>Salary/Winnings</th><th>Endorsements</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Floyd Mayweather Jr.</td><td>Boxing</td><td>United States</td><td>$105 million</td><td>$105 million</td><td>$0</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Cristiano Ronaldo</td><td>Association football</td><td>Portugal</td><td>$80 million</td><td>$52 million</td><td>$28 million</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>LeBron James</td><td>Basketball</td><td>United States</td><td>$72.3 million</td><td>$19.3 million</td><td>$53 million</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Lionel Messi</td><td>Association football</td><td>Argentina</td><td>$64.7 million</td><td>$41.7 million</td><td>$23 million</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Kobe Bryant</td><td>Basketball</td><td>United States</td><td>$61.5 million</td><td>$30.5 million</td><td>$31 million</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Tiger Woods</td><td>Golf</td><td>United States</td><td>$61.2 million</td><td>$6.2 million</td><td>$55 million</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Roger Federer</td><td>Tennis</td><td>Switzerland</td><td>$56.2 million</td><td>$4.2 million</td><td>$52 million</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Phil Mickelson</td><td>Golf</td><td>United States</td><td>$53.2 million</td><td>$5.2 million</td><td>$48 million</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Rafael Nadal</td><td>Tennis</td><td>Spain</td><td>$44.5 million</td><td>$14.5 million</td><td>$30 million</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Matt Ryan</td><td>American football</td><td>United States</td><td>$43.8 million</td><td>$42 million</td><td>$1.8 million</td></tr></tbody></table>

2013 list

Forbes list of the world's highest-paid athletes

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Name</th><th>Sport</th><th>Nation</th><th>Total</th><th>Salary/Winnings</th><th>Endorsements</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Tiger Woods</td><td>Golf</td><td>United States</td><td>$78.1 million</td><td>$13.1 million</td><td>$65 million</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Roger Federer</td><td>Tennis</td><td>Switzerland</td><td>$71.5 million</td><td>$6.5 million</td><td>$65 million</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Kobe Bryant</td><td>Basketball</td><td>United States</td><td>$61.9 million</td><td>$27.9 million</td><td>$34 million</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>LeBron James</td><td>Basketball</td><td>United States</td><td>$59.8 million</td><td>$17.8 million</td><td>$42 million</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Drew Brees</td><td>American football</td><td>United States</td><td>$51 million</td><td>$40 million</td><td>$11 million</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Aaron Rodgers</td><td>American football</td><td>United States</td><td>$49 million</td><td>$43 million</td><td>$6 million</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Phil Mickelson</td><td>Golf</td><td>United States</td><td>$48.7 million</td><td>$4.7 million</td><td>$44 million</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>David Beckham</td><td>Association football</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>$47.2 million</td><td>$5.2 million</td><td>$42 million</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Cristiano Ronaldo</td><td>Association football</td><td>Portugal</td><td>$44 million</td><td>$23 million</td><td>$21 million</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Lionel Messi</td><td>Association football</td><td>Argentina</td><td>$41.3 million</td><td>$20.3 million</td><td>$21 million</td></tr></tbody></table>

2012 list

Forbes list of the world's highest-paid athletes

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Name</th><th>Sport</th><th>Nationality</th><th>Total earnings</th><th>Salary/winnings</th><th>Endorsements</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Floyd Mayweather Jr.</td><td>Boxing</td><td>United States</td><td>$85 million</td><td>$85 million</td><td>$0</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Manny Pacquiao</td><td>Boxing</td><td>Philippines</td><td>$62 million</td><td>$56 million</td><td>$6 million</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Tiger Woods</td><td>Golf</td><td>United States</td><td>$59.4 million</td><td>$4.4 million</td><td>$55 million</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>LeBron James</td><td>Basketball</td><td>United States</td><td>$53 million</td><td>$13 million</td><td>$40 million</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Roger Federer</td><td>Tennis</td><td>Switzerland</td><td>$52.7 million</td><td>$7.7 million</td><td>$45 million</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Kobe Bryant</td><td>Basketball</td><td>United States</td><td>$52.3 million</td><td>$20.3 million</td><td>$32 million</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Phil Mickelson</td><td>Golf</td><td>United States</td><td>$47.8 million</td><td>$4.8 million</td><td>$43 million</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>David Beckham</td><td>Association football</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>$46 million</td><td>$9 million</td><td>$37 million</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Cristiano Ronaldo</td><td>Association football</td><td>Portugal</td><td>$42.5 million</td><td>$20.5 million</td><td>$22 million</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Peyton Manning</td><td>American football</td><td>United States</td><td>$42.4 million</td><td>$32.4 million</td><td>$10 million</td></tr></tbody></table>