Highest paid athletes of all time revealed; Michael Jordan on top, Federer, Messi & Ronaldo in top 10: The richest athletes in the world are not just exceptional talent in their respective sports, they are also attractive personalities with whom people love to connect. These athletes earn money through endorsements, promotions, and also businesses.
Top athletes in the world try to cash in on their name and expand their earnings through investment in lucrative business deals. Someone like Michael Jordan was the most famous athlete during his time at Chicago Bulls. He was simply ruling the NBA at that time. But even after years of retiring he is still one of the richest athletes and it is mainly due to his business dealings and the creation of the famous ‘Air Jordan‘ brand.
T20 World Cup: ICC partners with Faze Technologies to create exclusive digital collectibles
The highest-paid athletes of all time 🤯
(h/t @kbadenhausen) pic.twitter.com/7tEkMOB1bW
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) November 4, 2021
Highest paid athletes of all time revealed; Michael Jordan on top, Federer, Messi & Ronaldo in top 10
10. Roger Federer (Tennis)
Probably one of the most elegant tennis players in the world, Roger Federer has been the face of the sport for many years now. Although he has faced stiff competition from Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, it has not deterred his popularity as a superstar.
The 20 time Grand Slam winner earned a reported $1.12bn and is the only tennis player in this list of superstar athletes.
9. Michael Schumacher (Formula 1)
Next up is one of the most decorated Formula 1 drivers, Michael Schumacher. The legendary German ruled the F1 scene for many years and scripted the record of most F1 title wins with seven titles. His tenure with Ferrari especially is etched into the hearts of Formula 1 fans.
Unfortunately, he is still in a coma after sustaining a life-threatening injury from a skiing accident back in 2013. Schumacher earned a reported sum of $1.13bn.
8. Lionel Messi (Football)
One of the finest athletes in the world, Lionel Messi is next up on the list. He has that serene nature to his dribbling, something that makes him different from other legendary footballers. He is undoubtedly one of the best to ever play football.
He has had a very decored career with FC Barcelona since his youth days. But recently he moved out of the club after 19 years of association and joined Paris Saint Germain. Messi reportedly has earned $1.14bn.
7. LeBron James (NBA)
A trailblazer on his own rights in Basketball, LeBron James has ruled the NBA for decades now. Currently, with the Los Angeles Lakers, King James is looking to reclaim the NBA Championship which they won in the 2019-20 season in Orlando.
The Akron Hammer has an NBA career filled with accolades and recognitions. He is often compared with players like Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant speak volumes about his talent and popularity. LeBron has reportedly earned $1.17b
6. Floyd Mayweather (Boxing)
The only representative from the Boxing community has to be Floyd “Money” Mayweather. The American combat sports legend has been on the scene for a long time and is considered the best boxer ever. Mayweather’s face value and popularity are huge and that is why he is on this list.
The 44-year-old boxer earned $1.2b and apart from boing, he has earned this sum through business and investments. He recently faced famous Youtube personality Jake Paul in a bout and earned a massive $65b from that exhibition fight.
5. Cristiano Ronaldo (Football)
The second footballer on the list is predictable, Cristiano Ronaldo. Apart from his accolades, talent, skill, and achievement, the Portuguese has great looks and the ability to pull the crowd to his side. He has his own brand and is one of the most followed athletes on social media.
Ronaldo recently returned to Manchester United after a decent stint at Juventus. The four-time Balon d’Or winner has earned a reported sum of 1.24B.
4. Jack Nicklaus (Golf)
Nicknamed the Golden Bear, Jack Nicklaus has been one of the most decorated golfers of his generation. The American has had a career filled with accolades and titles. He is one of the three golfers on this illustrious list.
The 81-year-old has reportedly earned a sum of 1.38B, making him one of the legends of the game.
3. Arnold Palmer (Golf)
The second golfer on this list is Arnold Palmer, the American was one of the legends of the game. he was seen as a trailblazer of the sport, especially during the television era. He was probably the first superstar golfer and an absolute legend in golf.
Palmer has reportedly earned $1.5B and is definitely one of the global superstars.
2. Tiger Woods (Golf)
Tiger Woods hardly needs any introduction as he is definitely one of the most celebrated sports personalities in the world. He is immensely popular and has achieved a lot of accolades over the years and with titles and trophies, his stock has also risen. He has become of the highest earners among athletes.
The 45-year-old golfer has reported earnings of $2.1bn from his sport and also from several brand work, promotions, and business investments.
1. Michael Jordan (NBA)
Considered the ‘Greatest of all time’ in the NBA circuit, Michael Jordan is probably the biggest sports personality ever. His accolades with the Chicago Bulls where he achieved two three-peats speak volumes about how good he was during his era.
Apart from his skill and talent, he inspired a lot of kids to take up to sport and his brand Air Jordan is also another source of earning for him. He also owns NBA outfit Charlotte Hornets and has investments in several top firms all around the globe. Therefore he is the richest earner with a reported earning of $2.62 bn.
Editors pick
