The 50 Highest-Paid Athletes of All Time – Ranked from Lowest to Highest
Earnings in professional sports have skyrocketed over the past few decades, driven not only by lucrative salaries and prize money but also by massive endorsement deals, savvy business ventures, and global media exposure. In a new analysis by Sportico, the all-time highest earners have been ranked based on career income adjusted for inflation, offering a rare cross-era comparison of sports’ greatest moneymakers.
While some legendary names continue to generate wealth long after retirement, others—still active—are rapidly climbing the ranks, redefining what it means to be a modern sports icon. From football and boxing to golf, tennis, and motorsport, these are the 50 richest athletes the world has ever seen.
50. Carmelo Anthony – £456M
A ten-time NBA All-Star, Carmelo Anthony earned the bulk of his fortune through lucrative basketball contracts and endorsement deals with brands like Jordan Brand and Foot Locker.
49. Drew Brees – £468M
The Super Bowl-winning quarterback made his money from NFL salaries and a wide range of commercial partnerships, including deals with Wrangler, Nike, and Verizon.
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48. Dwyane Wade – £468M
Known for his successful career with the Miami Heat, Wade’s earnings came from NBA salaries, as well as partnerships with Li-Ning, Gatorade, and T-Mobile.
47. Kimi Räikkönen – £472M
The Finnish F1 World Champion built his wealth through high-paying contracts with Ferrari and McLaren, and major personal sponsors such as Shell and Tag Heuer.
46. Chris Paul – £492M
An elite point guard still active in the NBA, Paul has earned millions from playing contracts and endorsements, including State Farm and Jordan Brand.
45. Aaron Rodgers – £496M
As one of the NFL’s most prominent quarterbacks, Rodgers made his money through massive contracts with the Green Bay Packers and endorsements from Adidas and State Farm.
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44. Andre Agassi – £508M
The tennis legend not only won Grand Slams but also turned his fame into fortune with long-standing sponsorships from Nike, Canon, and Head.
43. James Harden – £512M
A prolific NBA scorer, Harden’s wealth comes from his max contracts, especially with the Rockets, and endorsement deals with Adidas, Beats, and BodyArmor.
42. Evander Holyfield – £520M
The former undisputed cruiserweight and heavyweight champion made his fortune in the ring and through numerous pay-per-view boxing events in the 1990s.
41. Kevin Garnett – £524M
One of the most intense players in NBA history, Garnett had one of the richest player contracts ever and endorsed companies like Adidas and Gatorade.
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40. Serena Williams – £528M
A global tennis icon, Serena earned millions through prize money and mega-deals with Nike, Wilson, Gatorade, and a vast portfolio of business investments.
39. Russell Westbrook – £532M
Known for his triple-double prowess, Westbrook amassed his earnings via NBA contracts and deals with Jordan Brand, Samsung, and Mountain Dew.
38. Dale Earnhardt Jr. – £532M
As NASCAR’s most popular driver for years, Earnhardt Jr. profited handsomely from racing and sponsorships with Budweiser, Chevrolet, and Nationwide.
37. Gary Player – £536M
The South African golf legend made his fortune not just on the course but also through design work, endorsements, and speaking engagements across the globe.
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36. Magic Johnson – £540M
An NBA icon, Johnson transitioned into a savvy businessman with investments in real estate, Starbucks franchises, and sports teams.
35. Ernie Els – £548M
The “Big Easy” earned his money through golf winnings, course design, wine production, and endorsements with brands like Rolex and Callaway.
34. Fernando Alonso – £552M
Two-time F1 World Champion Alonso earned big contracts at Renault, Ferrari, and McLaren, plus deals with Kimoa and various tech sponsors.
33. Novak Djokovic – £552M
The Serbian tennis great has won more than 20 Grand Slam titles and built a global brand with sponsorships from Lacoste, Asics, and Head.
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32. Derek Jeter – £556M
A Yankees legend, Jeter’s income came from baseball salaries, deals with Gatorade and Nike, and his post-retirement media ventures.
31. Oscar De La Hoya – £564M
The "Golden Boy" of boxing made millions through fight purses and later launched Golden Boy Promotions, one of the top boxing promotions in the world.
30. Valentino Rossi – £580M
The Italian MotoGP legend won world titles and earned millions from contracts and global endorsements, including deals with Yamaha and Monster Energy.
29. Jeff Gordon – £584M
One of NASCAR’s greatest, Gordon’s wealth came from prize money, endorsement deals with Pepsi and DuPont, and a long career in team ownership and broadcasting.
28. George Foreman – £584M
The heavyweight boxing icon earned most of his fortune after retirement thanks to the wildly successful George Foreman Grill, selling over 100 million units.
27. Canelo Álvarez – £584M
Still active, the Mexican boxing superstar has made his fortune from blockbuster pay-per-view fights and endorsements with Hennessy and Under Armour.
26. Rafael Nadal – £588M
The Spanish tennis star built his fortune through Grand Slam wins, endorsement deals with Nike, Babolat, and Kia, and a long, decorated career.
25. Peyton Manning – £600M
One of the NFL’s greatest quarterbacks, Manning earned big from playing contracts and sponsorships with Nationwide, Gatorade, and Papa John’s.
24. Rory McIlroy – £616M
The Northern Irish golfer gained wealth through PGA wins, business ventures, and deals with Nike, TaylorMade, and Omega.
23. Manny Pacquiao – £620M
A boxing legend from the Philippines, Pacquiao’s career featured mega fights with Mayweather and Marquez, and he capitalized on his fame politically and commercially.
22. Alex Rodriguez – £636M
A-Rod was one of MLB’s highest earners and later grew his wealth through investments and broadcasting roles, alongside brands like Nike and Pepsi.
21. Tom Brady – £656M
The seven-time Super Bowl champion quarterback added to his NFL earnings with endorsement deals and business ventures including TB12 and Brady Brand.
20. Stephen Curry – £760M
The face of the modern NBA three-point revolution, Curry has a massive deal with Under Armour and multiple business investments fueling his income.
19. Mike Tyson – £772M
Once the most feared man in boxing, Tyson earned millions in the ring and later rebuilt his wealth with podcasting, acting, and a cannabis empire.
18. Lewis Hamilton – £776M
The British F1 legend tied Schumacher's record with seven world titles and earned heavily from Mercedes contracts and deals with Tommy Hilfiger and Monster.
17. Kevin Durant – £856M
A scoring machine and two-time NBA champ, Durant made his wealth from the NBA, Nike contracts, and major investments through his firm Thirty Five Ventures.
16. Kobe Bryant – £888M
The late NBA icon earned through Lakers contracts and massive endorsements, most notably with Nike, and launched his own Oscar-winning media company.
15. Greg Norman – £912M
The Australian golfer made his money from tournament wins and a business empire including wine, apparel, and golf course design – and recently, LIV Golf.
14. Neymar – £936M
A Brazilian superstar, Neymar's income came from massive club contracts and endorsements with Puma, Red Bull, and various fashion and gaming brands.
13. Shaquille O’Neal – £1.02B
Shaq’s dominance on the court translated into off-court success with business investments, endorsements, and media presence, including brands like Icy Hot and The General.
12. Michael Schumacher – £1.11B
The German F1 icon earned massive sums with Ferrari and enjoyed long-term sponsorships with Shell, Deutsche Vermögensberatung, and Omega.
11. Phil Mickelson – £1.19B
The American golf star built his wealth through tournament winnings, endorsements with Callaway and Rolex, and recently, a big LIV Golf payout.
10. Floyd Mayweather – £1.22B
The undefeated boxing icon earned most of his fortune from a handful of mega fights, including bouts against Pacquiao and McGregor, often as both fighter and promoter.
9. Roger Federer – £1.27B
One of tennis’ most elegant players, Federer’s wealth comes largely from endorsements with Rolex, Uniqlo, and Credit Suisse, in addition to his Grand Slam success.
8. David Beckham – £1.29B
The global football icon made his fortune through club contracts and massive brand deals with Adidas, H&M, and Pepsi – and now co-owns Inter Miami.
7. Jack Nicklaus – £1.40B
The 18-time major champion parlayed his golf success into course design, real estate, and long-standing partnerships with Rolex and Perry Ellis.
6. Arnold Palmer – £1.46B
The original golf superstar, Palmer earned far more off the course than on it, building a beverage empire and corporate portfolio few athletes have matched.
5. Lionel Messi – £1.48B
The Argentine magician made his money from club salaries, massive deals with Adidas, and worldwide image rights – and remains a marketing force today.
4. LeBron James – £1.50B
Still active in the NBA, LeBron has built a business empire around basketball, with deals from Nike, PepsiCo, and his own company SpringHill Entertainment.
3. Cristiano Ronaldo – £1.78B
The Portuguese megastar is a brand himself, earning from wages, CR7 product lines, and major sponsorships with Nike, Binance, and Herbalife.
2. Tiger Woods – £2.23B
A generational talent in golf, Woods has earned billions through tournament winnings, Nike deals, and course design, despite setbacks in his personal life.
1. Michael Jordan – £3.32B
The greatest earner in sports history, MJ built a post-career fortune through the Jordan Brand at Nike, endorsements, and former NBA team ownership.
