The Highest Earning Athletes in Seven Professional Sports
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How much money do the world’s biggest athletes really make? And how do they compare across different sports?
We visualized the highest earning athletes in various professional sports, according to calculations from Forbes. Earnings reported here cover the period of May 2022 to May 2023. Earnings includes on-field (salary, bonuses, prize money) and off-field (endorsements, licensing, etc).
Forbes’ research included talking to industry insiders, following news reports, and parsing salary databases. Please see their methodology page for further details.
Who is the Highest Paid Athlete in the World?
Cristiano Ronaldo was the highest-paid athlete in the world, making an estimated $136 million between May 2022 and May 2023. His move to Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr set a record for the biggest contract in the sport at the time.
Here’s how he compared to the top earners in some other sports.
| Athlete | Sport | Total Earnings (May 2022–23) |
|---|---|---|
| Cristiano Ronaldo | ⚽ Soccer | $136M |
| LeBron James | 🏀 Basketball | $120M |
| Canelo Alvarez | 🥊 Boxing | $110M |
| Dustin Johnson | ⛳ Golf | $107M |
| Roger Federer | 🎾 Tennis | $95M |
| Russell Wilson | 🏈 American Football | $85M |
| Lewis Hamilton | 🏎️ Formula 1 | $65M |
Note: Figures are rounded.
Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James made the most money in basketball (just under $120 million), which is almost twice as much as Formula 1’s top earner, Lewis Hamilton, who took home about $65 million in 2022–23.
Something else to note is how off-court earnings can contribute significantly to total income for some athletes.
| Athlete | Sport | On-Field Earnings | Off-Field Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cristiano Ronaldo | ⚽ Soccer | $46M | $90M |
| LeBron James | 🏀 Basketball | $45M | $75M |
| Canelo Alvarez | 🥊 Boxing | $100M | $10M |
| Dustin Johnson | ⛳ Golf | $102M | $5M |
| Roger Federer | 🎾 Tennis | $0.1M | $95M |
| Russell Wilson | 🏈 American Football | $72M | $13M |
| Lewis Hamilton | 🏎️ Formula 1 | $55M | $10M |
Note: Figures are rounded.
This is most apparent with Roger Federer, who retired in 2022, after playing his last Laver Cup. However, his massive deals with Uniqlo, Rolex, and Mercedes, as well as his stake in running company On, still keeps him towards the top of the these lists.
Together with Ronaldo and James, these three athletes are widely considered the face of their sport, undoubtedly helping them secure lucrative endorsements and business deals.
