Top 9 World’s Highest Paid Athletes
Sports are increasing their share in the entertainment industry.39-year-old Players like Cristiano Ronaldo who is still playing football earn more in the game and attract many brand endorsement deals. Many new athletes are now the world’s richest-paid athletes earning millions of dollars. From the youngest athletes like Kylian Mbappé to many other sports athletes we will list their total Salaries and Endorsement deals.
Here are the Top 9 World’s Highest Paid Athletes:
1. Cristiano Ronaldo
(Association football, Portugal)
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- Total: $260 million
- Salary/Winnings: $200 million
- Endorsements: $60 million
After surpassing $1 Billion in earnings Ronaldo became the world’s highest-paid athlete this achievement comes with joining the Saudi Club Al Nassr club is giving a salary of $200 million every month. Brands like Nike, Binance, and Herbalife come in the endorsement portfolio of Ronaldo.
2. Jon Rahm
(Golf, Spain)
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- Total: $218 million
- Salary/Winnings: $198 million
- Endorsements: $20 million
Jon Rahm a Spanish golfer who has joined the upstart league becomes the second top-earning sports player. Mercedes-Benz, Callaway Golf, Vista Jet, and Silverleaf clubs are the endorsements list for the golfer from which he earns $20 million. From 2022 to 2023 he won the Masters tournament, The Genesis Invitational, The American Express, and the Sentry Tournament of Champions.
3. Lionel Messi
(Association football, Argentina)
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- Total: $135 million
- Salary/Winnings: $65 million
- Endorsements: $70 million
Adidas, Apple, Gatorade, and PepsiCo are the endorsement deals that Messi has. Messi signed a deal with the Apple TV for $2.5 billion. He has an equity share of more than $50 million per year which comes in contact with the Inter Miami Team.
4. LeBron James
(Basketball, United States)
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- Total: $128.2 million
- Salary/Winnings: $48.2 million
- Endorsements: $80 million
LeBron a basketball player plays for Los Angeles Lakers. He has also won 4 Championships in the NBA. Known as the King James he has a total earning income of $128.2 million per month including endorsement deals with brands like Nike, Beats, PepsiCo, and many more.
5. Giannis Antetokounmpo
(Basketball, Greece)
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- Total: $111 million
- Salary/Winnings: $46 million
- Endorsements: $65 million
A Nigerian-Greek Basketball Player Giannis Stands in the 4th Position With more than $65 million in an endorsement deal with the brand Nike. In June 2022 Disney also released the movie “Rise” which is based on his life story.
6. Kylian Mbappé
(Association football, France)
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- Total: $110 million
- Salary/Winnings: $90 million
- Endorsements: $20 million
Mbappé has endorsement deals like Nike and Hublot. He is the face of the French football. After scoring in the 2018 final world cup he became the second youngest player in Football history. EA Sports in 2020 picked him for the cover of FIFA 21. Later, he joined Real Madrid in 2024.
7. Neymar
(Association football, Brazil)
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- Total: $108 million
- Salary/Winnings: $80 million
- Endorsements: $28 million
Neymar joined the puma in 2020 after leaving Nike’s Jordan Brand. The deal between Barcelona and PSG of $263 million was the most expensive ever. In 2023 he joined Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia.
8. Karim Benzema
(Association football, France)
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- Total: $106 million
- Salary/Winnings: $100 million
- Endorsements: $6 million
A four-time French player of the year and also won the Ballon d’Or for the world’s best men’s player in 2022. In 2021 he won the UEFA Nations League and joined Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad in June 2023 and also has brand endorsements of $6 million.
9. Stephen Curry
(Basketball, United States)
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- Total: $102 million
- Salary/Winnings: $52 million
- Endorsements: $50 million
Stephen is a 2 times MVP and was the first player to get the $51.9 million salary to reach the $50 million milestone. In 2021 his contract was changed to a $215 million extension and in March 2023 he signed the extension with the apparel company for the long term. To compete the Nike’s Jordan shoes Under Armour announced the Curry Brand in 2020.
Conclusion:
They all are famous players in their sports. For now, we can see Ronaldo at the top of the list. In the NBA Lebron James had more Endorsement Deals then compared to others. This athlete is the brand face for the promotion of their products.
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