The biggest sports stars on the planet had another banner year with the 100 top-earning athletes banking $3.11 billion combined over the past 12 months.
Global soccer icon, Cristiano Ronaldo nabbed the top spot with $93 million, including $35 million off the pitch from sponsors and licensing.
Salaries are soaring in team sports thanks to blockbuster TV contracts both locally and nationally, but the players at the very top of the earnings food chain separate themselves by what they make from endorsements.
The five highest-paid athletes, Ronaldo, LeBron James, Lionel Messi, Roger Federer and Kevin Durant all generate more than $25 million annually from sponsors.
In addition to their athletic achievements, the appeal of this group for marketers is a function of the global sports they play. Nike (and Adidas in the case of Messi) can use all of them in ad campaigns around the world. That is not the case with stars in the NFL and MLB.
The earnings below span June 1, 2016 through June 1, 2017 and include salaries, bonuses, prize money, endorsements, licensing and appearance fees.
Rank, Name, Earnings (Sport, Country)
1. Cristiano Ronaldo, $93 million (Soccer, Portugal)
2. LeBron James, $86.2 million (Basketball, U.S.)
3. Lionel Messi, $80 million (Soccer, Argentina)
4. Roger Federer, $64 million (Tennis, Switzerland)
5. Kevin Durant, $60.6 million (Basketball, U.S.)
6. Andrew Luck, $50 million (Football, U.S.)
6. Rory McIlroy, $50 million (Golf, U.K.)
8. Stephen Curry, $47.3 million (Basketball, U.S.)
9. James Harden, $46.6 million (Basketball, U.S.)
10. Lewis Hamilton, $46 million (Racing, U.K.)
11. Drew Brees, $45.3 million (Football, U.S.)
12. Phil Mickelson, $43.5 million (Golf, U.S.)
13. Russell Westbrook, $38.6 million (Basketball, U.S.)
14. Sebastian Vettel, $38.5 million (Racing, Germany)
15. Damian Lillard, $38.4 million (Basketball, U.S.)
16. Novak Djokovic, $37.6 million (Tennis, Serbia)
17. Tiger Woods, $37.1 million (Golf, U.S.)
18. Neymar, $37 million (Soccer, Brazil)
19. Dwyane Wade, $36.2 million (Basketball, U.S.)
20. Fernando Alonso, $36 million (Racing, Spain)
21. Jordan Spieth, $34.5 million (Golf, U.S.)
22. Derrick Rose, $34.3 million (Basketball, U.S.)
23. Usain Bolt, $34.2 million (Track, Jamaica)
24. Conor McGregor, $34 million (MMA, Ireland)
24. Gareth Bale, $34 million (Soccer, U.K.)
26. Kei Nishikori, $33.9 million (Tennis, Japan)
27. Fletcher Cox, $33.4 million (Football, U.S.)
28. Clayton Kershaw, $33.3 million (Baseball, U.S.)
29. Carmelo Anthony, $32.6 million (Basketball, U.S.)
30. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, $32 million (Soccer, Sweden)
31. Antonio Brown, $31.9 million (Football, U.S.)
32. DeMar DeRozan, $31.6 million (Basketball, U.S.)
33. Rafael Nadal, $31.5 million (Tennis, Spain)
34. Eric Berry, $31.1 million (Football, U.S.)
35. Chris Paul, $30.9 million (Basketball, U.S.)
36. David Price, $30.6 million (Baseball, U.S.)
37. Miguel Cabrera, $30.3 million (Baseball, Venezuela)
38. Kyrie Irving, $29.9 million (Basketball, U.S.)
39. Stephon Gilmore, $29.3 million (Football, U.S.)
40. Justin Verlander, $28.8 million (Baseball, U.S.)
40. Andy Murray, $28.8 million (Tennis, U.K.)
42. Mike Conley, $28.6 million (Basketball, U.S.)
43. Canelo Alvarez, $28.5 million (Boxing, Mexico)
44. Blake Griffin, $28.1 million (Basketball, U.S.)
44. Anthony Davis, $28.1 million (Basketball, U.S.)
44. Al Horford, $28.1 million (Basketball, Dominican Republic)
44. Von Miller, $28.1 million (Football, U.S.)
48. Dustin Johnson, $27.6 million (Golf, U.S.)
49. Albert Pujols, $27.3 million (Baseball, Dominican Republic)
50. Dwight Howard, $27.2 million (Basketball, U.S.)
51. Ryan Howard, $27 million (Baseball, U.S.)
51. Serena Williams, $27 million (Tennis, U.S.)
53. Robinson Cano, $26.6 million (Baseball, Dominican Republic)
54. Kevin Love, $26.4 million (Basketball, U.S.)
55. Chris Bosh, $26.3 million (Basketball, U.S.)
56. Dirk Nowitzki, $26 million (Basketball, Germany)
56. Cam Newton, $26 million (Football, U.S.)
58. Felix Hernandez, $25.8 million (Baseball, Venezuela)
58. Paul George, $25.8 million (Basketball, U.S.)
60. Jason Pierre-Paul, $25.7 million (Football, U.S.)
61. CC Sabathia, $25.6 million (Baseball, U.S.)
62. David DeCastro, $25.1 million (Football, U.S.)
63. Eli Manning, $25 million (Football, U.S.)
64. Buster Posey, $24.6 million (Baseball, U.S.)
65. Prince Fielder, $24.2 million (Baseball, U.S.)
66. Josh Hamilton, $24.1 million (Baseball, U.S.)
67. Zack Greinke, $24.1 million (Baseball, U.S.)
68. Harrison Barnes, $23.9 million (Basketball, U.S.)
69. Joe Mauer, $23.8 million (Baseball, U.S.)
70. Wayne Rooney, $23.6 million (Soccer, U.K.)
71. Bradley Beal, $23.3 million (Basketball, U.S.)
71. Luis Suarez, $23.3 million (Soccer, Uruguay)
73. Matt Kalil, $23.2 million (Football, U.S.)
74. Andre Drummond, $23.1 million (Basketball, U.S.)
75. Masahiro Tanaka, $23 million (Baseball, Japan)
76. Chandler Parsons, $22.9 million (Basketball, U.S.)
76. Chandler Jones, $22.9 million (Football, U.S.)
78. Cole Hamels, $22.7 million (Baseball, U.S.)
78. Hassan Whiteside, $22.7 million (Basketball, U.S.)
80. Sergio Aguero, $22.6 million (Soccer, Argentina)
81. Muhammad Wilkerson, $22.4 million (Football, U.S.)
82. Hanley Ramirez, $22.3 million (Baseball, Dominican Republic)
82. Justin Upton, $22.3 million (Baseball, U.S.)
82. Nick Perry, $22.3 million (Football, U.S.)
85. DeAndre Jordan, $22.2 million (Basketball, U.S.)
85. Marc Gasol, $22.2 million (Basketball, Spain)
87. José Reyes, $22.1 million (Baseball, Dominican Republic)
87. LaMarcus Aldridge, $22.1 million (Basketball, U.S.)
89. Anthony Joshua, $22 million (Boxing, U.K.)
89. Virat Kohli, $22 million (Cricket, India)
91. Klay Thompson, $21.9 million (Basketball, U.S.)
91. James Rodriguez, $21.9 million (Soccer, Colombia)
93. Jimmie Johnson, $21.8 million (Racing, U.S.)
94. Jacoby Ellsbury, $21.7 million (Baseball, U.S.)
94. Matt Kemp, $21.7 million (Baseball, U.S.)
94. Adrian Gonzalez, $21.7 million (Baseball, U.S.)
94. Brook Lopez, $21.7 million (Basketball, U.S.)
98. Nicolas Batum, $21.5 million (Basketball, France)
98. Wladimir Klitschko, $21.5 million (Boxing, Ukraine)
100. Dale Earnhardt Jr., $21.4 million (Racing, U.S.)
Source:Â Forbes
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