Top 10 Highest-Paid Athletes Of All Time

We compiled a list of the 10 highest-paid athletes of all time, but before revealing the list, it is imperative to say that the sporting industry has produced some of the richest men we have continent today. These Sporting legends have made so much money thanks to their career earnings and endorsement deals.

The 10 highest-paid athletes of all time played a mix of six sports, with golf dominating the list with three entries, basketball and boxing landing two entries each. Tennis and racing made just a single entry on the list. Without any more delay here are the 10 highest-paid athletes of all time

Read More: 

• 10 Highest-Paid Female Athletes in the World (2022)
• Forbes Top 10 Highest-Paid Athletes In The World 2022
• Top 10 Richest Athletes in the World (2022)

1. Michael Jordan

Richest Athlete in the World – Micheal Jordan

Legendary United States Basketballer, Michael Jordan is the highest-paid athlete of all time, with a career earning of $2.6 billion. He is regarded by many as the greatest basketball player of all time.” He played for fifteen seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA), winning six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls.

According to Forbes, Michael Jordan, during his career earned a total of  $90 million, but he has earned $1.8 billion (pre-tax) from such corporate partners as Nike, Hanes, and Gatorade. In 2016, Jordan became the first billionaire player in NBA history, thanks to his investment as the principal owner and chairman of the Charlotte Hornets.

2. Tiger Woods

Richest Athletes in the World – Tiger Woods

With a career earning of $2.1 billion, legendary American golfer, Tiger Woods, takes second place among the highest-paid athletes of all time. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest golfers of all time and is one of the most famous athletes in modern history.

Forbes previously reported in April that Woods had made more than $1.7 billion in salary, endorsements, and other income over the course of his 27-year career. According to another report, his official PGA Tour earnings stand at $120 million and the bulk of his fortune comes from enormous endorsement deals with more than a dozen brands.

Between 2003 and 2012, Tiger Woods made more than $100 million a year off the course, and he ranked as Forbes’ No. 1 sports earner for 10 straight years.

3. Arnold Palmer

Late American golfer, Arnold Palmer, takes third place among the highest paid athlete, with a career earning of $1.5 billion. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most charismatic players in the sport’s history. Dating back to 1955, he won numerous events on both the PGA Tour and the circuit now known as PGA Tour Champions.

According to reports, Arnold made a little over $2 million in Prize earning money on his PGA tour but more impressively, earned more than $1.3 billion from endorsements and entrepreneurial ventures. Before his death in 2016, Palmer ranked third among the world’s highest-paid retired athletes with earnings of $42 million in 2015.

4. Jack Nicklaus

Another American Golfer, Jack Nicklaus, joins the league of the highest-paid athletes of all time, with a career earning of $1.3 billion. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest golfers of all time. He won 117 professional tournaments in his career. Over a quarter-century, he won a record 18 major championships.

The vast majority of Nicklaus’ earnings are not from his tournament earnings but from his endorsements and other ventures. He has marketing deals and endorsements from various companies like Perry Ellis and Rolex. According to reports, Jack made just $5.7 million from playing events on the Tour.

5. Cristiano Ronaldo

Portuguese professional footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo, is no doubt one of the highest-paid athletes of all time, with career earnings of $1.24 billion. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest Football players of all time, with five Ballon d’Or awards and four European Golden Shoes to his name.

Ronaldo is the first active team-sport athlete to surpass $1 billion in career earnings, a feat accomplished in 2020.  Just like many athletes on this list, Ronaldo makes money off the pitch with his CR7-branded clothing, accessories, hotels, and gyms. He also has a lifetime endorsement deal with numerous companies, including  Nike.

6. Floyd Mayweather

Legendary American Boxer, Floyd Mayweather is also one of the highest-paid athletes of all time, with career earnings of $1.2 billion. As a professional boxer, he competed between 1996 and 2017, retiring with an undefeated record and winning 15 major world championships from super featherweight to light middleweight.

According to Forbes, Floyd Mayweather was the sixth athlete to cross the $1 Billion career earnings benchmark thanks to his 2017 bout against Conor McGregor. Unlike many on this list, Mayweather rarely provides opportunities for endorsements and made the majority of his fortune from his bouts.

He made about $45 million against Miguel Cotto in 2012, and about $73 million against Canelo Alvarez. His disclosed paycheck against Conor McGregor was $100 million.

7. Lebron James

Iconic American basketball player, Lebron James takes seventh place among the highest paid athlete of all time, with career earnings of $1.1 billion. He is widely considered one of the greatest players of all time.  James has won four NBA championships, four NBA MVP awards,  three All-Star MVP awards, and two Olympic gold medals.

Lebron recently became the highest-paid player in NBA history, thanks two-year, $97.1 million contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers. According to CNBC, Lebron has made over $520 Million in salary, from numerous NBA clubs. He has also made over 600 Million from numerous endorsements and business ventures.

8. Lionel Messi

Legendary Argentine professional footballer, Lionel Messi, with career earnings of $1.1 billion, takes eighth place among the highest paid athletes of all time. He is often considered the best player in the world, with a record seven Ballon d’Or awards, and a record six European Golden Shoes.

Messi is one of the highest football players in the world, earning a little above $100 Million annually.  A contract leak in January 2021 showed Messi was making up to $165 million annually in salary and incentives at Barcelona. He also earns up to $55 Million in endorsements, annually.

9. Michael Schumacher

German racing legend Michael Schumacher is one of the highest-paid athletes of all time, with career earnings of $1.1 billion. He competed in Formula One for Jordan, Benetton, Ferrari, and Mercedes. He has a joint-record seven World Drivers’ Championship titles (tied with Lewis Hamilton) and numerous Formula1 records to his name.

Schumacher has appeared on Forbes’ list of highest-paid athletes every year since they began tracking athletes in 1990. At the peak of his career, he earned $80-100 million per year. Even in years when he was not racing, Schumacher earned $50 million from endorsements alone.

10. Roger Federer

Roger Federer is a Swiss professional tennis player and one of the highest-paid players in the world, with career earnings of $1.1 billion. He was ranked world No. 1 by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) for 310 weeks, including a record 237 consecutive weeks, and has finished as the year-end No. 1 five times.

Federer is the first Tennis player to hit the $1 Billion, career earnings benchmark. He has earned a total of $130 million in prize money in his career, second all-time behind Djokovic. The remaining vast majority of his earnings come from endorsement deals and investments.

Federer’s endorsement roster includes 14 brands, and half of them have been sponsoring him for more than a decade, including Credit Suisse, Mercedes-Benz, Rolex, and Wilson.

Summary

Here is a recap of the top 10 highest-paid athletes of all time.

1. Michael Jordan – $2.6 billion
2. Tiger Woods – $2.1 billion
3. Arnold Palmer – $1.5 billion
4. Jack Nicklaus – $1.3 billion
5. Cristiano Ronaldo – $1.24 billion
6. Floyd Mayweather – $1.2 billion
7. Lebron James – $1.1 billion
8. Lionel Messi – $1.1 billion
9. Michael Schumacher – $1.1 billion
10. Roger Federer – $1.1 Billion