With lavish lifestyles, expensive cars, and global fame, the sports industry is attracting more young players today than ever. In this blog post, we will share the top 10 highest paid sportsman in the world who have shaped the industry in terms of earnings.
This is the most updated list, and 2019’s number one Messi and 2018’s whopper Floyd Mayweather Jr are no longer at the same place. Though you might find a few faces from the ten richest sportsperson in the world, their position has changed.
So, let’s check how they made millions, even after working for reduced pay and playing to empty seats. It’s gonna be fun because you will see a massive change in the ranking of the highest paid sportsman in the world.
Run your eyes through this list for a brief about the latest ranking;
| Name | Nationality | Sport | Total Collection |
| Conor McGregor | Ireland | MMA | $180 M |
| Lionel Messi | Argentina | Soccer | $130 M |
| Christiano Ronaldo | Portugal | Soccer | $120 M |
| Dak Prescott | United States | Football | $107.5 M |
| Roger Federer | Switzerland | Tennis | $106.3 M |
| LeBron James | United States | Basketball | $96.5 M |
| Neymar | Brazil | Soccer | $95 M |
| Lewis Hamilton | United Kingdom | Formula One | $82 M |
| Tom Brady | United States | Football | $76 M |
| Kelvin Durant | United States | Basketball | $75 M |
1. Conor McGregor
Conor McGregor was previously out of the best MMA fighters in the world, but he is surely the most popular MMA fighter today. He is a professional mixed martial artist and a former UFC double-champion. Despite Dustin Poirier knocking him out in the first UFC fight in Jan 2021 and the Covid-19 pandemic, McGregor collected an estimated $22 million between 2020-21. Conor is undoubtedly a champion, but do you know he is a great businessman too, and more than 85% of his total worth comes from his whiskey business? According to Forbes, the real cash cow for Conor McGregor is a whopping sale of his whiskey Proper No. Twelve, besides the video game Dystopia and his investment portfolio that includes DraftKings.
Active Income: $22 M
Passive Income: $158 M
Overall Collection: $180 M
2. Lionel Messi
As one of the greatest football players of all time, Barcelona’s star player draws a big paycheck that puts him among the top ten highest paid sportsman in the world. He also earns a lot of money with sponsorships.
Messi’s sponsorship deals are numerous to list, but they include lifetime deals with Adidas and Ginny Hilfiger, sister of Tommy Hilfiger. Although, Messi’s off-field income is too less compared to no. #1.
Active Income: $97 M
Passive Income: $33 M
Overall Collection: $130 M
3. Cristiano Ronaldo
One of the greatest soccer players of his generation, Cristiano Ronaldo, made headlines for becoming the world’s first person to get 500 million followers across Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter in February. Ronaldo also became the first soccer player in history to earn 1 billion, landing him at #4 on the 2020 Forbes Celebrity 100. He ranked at #1 on our previous list of the richest soccer players in the world. More than 40% of his total income is from endorsement deals with top brands like Tag Heuer and Nike.
Active Income: $70 M
Passive Income: $50 M
Overall Collection: $120 M
4. Dak Prescott
An American Football Quarterback, Dak Prescott’s 92% income is from his on-field salary – making him one of the highest paid sportsman in the world. A recent $66 million bonus from Prescott’s four-year contract extension pushes the Cowboys Dallas star into the $100 million club. He recently announced investing in a restaurant chain in Texas.
Active Income: $97.5 M
Passive Income: $10 M
Overall Collection: $107.5 M
5. Roger Federer
This is not the first time when Swiss tennis player Roger Federer is among the top highest paid sportsman in the world. He constantly acquired a place on the Forbes Top 10 List, and most of his wealth didn’t come directly from tennis. Thanks to his lucrative portfolio of endorsement deals with brands like Rolex, Mercedes, and Wilson. The biggest prize on his table is the Japanese apparel brand Uniqlo.
Active Income: $16.5 M
Passive Income: $90 M
Overall Collection: $106.5 M
6. LeBron James
With close to $97 million, Forbes ranked LeBron James among the highest paid sportsman in the world. A majority of LeBron’s booming wealth is driven by his partnerships with top brands like Nike, Sprite, and Pepsi. As per Travel.com, LeBron James owns a Gulfstream G280 dual-engine business jet, thanks to his massive NBA paycheck and endorsement from Blaze Pizza, AT&T, and other sponsorship deals.
Active Income: $31.5 M
Passive Income: $65 M
Overall Collection: $96.5 M
7. Neymar
Widely considered one of the best soccer players in the world, Neymar is now one of the highest paid sportsman too. With 282 million followers on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, he runs marketing campaigns for some of the top brands in the world. Besides his 3-year contract with Paris Saint-German worth $22 M, he has signed numerous sponsorship deals adding millions to his treasure every minute.
Active Income: $76 M
Passive Income: $19 M
Overall Collection: $95 M
8. Lewis Hamilton
British Formula One racer Lewis Hamilton consistently earns over $55 million yearly, so it is no surprise that Hamilton is one of the highest paid sportsman in the world. Apart from hefty bonus paychecks, his endorsement partners include Mercedes-Benz, Tommy Hilfiger, Monster Energy, Puma, IWC, Sony, BOSE, Bell Helmets, MV Agusta Motorcycles, Gran Turismo Sport.
Active Income: $70 M
Passive Income: $12 M
Overall Collection: $82 M
9. Tom Brady
As per NFL Media, Brady agreed to be paid approximately $50 million from a two-year contract in Tampa Bay. With a handsome on-field salary from his team, Tom continues to be the highest paid sportsman in the world. He also had dipped his toe into investment and got a nice paycheck from his sponsorship with Under Armour, Molecule Mattresses, Upper Deck, and IWC watch.
Active Income: $45 M
Passive Income: $31 M
Overall Collection: $76 M
10. Kelvin Durant
American professional basketball player Kelvin Durant made his first appearance among the top 10 highest paid sportsman in the world. He recently signed a $170 million four-year contract with Brooklyn Nets, making him the third-richest NBA player after LeBron James and Stephen Curry. Durant has also appeared in commercials for Gatorade, Sonic Drive-In, Beats by Dre, Skullcandy, and Sprint, in addition to Nike and Alaska Airlines.
Active Income: $31 M
Passive Income: $44 M
Overall Collection: $75 M
These are the highest paid sportsman in the world. We ranked them based on their earnings in 2020-21. If you have questions or any information to share, please share in the comments below.
