Global Sporting Titans: Cristiano Ronaldo Leads as Highest Earning Athlete, Surpassing Golf and Football Icons

By Hatem Mamdouh On May 17, 2024

Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo leads the global list of highest-paid athletes according to Forbes, with a staggering annual income of $260 million. Ronaldo’s move to Saudi club Al Nassr not only marked a significant shift in his illustrious career but also set a new benchmark for footballer earnings.

Golf sensation Jon Rahm trails just behind, spurred by a controversial $218 million deal with LIV Golf, marking one of the most seismic shifts in golf’s financial history. Lionel Messi, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, secures third place with earnings of $135 million after his high-profile transfer to Inter Miami.

The list also highlights the significant earnings from off-field endorsements, with Ronaldo and Messi making $60 million and $70 million respectively, capitalizing on their massive social media followings and endorsement deals.

Other notable mentions include NBA stars LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo, alongside younger football talents like Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, who continue to dominate the top ten through substantial on-field contracts and lucrative endorsements.

This ranking reflects not just the marketability of these athletes but also the global commercial dynamics of sports, illustrating a broadening landscape where diverse sports and leagues compete on the financial playing field.

Earnings Overview:

Rank	Name	Sport	Total Earnings ($M)
1	Cristiano Ronaldo	Football	260
2	Jon Rahm	Golf	218
3	Lionel Messi	Football	135
4	LeBron James	Basketball	128.2
5	Giannis Antetokounmpo	Basketball	111
6	Kylian Mbappé	Football	110
7	Neymar	Football	108
8	Karim Benzema	Football	106
9	Stephen Curry	Basketball	102
10	Lamar Jackson	American Football	100.5
11	Joe Burrow	American Football	100
12	Kevin Durant	Basketball	93.3
13	Shohei Ohtani	Baseball	85.3
14	Canelo Alvarez	Boxing	85
15	Patrick Mahomes	American Football	84.4
16	Anthony Joshua	Boxing	83
17	Max Verstappen	Auto Racing	81
18	Aaron Rodgers	American Football	80.8
19	Rory McIlroy	Golf	80.1
20	Justin Herbert	American Football	78.7
21	Lewis Hamilton	Auto Racing	69
22	Nick Bosa	American Football	68
23	Tiger Woods	Golf	67.2
24	Kirk Cousins	American Football	62.5
25	Klay Thompson	Basketball	62.3
26	Damian Lillard	Basketball	61.9
27	Erling Haaland	Football	61
28	Max Scherzer	Baseball	59.9
29	Scottie Scheffler	Golf	59.2
30	Joel Embiid	Basketball	57.7
31	Jimmy Butler	Basketball	57.5
32	Nikola Jokic	Basketball	56.1
33	James Harden	Basketball	55.8
34	Luka Doncic	Basketball	55.1
35	Bradley Beal	Basketball	54.3
36	Chris Jones	American Football	54.1
37	Kawhi Leonard	Basketball	53.7
38	Mohamed Salah	Football	53
39	Paul George	Basketball	52.7
40	Sadio Mane	Football	52
41	Brian Burns	American Football	51.7
42	Tyson Fury	Boxing	50
43	Cameron Smith	Golf	48
44	Trae Young	Basketball	47.3
45	Deshaun Watson	American Football	47
46	Rashan Gary	American Football	46.8
47	Anthony Davis	Basketball	46.2
48	Zion Williamson	Basketball	46.1
49	Jason Tatum	Basketball	45.9
50	Devin Booker	Basketball	45.2