Top 10 Richest Athletes in the World- Ranked

By and large, the sports industry is one of the largest and most profitable in the world. These high-profile athletes come from a variety of different sports and over the past few years and decades have certainly left a mark in their respective fields. Whilst these athletes have been compensated fairly for their performances and all that they have delivered, there are also the additional factors related to their sponsorships, endorsements, and other ventures, which play a key role in the wealth they have accumulated and in turn, made them some of the richest athletes in the world. With tens of millions of dollars added to their already immense fortune, it truly makes for some awe-inspiring figures.

Keeping in mind only active athletes for our list, there are some names that stand out ahead of the rest and some by quite a fair margin. These top-tier athletes are some of the best in their respective fields and have been dominating the stage year in and year out. Whilst some names on this list may be past their prime and the click may well be winding down on their professional careers, they have still made more than enough to live comfortably after their career and sustain generations to come.

Richest Athletes in the World – Top 10 Comprehensive Table

We have ranked the richest athletes in the world based on their salary and earnings, taking into account both their on-the-field and off-the-field earnings. With that said, let’s take a look at the elite list of the top 10 richest athletes in the world.

How We Ranked the Richest Sportsman in the World

We’ve compiled this list of the top 10 richest athletes in the world after considering several key metrics like their net worth, career salary, prize earnings, brand endorsements, & business revenue, but not limited only to these. Now, let’s take a look at our list of the top 10 richest athletes in the world and find out who is the richest athlete in the world.

Top 10 Richest Athletes in the World – Individual Profiles

10. Jack Nicklaus

Jack Nicklaus has won 18 major golf tournaments. Impressive, right? But here’s where he really got rich – designing golf courses. With over 400 golf courses around the world, he has made a fortune from it, earning millions each time. Plus, he often gets a piece of the real estate deals, too. Rich people love playing golf courses designed by the best golfer ever. It makes them feel special. So they pay extra for it. Nicklaus turned his golf knowledge into a multi-million-dollar empire.

9. Roger Federer

Roger Federer retired in 2022. But companies still pay him millions. Why? Because he’s the classiest athlete ever. Rolex pays him to wear their watches. Not because tennis players need expensive watches. But because Federer makes everything look elegant. His Uniqlo deal was worth over $300 million. He signed it when he was 36 years old. Past his prime, yet landing such a massive deal. But brands knew his image was worth way more than his wins. Federer sells luxury.

8. Junior Bridgeman

Here’s a guy most people never heard of. Bridgeman played basketball in the 1970s and 80s. His entire NBA salary? Just $350,000. Total. Not per year, and yes, you heard it right. But Bridgeman was just built differently. While other players bought fancy cars, he bought Wendy’s restaurants. One by one. During the off-season, he’d work in his own restaurants. Learning the business. By the time he retired, he owned over 160 Wendy’s locations. Then he bought Chili’s restaurants, too. Today, he’s worth more than most Hall of Fame players. The lesson? Sometimes, the boring investment is the best investment.

7. Arnold Palmer

Arnold Palmer died in 2016. But his name still makes millions every year. So, how does his name still sell? You know that one drink, a half iced tea, half lemonade, commonly known as an Arnold Palmer. That simple drink makes hundreds of millions in sales. But Palmer was smart way before that. He was the first golfer, people actually wanted to watch on TV. He made golf fun and relatable. Companies loved him because he felt like your neighbor. Not some rich country club guy. Just a regular person who happened to be great at golf.

6. Lionel Messi

Having penned the perfect ending to his international career, Lionel Messi won the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which was followed by a move to the USA and Inter Miami in the MLS. Whilst things have been seemingly on easy mode for the Argentinian ever since, joining up with some of his FC Barcelona colleagues in the process as well. At the same time, Messi has signed a slew of lucrative sponsorships, which include the most valuable jersey deal in MLS history, in addition to Lowe’s, Adidas, Apple, and Konami. At the same time, he has even launched a drink brand of his own named Mas+.

5. Cristiano Ronaldo

Without a shadow of a doubt, the richest athlete in the world for a few years running continues to be the Portuguese superstar and Al-Nassr talisman, Cristiano Ronaldo himself. Following an incredibly successful career, the Saudis backed Ronaldo to become the face of the Saudi Pro League, and the star man has delivered, continuing to shatter goalscoring records at the ripe age of 40. With an extremely lucrative $200 million annual salary at Al-Nassr, Ronaldo was always a shoo-in for the top spot. In addition to this, his deals with Nike, Herbalife, Clear Haircare, and, more recently, Whoop and many other brands, and his recent $10 million + settlement with former club Juventus, further solidify his position at the top and possibly for a few more years to come.

4. Magic Johnson

Magic Johnson retired from basketball in 1996 with a million in career earnings. But look at him today? He’s worth more than 1.2 billion, and nearly all of it came after hanging up his jersey. Many must be wondering what’s his secret? Seeing gold where others saw empty lots. While corporate America ignored urban communities, Magic built a billion-dollar empire by bringing Starbucks franchises, Dodgers ownership stakes, and insurance giants to underserved neighborhoods. The ultimate playmaker even turned his biggest blunder, rejecting Nike stock for quick cash in 1979, into a punchline: “That cost me a billion!” Talk about a post-game hustle.

3. LeBron James

LeBron James figured out something important. Basketball was just the beginning for him. The real money comes from endorsements and deals. His Nike deal? Worth over $1 billion. That too with a lifetime contract. But that’s not the smart part of it. The smart part is his other investments. He bought a small pizza chain called Blaze Pizza for under $1 million. Now this small pizza chain is worth over $40 million. He makes movies through his entertainment company and earns millions from it. He owns a minority of the Liverpool soccer team shares.

2. Tiger Woods

Before Tiger, golf was considered boring, an old men’s game. Nobody really cared about the game, but then Tiger showed up. Suddenly, millions of people who never played golf were watching tournaments like they’d been following this game for ages. TV ratings started breaking the. Prize money doubled. Then tripled. Nike saw this coming. They gave Tiger a deal worth $60 million per year. Not because he was good at golf. But he made golf exciting for everyone, be kids or grown men. Even when Tiger had personal problems, sponsors stuck with him.

1. Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan retired from professional basketball in 2003. But guess what? NBA legend is still making $200-300 million every year. The real question is, how is he making so much money? Well, the answer is pretty simple, everyone must have heard about the shoes ‘JORDAN’, and from those shoes, he is still making millions. Back in 1984, Nike was desperate to grow and needed a basketball star, and Jordan’s agent was smart enough to crack the deal for him. The crazy part about him making so much money now than he made during the time he was the best player in the league. Who else would have been the richest sportsman in the world, dominated by so many basketball players, if not Michael Jordan?

Who is the richest athlete in the world?

It’s Michael Jordan – there was no contest or any confusion to begin with. The man is worth over a staggering $3 billion. And 90% of his wealth came after retirement. While many stars chase contracts, Jordan built an empire that keeps growing while he enjoys it. His net worth isn’t just big – it’s almost three times larger than the #2 athlete on our list of richest athletes in the world.