For individuals at the top of their chosen disciplines, professional sports may be a profoundly transformative experience. With the biggest personalities and top athletes achieving generational levels of fortune, money is what makes the world go round.
The most famous athletes in history have been set up for life with extravagant wages and lucrative sponsorship deals. Among the highest-paid athletes of all time are Lewis Hamilton, LeBron James, Cristiano Ronaldo, and numerous other sports gurus.
According to a report published by Sportico, the highest-paid athletes’ total incomes are calculated by factoring in inflation based on the year they became professional. For instance, Floyd Mayweather didn’t make his debut until 1995, but Mike Tyson went pro in 1986. After Tyson’s career ended, the amount of money in boxing will have altered dramatically over the years.
50–41
Basketball players Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, and Kevin Garnett are among those who barely made it into the top 50. The legendary boxer Evander Holyfield, who earned $650 million in inflation-adjusted earnings, is also at number 42.
All-Time Highest Paid Athletes (41–50)
Rank
An athlete
Adjusted Earnings for Inflation
Unadjusted Profits
Athletics
41
Garnett, Kevin
$655 million
$420 million
Basketball
42
Holyfield, Evander
$650 million
$320 million
Boxing
43
Harden, James
$640 million
$535 million
Basketball
44
Agassi, Andre
$635 million.
$355 million
Tennis
45
Rodgers, Aaron
$620 million
Half a billion dollars
Football in America
46
Paul Chris
$615 million
$490 million
Basketball
47
Raikkonen, Kimi
$590 million
$405 million
Driver of Racing
48
Wade, Dwayne
$585 million
$430 million
Basketball
49
Brees, Drew
$585 million
$445 million
Football in America
50
Anthony Carmelo
$570 million
$425 million
Basketball
40–31
With Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic both earning comfortably over $500 million, tennis is well-represented in the top 50. Both still have lucrative advertising deals outside of sports, and the latter is still competing and might earn considerably more in prize money.
As we’ll see further on the list, both Ernie Els and Gary Player demonstrate that golf can be a very profitable career path. Derek Jeter, a well-known baseball player, just makes it into the top 30 despite his exaggerated earnings of little less than $700 million.
All-Time Highest Paid Athletes (31–40)
Rank
An athlete
Adjusted Earnings for Inflation
Unadjusted Profits
Athletics
31
De La Hoya Oscar
$705 million
$415 million
Boxing
32
Jeter Derek
$695 million
$465 million
Baseball
33
Djokovic, Novak
$690 million
$550 million
Tennis
34
Alonso Fernando
$690 million
$515 million
Formula 1
35
Els, Ernie
$685 million
$450 million
Playing golf
36
Magic Johnson
$675 million
$430 million
Basketball
37
Gary Player
$670 million
$375 million
Playing golf
38
Earnhardt, Dale Jr.
$665 million
$460 million
Driver of Racing
39
Westbrook, Russell
$665 million
$550 million
Basketball
40
Williams, Serena
$660 million
$485 million
Tennis
30–21
According to this ranking, Rafael Nadal, one of tennis’ brightest stars, is the second-highest earner in the history of the game. Even without the inflation-adjusted figures, the Spaniard, who has won most of his championships on clay, has made more money than Djokovic.
Two of America’s biggest football talents, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, have received handsome compensation for their careers. The former, the first on the list with almost $800 million, is painfully close to making it into the top 20.
The All-Time Highest Paid Athletes (21–30)
Rank
An athlete
Adjusted Earnings for Inflation
Unadjusted Profits
Athletics
21
Brady, Tom
$820 million
$635 million.
Football in America
22
Rodriguez, Alex
$795 million
$535 million
Baseball
23
Pacquiao, Manny
$775 million
$575 million
Boxing
24
McIlroy, Rory
$770 million
$640 million
Playing golf
25
Manning, Peyton
$750 million
$520 million
Football in America
26
Rafael Nadal
$735 million
$560 million
Tennis
27
Alvarez Canelo
$730 million
$620 million
Boxing
28
Foreman, George
$730 million
$360 million
Boxing
29
Gordon, Jeff
$730 million
$465 million
Automobiles
30
Rossi, Valentino
$725 million
$495 million
MotoGP
20–11
Basketball is one of the most well-represented sports on this list because to players like Shaquille O’Neal ($1.27 billion), Kobe Bryant ($1.11 billion), Kevin Durant ($1.07 billion), and Steph Curry ($950 million). The addition of football player Neymar may come as a surprise, but the Brazilian is essentially Pele in the present day, with football revenue reaching eye-watering heights.
The Formula 1 icon Lewis Hamilton, a British superstar whose earnings nearly reached $1 billion, is on the exclusive list. Iron In his prime, Mike Tyson was one of the most well-known figures in sports, but his earnings only place him in the top 20.
All-Time Highest Paid Athletes (11–20)
Rank
An athlete
Adjusted Earnings for Inflation
Unadjusted Profits
Athletics
11.
Mickelson, Phil
$1.49 billion
$1.08 billion
Playing golf
Twelve
Schumacher, Michael
$1.39 billion
$815 million
Formula 1
13.
O’Neal Shaquille
$1.27 billion
$835 million
Basketball
14
Neymar
$1.17 billion
$990 million
Football
15.
Norman, Greg
$1.14 billion
$735 million
Playing golf
16
Bryant, Kobe
$1.11 billion
$755 million
Basketball
17
Durant, Kevin
$1.07 billion
$885 million
Basketball
18
Hamilton, Lewis
$970 million
$780 million
Formula 1
19.
Tyson, Mike
$965 million
$490 million
Boxing
20
Curry, Stephen
$950 million
$815 million
Basketball
10Floyd Mayweather
$1.52 billion
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