Messi, Ronaldo, Hamilton: Forbes reveal the world's top 10 highest paid athletes
- Published
10. Kevin Durant: Brooklyn Nets basketball star Kevin Durant earned £53m. Forbes said figures include all prize money, salaries and bonuses earned during the 12-month period and an estimate of sponsorship deals, appearance fees and licensing income made off-the-field.
9. Tom Brady: The American football legend made £54m from big deals to represent brands - oh and winning the Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn't hurt either!
8. Lewis Hamilton: The Formula 1 world champion was the only Briton in the top 10, with earnings of £58.3m over the last year, after an incredible season where he won 11 races.
7. Roger Federer: The Swiss tennis legend, who topped last year's list, racked up £64m mostly from sponsorships with brands like Rolex, Credit Suisse and Uniqlo.
6. Neymar: The PSG and Brazil striker has a huge social media following making him a major draw for brands. He is an ambassador for Puma and even partnered with Fortnite to create his own in-game skin.
5. LeBron James: The four-time NBA basketball champion kicks off the top five with earnings of £68.7m. Not only is he smashing it on the court, LeBron will star in his first movie 'Space Jam: A New Legacy' this summer.
4. Dak Prescott: The NFL quarterback launches himself into the top 10 list after signing a mega contract extension with the Dallas Cowboys helping him make £76m.
3. Cristiano Ronaldo: Portugal and Juventus forward Ronaldo earned £85m mainly through his football salary, a sponsorship deal with Nike and his range of companies.
2. Lionel Messi: The Barcelona and Argentina forward set a record as the highest-earning footballer after bringing home £92m.
1. Conor McGregor: The mixed martial artist was the world's highest paid athlete over the past 12 months earning just shy of £128m from money made from his fights, the sale of his alcohol company and a growing list of endorsements.
- Published10 January 2021
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