Earning more than seven figures is a norm for successful sports personalities. Their hard work on the field and in training around the year is rewarded handsomely with multi-million-dollar paychecks. From the NBA to the Premiere League, athletes across different sports have built massive fortunes. Hence, here’s a look at the highest-paid athletes in the world persists.
In the past, we have seen footballers dominate their counterparts from other disciplines. As a matter of fact, the top three spots in 2023 were held by the trio of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé. With a host of players moving to the cash-laden Saudi Pro League in the summer of 2023, most of us believed to see this disparity grow bigger.
However, times have changed. Other sports like golf and basketball are catching up with football in terms of rewarding their top performers. Yes, it is true that football still enjoys a stronghold in this list, but their monopoly has been thwarted.
On Thursday, 16 May, Forbes took out its list of the highest-paid athletes in 2024. We were quick to notice that for the first time in history, all the top 10 individuals have earnings in excess of USD 100 million. Between 1 May 2023 and 1 May 2024, the collective income of these 10 athletes stands at a record-shattering USD 1.38 billion.
Are you eager to learn about the 10 players? No need to fret, we have you covered. Join us as we delve deep into the 10 highest-paid athletes in 2024 and look closely at their total earnings, salary (wherever applicable) and more.
Here are the top 10 highest-paid athletes in the world in 2024 according to Forbes
1. Cristiano Ronaldo
Sport: Football
Age: 39 years
Debut: 2002
Total earnings: USD 260 million
Salary: USD 200 million
When he left Manchester United to pursue a career in the Middle East, Cristiano Ronaldo became a subject of ridicule. People laughed at him, made memes about him and wrote him off as a player. A year and a half later, he is the one laughing all the way to the bank!
Nearing 40, the Portuguese maestro is still pushing all limits, both on and off the field. With 48 goals in 47 matches in the 2023-24 season, Ronaldo has proven why Al-Nassr was right to invest heavily in him.
But how much did the Saudi Pro League club pay to secure his services? CR7 (as he is popularly known among his fans) enjoys an annual salary of USD 200 million on the Riyadh-based side. This humungous paycheck that he receives as a part of his lucrative contract, coupled with his earnings from endorsement deals and other investments, makes Ronaldo the highest-paid athlete in 2024.
2. Jon Rahm
Sport: Golf
Age: 29 years
Debut: 2016
Total earnings: USD 218 million
With 20 professional wins to date, Jon Rahm is one of the most successful golfers in recent times. But nobody really expected him to be on the list of the highest-paid athletes in 2024, considering that he is not among the richest golfers around the globe.
So what spurred this influx of wealth for Rahm? In December 2023, he decided to join LIV Golf. The signing came with a massive USD 350 million paycheck. In addition, he has earned around USD 6.6 million on the Saudi-backed tour so far, even though he has yet to win a title.
The USD 198 million earnings that he has from his performances on the golf course are not his only source of income. He enjoys several lucrative sponsorships, which collectively add a substantial amount to his bank balance.
3. Lionel Messi
Sport: Football
Age: 36 years
Debut: 2003
Total earnings: USD 135 million
Salary: USD 65 million
Arguably one of the greatest legends of football, Lionel Messi has won almost every conceivable award in the sport. Now in the twilight of his career, it is only a matter of time before he brings his time on the field to a close.
Months after winning the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar, the Argentine left the European club football landscape for good. The summer transfer window of 2023-24 saw Messi join the David Beckham-owned Inter Miami. He has enjoyed a rather successful stint at the Major League Soccer (MLS) club — in 26 appearances, he has found the back of the net on 23 occasions.
Besides his multi-million-dollar salary, Messi also earns a substantial amount from his sponsors like Adidas, Apple and Konami (among others). In fact, his off-field earnings of USD 70 million surpass his annual salary from Inter Miami. It also helps him remain a constant in Forbes‘s list of the highest-paid athletes.
4. LeBron James
Sport: Basketball
Age: 39 years
Debut: 2003
Total earnings: USD 128.2 million
Salary: USD 48.2 million
Like the Messi vs Ronaldo debate, the world of basketball is divided between Michael Jordan and LeBron James. While it is difficult to settle that score, there is no doubt that James is a legend of the sport.
With four National Basketball Association (NBA) championships and two Olympic medals, the Los Angeles Lakers forward has enjoyed an illustrious career. The fact that he is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer further solidifies his legendary status.
James is likely to make his final appearance in the Olympic Games with the U.S. men’s national team in Paris, later in 2024. The world might not be ready to see the last of him, but his USD 80 million yearly off-field earnings ensure the American basketball superstar will lead a lavish life even after retirement.
5. Giannis Antetokounmpo
Sport: Basketball
Age: 29 years
Debut: 2011
Total earnings: USD 111 million
Salary: USD 46 million
One of the greatest power forwards in the history of basketball, Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the most decorated stars of the sport. He won two NBA MVP Awards before turning 26, the joint-highest in the league’s history (alongside Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and LeBron James), and in 2021, he led the Milwaukee Bucks to their first championship since 1971.
NBA recognised the special talent that Antetokounmpo has, and in 2021, named him as one of the league’s greatest players of all time. He even has a film based on his life — Rise (2022).
Nicknamed ‘Greek Freak’, the basketball star has a prosperous life both on and off the court. In January 2024, he launched a production company. His earnings from all the sources make the Greek player one of the highest-paid athletes in 2024.
6. Kylian Mbappé
Sport: Football
Age: 25 years
Debut: 2015
Total earnings: USD 110 million
Salary: USD 90 million
The darling of the football world, Kylian Mbappé has made it to the news headlines in recent times because of his departure from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). While his next destination has not officially been confirmed, it is firmly believed that the Frenchman is headed to Real Madrid in the summer transfer window of 2024-25.
Mbappé’s salary with PSG makes him one of the highest-paid footballers in the world. However, that situation might change a bit should he join the Galacticos. If transfer market rumours are to be believed, the talismanic forward is likely to take a pay cut.
From being number 35 in 2022 to ranking third on Forbes‘ list of the highest-paid players in 2023, Mbappé has come a long way. While he has dropped a couple of places in 2024, he is still among the athletes with the highest paychecks. However, most of it is attributed to his salary, therefore a drop in that amount might impact his overall earnings in the coming years.
7. Neymar Jr.
Sport: Football
Age: 32 years
Debut: 2009
Total earnings: USD 108 million
Salary: USD 80 million
One of the most charismatic personalities in the football fraternity, Neymar Jr. was lured out of European club football by Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal in the most remarkable fashion. Besides a salary bump, the contract the Brazilian signed in 2023 promised him a private jet, a lavish mansion and a fleet of luxury cars, among other perks.
Sadly, the riches could not ensure a prosperous season for Neymar Jr. on the field. After playing just five matches for Al-Hilal, the forward sustained a serious injury (torn ACL) in October 2023 that ruled him out for the remainder of the 2023-24 season. He even failed to make the cut for the Copa America 2024-bound Brazilian squad.
However, his absence from the football field has had little impact on his ever-growing stardom. Neymar Jr. added a few brands to his endorsement portfolio in the past year. His USD-100-million-plus earning makes the Brazilian one of the highest-paid athletes in 2024, according to Forbes.
8. Karim Benzema
Sport: Football
Age: 36 years
Debut: 2004
Total earnings: USD 106 million
Salary: USD 100 million
Among the biggest football transfers in 2023-24 was Karim Benzema’s move from Real Madrid to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad. The FIFA Ballon d’Or winner (in 2022) reaped dividends of his move from a financial point of view as he became one of the highest-paid athletes in the world in 2024.
When it comes to his performance on the field, however, the French marksman has not enjoyed similar luck. In a season plagued with health concerns, Benzema scored 16 goals in 33 appearances for Al-Ittihad across all competitions. Judging by his stands, the Frenchman’s showing has been underwhelming, to say the least.
As Benzema was spotted recuperating in Real Madrid’s clinic, speculations around his possible return to the Spanish capital have been doing the rounds. However, there has been no official confirmation. Will he come back to Europe to play club football? Only time will tell.
9. Stephen Curry
Sport: Basketball
Age: 36 years
Debut: 2009
Total earnings: USD 102 million
Salary: USD 52 million
Considered to be one of the greatest players in NBA history, Stephen Curry is ageing like fine wine — his sharpshooting in the past few years has been better than ever. Therefore, it is not surprising to see him make the U.S. national team for the Paris Olympics in 2024.
Often regarded as the face of the NBA alongside LeBron James, Curry has led the jersey sales count in the NBA in its last couple of seasons — 2022-23 to 2023-24. In the past, he led the jersey sales figures on three consecutive occasions — 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18.
His popularity among the fans justifies why Curry is chased by multinational brands for sponsorship deals. According to Forbes, the Golden State Warriors point guard earns a sum of USD 50 million per year off the basketball court.
10. Lamar Jackson
Sport: American football
Age: 27 years
Debut: 2018
Total earnings: USD 100.5 million
Salary: USD 98.5 million
Rounding off Forbes‘ list of the highest-paid athletes in 2024 is a National Football League (NFL) player. It is not Patrick Mahomes, Brock Purdy or even Travis Kelce, but Lamar Jackson. An unlikely candidate? Well, give us a minute to put the stats in place for you.
A dual-threat quarterback, Jackson was picked up in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens. And he took little time to adjust to this extremely competitive league. In his second season (in 2019), he picked up the MVP Award, becoming the second-youngest player to do so after Jim Brown.
In 2023, Jackson signed a new contract with the Ravens. According to its terms, he received a fat sum of USD 72.5 million from the NFL side. He repaid the faith put in him by picking up his second MVP Award at the end of the 2023 season. Unfortunately, a sloppy performance in the AFC Championship game against the Kansas City Chiefs saw Jackson and the Ravens crash out of reckoning for the 2024 Super Bowl.
(Main Image Credits: Cristiano Ronaldo/Instagram, Leo Messi/Instagram and 👑/Instagram; Featured Image Credits: Cristiano Ronaldo/Instagram)
This article first appeared on Augustman Singapore.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
– Who is the highest-paid athlete in the world in 2024?
Cristiano Ronaldo is the highest-paid athlete in the world in 2024.
– Who is the second-highest-paid athlete in the world in 2024?
Jon Rahm is the second-highest-paid athlete in the world in 2024.
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Uddipta writes about sports and watches besides occasionally venturing into the world of automobiles and technology. He was associated with the Indian Express in the capacity of a sub-editor at their Lifestyle desk. A journalism and mass communication student from Xavier Institute of Communications, Mumbai, Uddipta devotes most of his leisure time to photography and filmmaking. He has contributed photographs to Vogue Italia and several exhibits, and has directed award-winning short films screened at film festivals in India and abroad.
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