| Rank | Athlete | Athlete’s country | Sport | Inflation Adjusted Earnings |
| 10 | Roger Federer | Switzerland | Tennis | $1.12 billion |
| 9 | Michael Schumacher | Germany | Racing | $1.13 billion |
| 8 | Lionel Messi | Argentina | Soccer | $1.14 billion |
| 7 | LeBron James | United States | Basketball | $1.17 billion |
| 6 | Floyd Mayweather | United States | Boxing | $1.2 billion |
| 5 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | Soccer | $1.24 billion |
| 4 | Jack Nicklaus | United States | Golf | $1.38 billion |
| 3 | Arnold Palmer | United States | Golf | $1.5 billion |
| 2 | Tiger Woods | United States | Golf | $2.1 billion |
| 1 | Michael Jordan | United States | Basketball | $2.62 billion |
10. Roger Federer
Roger Federer, a Swiss professional tennis player, has earned a total of $1.12 billion throughout his career, mostly through his endorsements and other business ventures.
He has won $130 million in prize money in his career. Federer has a sponsor portfolio that is unmatched in the sports world. In 2020, that made him the world’s highest-paid athlete for the first time; he was No. 10 in 2023.
The biggest deal in his stable is Japanese apparel brand Uniqlo, which locked him up in 2018 under a ten-year, $300 million deal.
Federer’s namesake foundation has raised more than $50 million and educated 1.5 million children in Africa since its launch.
9. Michael Schumacher
Michael Schumacher, a retired German Formula 1 race car driver, has earned a total of $1.13 billion throughout his career, mostly through his endorsements and other business ventures.
During the peak of his career, he made $80-$100 million annually. Schumacher’s net worth is around $800 million as of 2023.
Schumacher had endorsement deals with various big names such as Shell, Omega, Marlboro, Vodafone, RTL Television, L’Oreal, AMD, OMP, Piaggio Aero, Puma, Rosbacher, Navyboot, Jet Set, Audemars Piguet, Hormann, Bacardi, and Deutsche Vermögensberatung.
He also had a sponsorship deal with Mercedes Benz and CS Ranch, a reining facility, run by his wife Corinna Schumacher and his daughter Gina Schumacher. Even though he is retired and bedridden, he earns $50 million yearly through endorsements.
8. Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi’s net worth is estimated to be around $600 million by Forbes, with his total overall career earnings at $1.28 billion in 2023.
His annual salary is roughly between $50 million and $60 million, which is an improvement from his previous earnings.
Messi’s Miami deal is worth between $125 million and $150 million, and his career earnings are projected to reach $1.6 billion by the end of 2025, including playing salaries, bonuses, and endorsements.
Messi’s on-field earnings over the last year were reported to be $75 million, and he has earned significant amounts from endorsements as well.
7. LeBron James
LeBron James, an American professional basketball player, has earned a total of $1.17 billion throughout his career, including playing salaries, bonuses, and endorsements. As of today, his net worth was estimated to be $1 billion.
James has reportedly earned more than $430 million in pretax salary from stints with the Cavaliers, the Miami Heat, and his current team, the Los Angeles Lakers.
He has raked in upwards of $900 million (pretax) off the court, according to Forbes estimates from business ventures and endorsement deals with the likes of PepsiCo, Walmart, and Nike.
Key to his billionaire status: James has been more than a pitchman, taking equity in brands he works with, including Beats by Dre and the fast-growing Blaze Pizza chain.
James has endorsement deals with various big names such as AT&T, Beats Electronics, Calm, CRYPTO.com, GMC, Nike, PepsiCo, Sony, and Tonal. He also has a lifetime deal with Nike, which is reportedly worth $1 billion.
6. Floyd Mayweather
Floyd Mayweather, a retired American professional boxer, has earned a total of $1.2 billion throughout his career, including playing salaries, bonuses, and endorsements. As of 2022, his net worth was estimated to be $450 million.
Mayweather’s career earnings in and out of boxing have totaled up to about $1.1 billion. He has earned most of his revenue from his professional boxing career, amassing $1 billion in total earnings during his career. Mayweather has an investment portfolio of over $100 million, which includes real estate and his own businesses outside of boxing.
Mayweather has had endorsement deals with various big names such as Hublot, Canelo Alvarez, Anthony Joshua, and Deontay Wilder. He also had a sponsorship deal with The Money Team Racing, a Nascar venture, run by his co-owner Becky Auchmoody.
5. Cristiano Ronaldo
As of 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the highest-paid athletes in the world, with an estimated total income of around $260 million.
Most of his earnings come from his club, Al-Nassr, where he signed a contract that guarantees him a whopping $215 million (£177m) a year, or about $4.1 million (£3.4m) a week. This is a huge jump from his previous salary at Manchester United, which was £20 million ($27m) a year.
Ronaldo’s income can be divided into two categories: on-field and off-field. On-field earnings are the wages and bonuses he gets from playing for Al-Nassr. Off-field earnings are the money he makes from endorsing various brands and products, as well as other sources.
Some of his most prominent endorsement deals are with Nike, Herbalife, and Coca-Cola, which are all global leaders in their respective industries.
Ronaldo’s impact goes beyond his personal wealth. He also boosts the value and reputation of the Saudi Pro League, where he plays for Al-Nassr.
His move to the league has drawn more attention and interest from fans and media across the world, making it more competitive and attractive.
Moreover, he has increased the revenue and fan base of Al-Nassr, as he brings more sponsors and supporters to the club.
4. Jack Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus, also known as the Golden Bear, is a golf legend who has made a fortune from his sport and his businesses. His total career earnings are estimated at a staggering $1.38 billion, making him one of the richest golfers ever. His net worth is estimated to be around $400 million.
He earned $5.7 million from his PGA Tour career, with his best year being 1972 when he won seven times and made $317K. However, most of his income came from other business ventures, such as selling a minority stake in the Nicklaus Companies for $145 million in 2007.
Nicklaus is widely regarded as the greatest golfer of all time, with 73 PGA victories and a record 18 major titles. He has also been a generous philanthropist and a promoter of the sport, having a positive impact on the golfing community.
Nicklaus has also been successful in various businesses, such as golf-course design, real estate development, and lifestyle product marketing and licensing. He co-founded the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation, which has raised over $100 million.
3. Arnold Palmer
Arnold Palmer, known as “The King,” was a legendary golfer and a pioneer in the sports business. He earned around $875 million in his career, making him one of the richest golfers ever.
He was the first golfer to earn $1 million from playing the sport. He also made more than $1.3 billion (adjusted for inflation) from endorsements and other ventures.
His PGA Tour earnings were $1,861,857. He made 240 times more money from other sources, such as appearances, licensing, and golf course design.
Palmer had a significant impact on sports marketing and business. He brought golf to a global audience and used his fame to create a business empire.
He co-founded IMG, a leading sports management firm. He also had a range of businesses, such as clothing, cars, golf events, and beverages.
He invented the iced tea and lemonade drink that bears his name. He designed more than 300 golf courses around the world. He was the first to establish sports representation in the media.
2. Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods, also known as “The Big Cat,” is a legendary golfer and a significant figure in sports business.
He has earned around $1.8 billion ($2.1 billion inflation adjusted) in his career, making him one of the richest golfers ever. His net worth is estimated to be around $1.1 billion.
He earned more than $157 million from playing golf, including $121 million from official tournaments. He also made $15 million from the Player Impact Program in 2022. His earnings were boosted by his endorsement deals with Nike and other brands.
Woods has stakes in various ventures, such as TMRW Sports, a tech-focused company that plans to launch a new golf league called TGL. He co-founded the company and owns 18% of TGL equity along with five other team owners.
Woods is one of the greatest golfers in history, with 82 PGA Tour wins and 15 major titles. He popularized golf around the world and increased its TV ratings, attendance, and interest.
He also has various businesses, such as golf-course design, real estate development, and lifestyle product marketing and licensing. He had a long-term partnership with Nike, which ended after more than 27 years.
1. Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan, also known as “His Airness,” is a basketball legend and a business mogul. He has earned around $2.62 billion in his career, making him one of the richest athletes ever. His net worth is estimated to be around $1.65 billion.
He earned $90 million from playing basketball, with his annual salary varying from $2.5 million to $4 million between 1990 and 1996. He also made $1.4 billion (pre-tax) from endorsements and other ventures since he turned pro in 1984. In the final years of his career, he made so much money that it exceeded the salary cap.
Jordan has stakes in various ventures, such as DraftKings, a sports betting and fantasy sports company, where he became a special adviser. He also owns stakes in his 23XI Racing team, Cincoro tequila, eponymous steak houses, and companies such as Sportradar and Dapper Labs.
Jordan is one of the greatest basketball players in history, with 30.1 points per game average and a global fan base. He increased the attendance and interest in the game, both in Chicago and on the road. He was famous for his medium-range shots, which helped him win many games.
Jordan has also been successful in various businesses, such as Nike, which he partnered with for more than 27 years. His partnership with Nike changed the game of sportswear marketing and endorsements. His success with Nike made them the most popular athletic brand in the world.