Sports

RANKED: The 20 highest earning athletes of all-time

By Barnaby Lane
Former player Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls addresses the crowd during a 20th anniversary recognition ceremony of the Bulls 1st NBA Championship in 1991 during half-time of a game bewteen the Bulls and the Utah Jazz at the United Center
Michael Jordan has earned $2.05 billion. Getty/Jonathan Daniel
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20. Alex Rodriguez — $515 million

Alex Rodriguez
Alex Rodriguez. Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

Sport: Baseball

Nationality: American

19. Manny Pacquiao — $550 million

Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao
Manny Pacquiao fights Floyd Mayweather. Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images

Sport: Boxing

Nationality: Filipino 

18. Greg Norman — $555 million

Greg Norman of Australia kisses the Claret Jug after winning his first major title during the final round of the 115th Open Championship held on 20th July 1986 at the Ailsa Course of Turnberry Golf Club in Turnberry
Greg Norman. Getty/David Cannon

Sport: Golf

Nationality: Australian

17. Lewis Hamilton — $560 million

Lewis Hamilton and the New York City skyline
Lewis Hamilton. Bryn Lennon/Getty Images and Gary Hershorn/Getty Images

Sport: Formula One

Nationality: English

=15. Kevin Durant — $580 million

Kevin Durant smiles during a Golden State Warriors game in 2019.
Kevin Durant. Harry How/Getty Images

Sport: Basketball

Nationality: American

=15. Neymar — $580 million

Neymar
Neymar is still only 29 years old. Getty/Xavier Laine

Sport: Soccer

Nationality: Brazilian

14. Shaquille O'Neal — $645 million

Shaquille O'Neal
Shaq. Kevork Djansezian/Getty

Sport: Basketball

Nationality: American

13. Kobe Bryant — $750 million

Kobe Bryant.
Kobe Bryant tragically died in a helicopter crash in January 2020. AP Photo/Danny Moloshok

Sport: Basketball

Nationality: American

12. Michael Schumacher — $780 million

Michael Schumacher at the 2003 Spanish Grand Prix
Michael Schumacher. Vladimir Rys/Bongarts/Getty Images

Sport: Formula One

Nationality: German

11. Jack Nicklaus — $830 million

Jack Nicklaus speaks with a member of the gallery on the practice range before playing in the celebrity foursome during round two of the American Family Insurance Championship at the University Ridge Golf Course
Jack Nicklaus. Getty/Steve Dykes

Sport: Golf

Nationality: American

10. David Beckham — $880 million

David Beckham
David Beckham owns MLS side Inter Miami. Getty/Miami Herald

Sport: Soccer

Nationality: English

=8. Phil Mickelson — $885 million

Phil Mickelson
Phil Mickelson. AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman

Sport: Golf

Nationality: American

=8. Arnold Palmer — $885 million

Arnold Palmer watches the ceremonial first tee shot to start the first round of the 2011 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club
Arnold Palmer passed away in September 2016, aged 87. Getty/Jamie Squire

Sport: Golf

Nationality: American

7. Roger Federer — $1 billion

Federer
Roger Federer. Getty/Matthew Stockman

Sport: Tennis

Nationality: Swiss

=5. LeBron James — $1.05 billion

Damian Lillard and LeBron James greet each other after a game in 2018.
Damian Lillard and LeBron James. Jaime Valdez/USA TODAY Sports/Reuters

Sport: Basketball

Nationality: American

=5. Lionel Messi — $1.05 billion

Lionel Messi of Paris Saint-Germain during the UEFA Champions League group A match between Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig at Parc des Princes
Lionel Messi left FC Barcelona to join Paris Saint Germain in the summer. Getty/Lionel Hahn

Sport: Soccer

Nationality: Argentine

4. Floyd Mayweather — $1.08 billion

Floyd Mayweather Jr. celebrates his unanimous-decision victory over Robert Guerrero in their WBC welterweight title bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena
Floyd Mayweather. Getty/Al Bello

Sport: Boxing

Nationality: American

3. Cristiano Ronaldo — $1.12 billion

Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United celebrates with Cristiano Ronaldo after scoring their side's third goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Newcastle United at Old Trafford
Cristiano Ronaldo is soccer’s highest ever earner. Getty/Clive Brunskill

Sport: Soccer

Nationality: Portuguese

2. Tiger Woods — $1.66 billion

Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods. Getty/Stuart Franklin

Sport: Golf

Nationality: American

1. Michael Jordan — $2.05 billion

Elsa:Getty michael jordan
Michael Jordan is the richest athlete ever. Elsa/Getty Images

Sport: Basketball

Nationality: American

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Barnaby Lane.
Barnaby Lane
Barnaby Lane was an Entertainment Reporter at Insider. A former radio presenter, he has previously written for The Times of London and TalkSPORT.When not writing, you can find Barnaby producing music and DJing across the UK. 
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