In the eight years since Cristiano Ronaldo first became the world’s highest-paid athlete, his career has taken him across multiple clubs and countries. From his iconic days at Real Madrid to stints at Juventus and Manchester United, he now plays for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia. Despite his varied locations, one thing has remained constant: his ability to secure record-breaking earnings. At 39 years old, Ronaldo earned an estimated $260 million over the past 12 months, securing the top spot on the list of the highest-paid athletes for the fourth time in his career.
Ronaldo’s earnings are split between his massive contract with Al Nassr, which is valued at $200 million, and his endorsement deals, which brought in an additional $60 million. His endorsement portfolio includes major brands like Nike, Binance, and Herbalife, underscoring his continued influence beyond the soccer field. This combination of on-field earnings and off-field promotions allows Ronaldo to maintain his position at the pinnacle of sports paydays, despite being in the later stages of his playing career.
The total earnings of the 50 highest-paid athletes for the past year reached a record $3.88 billion, a 13% increase from the previous year. Of this amount, 76% came from on-field earnings such as salaries, bonuses, and prize money, reflecting the growing financial influence of Middle Eastern investments in sports. The remaining 24% came from off-field endeavors, including endorsements and business ventures, though this category saw a slight decline from the previous year. This shift highlights the increasing financial dominance of athletes’ salaries, especially in sports like soccer.
This year’s list saw a significant rise in the cutoff for the top 50 athletes, with the minimum threshold reaching $45.2 million—up by 20% from 2022. As the rankings evolved, there were 10 newcomers to the list, and another eight athletes made their return after a year or more away. Among the sports represented, the NBA leads with 19 players, followed by the NFL with 11, and soccer with 8. LIV Golf continues to make its mark, with two of its players ranking highly, including Jon Rahm, who secured the No. 2 spot after joining the league in December.
The list also reflects a generational shift, as 22 athletes under the age of 30 made the top rankings. With legends like Serena Williams, Roger Federer, and Tom Brady retiring, the new generation of athletes, including younger stars from the NBA, NFL, and golf, are beginning to dominate the rankings. As older icons like Ronaldo, LeBron James, and Tiger Woods continue to age, this transition suggests that the sports world may soon see a changing of the guard in the coming years.
Top 50 highest-paid athletes:
| RANK | NAME | SPORT | TOTAL EARNINGS | ON-THE-FIELD EARNINGS | OFF-THE-FIELD EARNINGS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Soccer | $260 M | $200 M | $60 M |
| 2 | Jon Rahm | Golf | $218 M | $198 M | $20 M |
| 3 | Lionel Messi | Soccer | $135 M | $65 M | $70 M |
| 4 | LeBron James | Basketball | $128.2 M | $48.2 M | $80 M |
| 5 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Basketball | $111 M | $46 M | $65 M |
| 6 | Kylian Mbappé | Soccer | $110 M | $90 M | $20 M |
| 7 | Neymar | Soccer | $108 M | $80 M | $28 M |
| 8 | Karim Benzema | Soccer | $106 M | $100 M | $6 M |
| 9 | Stephen Curry | Basketball | $102 M | $52 M | $50 M |
| 10 | Lamar Jackson | Football | $100.5 M | $98.5 M | $2 M |
| 11 | Joe Burrow | Football | $100 M | $96 M | $4 M |
| 12 | Kevin Durant | Basketball | $93.3 M | $47.8 M | $45.5 M |
| 13 | Shohei Ohtani | Baseball | $85.3 M | $25.3 M | $60 M |
| 14 | Canelo Alvarez | Boxing | $85 M | $75 M | $10 M |
| 15 | Patrick Mahomes | Football | $84.4 M | $59.4 M | $25 M |
| 16 | Anthony Joshua | Boxing | $83 M | $75 M | $8 M |
| 17 | Max Verstappen | Auto Racing | $81 M | $76 M | $5 M |
| 18 | Aaron Rodgers | Football | $80.8 M | $71.8 M | $9 M |
| 19 | Rory McIlroy | Golf | $80.1 M | $35.1 M | $45 M |
| 20 | Justin Herbert | Football | $78.7 M | $67.7 M | $11 M |
| 21 | Lewis Hamilton | Auto Racing | $69 M | $57 M | $12 M |
| 22 | Nick Bosa | Football | $68 M | $66.5 M | $1.5 M |
| 23 | Tiger Woods | Golf | $67.2 M | $12.2 M | $55 M |
| 24 | Kirk Cousins | Football | $62.5 M | $60 M | $2.5 M |
| 25 | Klay Thompson | Basketball | $62.3 M | $43.3 M | $19 M |
| 26 | Damian Lillard | Basketball | $61.9 M | $45.9 M | $16 M |
| 27 | Erling Haaland | Soccer | $61 M | $46 M | $15 M |
| 28 | Max Scherzer | Baseball | $59.9 M | $58.9 M | $1 M |
| 29 | Scottie Scheffler | Golf | $59.2 M | $39.2 M | $20 M |
| 30 | Joel Embiid | Basketball | $57.7 M | $47.7 M | $10 M |
| 31 | Jimmy Butler | Basketball | $57.5 M | $45.5 M | $12 M |
| 32 | Nikola Jokic | Basketball | $56.1 M | $48.1 M | $8 M |
| 33 | James Harden | Basketball | $55.8 M | $35.8 M | $20 M |
| 34 | Luka Doncic | Basketball | $55.1 M | $40.1 M | $15 M |
| 35 | Bradley Beal | Basketball | $54.3 M | $46.8 M | $7.5 M |
| 36 | Chris Jones | Football | $54.1 M | $53.1 M | $1 M |
| 37 | Kawhi Leonard | Basketball | $53.7 M | $45.7 M | $8 M |
| 38 | Mohamed Salah | Soccer | $53 M | $35 M | $18 M |
| 39 | Paul George | Basketball | $52.7 M | $45.7 M | $7 M |
| 40 | Sadio Mané | Soccer | $52 M | $48 M | $4 M |
| 41 | Brian Burns | Football | $51.7 M | $51.5 M | $0.2 M |
| 42 | Tyson Fury | Boxing | $50 M | $42 M | $8 M |
| 43 | Cameron Smith | Golf | $48 M | $44 M | $4 M |
| 44 | Trae Young | Basketball | $47.3 M | $40.3 M | $7 M |
| 45 | Deshaun Watson | Football | $47 M | $46 M | $1 M |
| 46 | Rashan Gary | Football | $46.8 M | $46.5 M | $0.3 M |
| 47 | Anthony Davis | Basketball | $46.2 M | $41.2 M | $5 M |
| 48 | Zion Williamson | Basketball | $46.1 M | $34.1 M | $12 M |
| 49 | Jayson Tatum | Basketball | $45.9 M | $32.9 M | $13 M |
| 50 | Devin Booker | Basketball | $45.2 M | $36.2 M | $9 M |
