In 2024, Cristiano Ronaldo leads as the highest-paid athlete globally, earning $260 million. This list, curated by Forbes, showcases the highest earners across various sports, reflecting a total of $3.88 billion earned by the world’s 50 highest-paid athletes. Insights into earnings and endorsements shed light on the financial landscape of sports.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s career has seen many notable changes over the past eight years, from his time at Real Madrid to Juventus and Manchester United, and now playing for Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. Despite changing clubs, one constant in Ronaldo’s career is his ability to earn significant earnings.
As of 2024, Ronaldo is recognized as the highest-paid athlete globally, with an estimated income of $260 million. This staggering figure underlines his continued influence and marketability both on and off the field.
Ronaldo’s enduring popularity, coupled with his exceptional talent and brand appeal, has ensured that he remains one of the most financially successful athletes in the world.
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Top 10 highest paid athletes in the world 2024
Jon Rahm’s presence at No. 2 on the list highlights the impact that LIV Golf, the emerging golf tournament, has had on the sport’s landscape. Rahm, one of the world’s top golfers, made headlines when he joined LIV Golf in December.
This move not only raised his profile in the league but also cemented his position as one of the highest paid athletes globally. Here’s the full list:
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| Ranking | Name | Sport | Total income | Income at the scene | Off-site income |
| 1 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Football | 260 million USD | 200 million USD | 60 million USD |
| 2 | Jon Rahm | Golf | $218 million | 198 million USD | 20 million USD |
| 3 | Lionel Messi | Football | 135 million USD | 65 million USD | 70 million USD |
| 4 | LeBron James | Basketball | 128.2 million USD | 48.2 million USD | 80 million USD |
| 5 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Basketball | 111 million USD | 46 million USD | 65 million USD |
| 6 | Kylian Mbappe | Football | 110 million USD | 90 million USD | 20 million USD |
| 7 | Neymar | Football | 108 million USD | 80 million USD | 28 million USD |
| 8 | Karim Benzema | Football | 106 million USD | 100 million USD | 6 million USD |
| 9 | Stephen curry | Basketball | 102 million USD | 52 million USD | 50 million USD |
| 10 | Lamar Jackson | Football | 100.5 million USD | 98.5 million USD | 2 million USD |
Source: Forbes
In 2024, the highest paid athlete in the world is Cristiano Ronaldo, with a total income of USD 260 million (INR 2081 crore).
He earned $200 million playing for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia and an additional $60 million off the field through advertising contracts with brands like Nike and his own CR7 product.
Closely followed by Jon Rahm, who has a total income of $218 million (INR 1712 billion), with $198 million coming from golf achievements and $20 million from endorsement deals, especially benefiting from his success on the LIV Golf Tour.
Lionel Messi ranked third with total earnings of 135 million USD (1074 crore INR), including 65 million USD from on-field activities when he played for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, along with 70 million USD from contracts with companies like Adidas and Apple.
LeBron James follows with earnings of $128.2 million (INR 990 crore), where he earned $48.2 million on the court as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers and an impressive $80 million off the court fights through various business ventures, including his SpringHill media company.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is next on the list with total earnings of $111 million (INR 873 crore), including $46 million from his role with the Milwaukee Bucks and $65 million from contracts with brands like Nike and WhatsApp.
Kylian Mbappé has an income of $110 million (INR 881 crore), earning $90 million on the field while playing for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and an additional $20 million through endorsement deals.
Neymar Jr. following closely with total earnings of $108 million (INR 864 crore), including $80 million from his PSG salary and $28 million from endorsements.
Karim Benzema has a total earnings of USD 106 million (INR 864 crore), mainly due to his recent move to Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia, where he earned USD 100 million on the field and USD 6 million off the field.
Stephen Curry earned a total of $102 million (INR 797 crore), with on-court earnings of $52 million as a star player for the Golden State Warriors and another $50 million from endorsement deals, especially with Under Armour.
Finally, Lamar Jackson rounds out the top 10 with total earnings of $100.5 million (INR 790 crore), earning $98.5 million on the field as a quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens and an additional $2 million shouted out on the field.
Collectively, these top ten athletes earned more than $1.38 billion in 2024, showing significant increases in their earnings across a variety of sports thanks to their contracts and endorsements. profit.
The list is based on Forbes’ “World’s Highest Paid Athletes” list, which provides a comprehensive overview of the earnings of top athletes globally.
According to Forbes, the total income of the world’s 50 highest-paid athletes is estimated at $3.88 billion in the past 12 months before taxes and agent fees. This marked a notable increase of 13% from the previous year’s record of $3.44 billion.
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