Cristiano Ronaldo secured the top spot on Forbes’ roster of highest-paid athletes for the fourth time, with Spanish golfer Jon Rahm taking second place following his move to Saudi-supported LIV Golf. Ronaldo’s transfer to Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia propelled him to the pinnacle of earnings, with an estimated $260 million, making history as the highest-earning football player ever. His on-field income totaled $200 million, complemented by a staggering $60 million from lucrative sponsorship deals leveraging his massive Instagram following of 629 million.
Jon Rahm’s sensational switch to LIV Golf in December, reportedly worth at least $300 million, elevated him to the ranks of the highest-paid athletes. Rahm’s earnings reached $218 million, placing him alongside Ronaldo as one of the few athletes to surpass the $200 million mark.
Lionel Messi, after his move to Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami, ranks third with earnings of $135 million, boosted by endorsements with major brands like Adidas and Apple. LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers secures the fourth position with $128.2 million, gearing up for a final Olympic appearance.
NBA standout Giannis Antetokounmpo follows closely in fifth place with $111 million, while Kylian Mbappe drops to sixth with $110 million, amid rumors of his impending move to Real Madrid. Neymar, despite an injury-riddled season with Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League, retains seventh place with $108 million.
French forward Karim Benzema, also making a move to Saudi Arabia, claims eighth place with $106 million, trailed by Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry with $102 million. Lamar Jackson, the sole NFL representative on the list, rounds out the top ten with $100.5 million, boosted by a lucrative signing bonus from the Baltimore Ravens contract negotiation.
Introducing The World’s Highest-Paid Athletes 2024
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— Forbes (@Forbes) May 16, 2024
