20 Richest Active Athletes in the World

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Total Earnings: $275 million)

CR7's deal with Al-Nassr is an unprecedented contract. With a base salary of $190 million per year, the brightest star in soccer makes another $35 million through bonuses and merchandise sales. Add another $50 million to the equation that he rakes in through his endorsement deals with 36 brands, it makes him the highest-earning athlete in the world

2. Stephen Curry (Total Earnings: $156 million)

The greatest shooter of all time does not miss when it comes to setting himself up financially. Curry is one of the highest-paid basketball players with an annual salary exceeding $50 million. However, it is his endorsement deals with Curry Brand, Rakuten, Callaway Golf, and JPMorgan Chase that bring in an estimated $100 million per annum.

3. Dak Prescott (Total Earnings: $137 million)

When it comes to signing record quarterback deals, Dak Prescott is ahead of the curve. His recent four-year, $240 million deal with the Cowboys made him one of the richest athletes in the NFL. With $231 million guaranteed as part of his contract, his first-year salary along with bonuses alone earned him $127 million. Prescott's clean image makes him a favorite amongst brands. Which is why his affiliations with Beats by Dre, Pepsi, 7-11, and AT&T, contribute a humble $10 million per year adding to his total earnings.

4. Lionel Messi (Total Earnings: $135 million)

Messi's move to America changed the landscape of MLS. With a guaranteed sum of $20.4 million as his base salary, Inter Miami pays him additional sums from sale of his merchandise, and other bonuses amounting to a total of $60 million through on-field earnings. Interestingly, his endorsement and sponsorship deals bring in $75 million per year. His lifelong deal with Adidas pays a consistent sum every year, furthermore, he has his own clothing line, and has tie-ups to other brands such as PepsiCo, Lay's, Budweiser, and more.

5. LeBron James (Total Earnings: 133.8 million)

The King may have slipped in the annual earnings list, but he is still compensated handsomely. Despite being 40, James makes $48.8 million through his contract with the Lakers. His investments in brands such as Nike, PepsiCo, Beats by Dre, and businesses rake in another $85 million making him one of the richest active athletes.

6. Juan Soto (Total Earnings: $114 million)

This list would be incomplete without the highest-paid MLB player of all time. Soto's mammoth $765 million, 15-year contract with the Mets has resulted in him becoming a regular on this list. With earnings of $109 million over the past year, Soto made enough through his on-field earnings alone to make this list. He made another $5 million via his sponsorship deals and endorsements.

7. Shohei Ohtani (Total Earnings: $102.5 million)

The LA Dodgers made a big bet after they signed Ohtani to a 10-year, $700 million deal last year. Interestingly, the hitter makes just $2.5 million from his deal with the Dodgers as his contract defers 80% of the total sum up until 2043. However, his endorsement deals with Japan Airlines, New Balance, Hugo Boss, Porsche, Salesforce, and other companies have made him an estimated $100 million.

8. Kevin Durant (Total Earnings: $101.4 million)

True to his social media handle, EasyMoneySniper makes bank without sweating. His annual salary with bonuses comes up to $51.4 million, and endorsements with Nike, Fanatics, FanDuel, 2K Sports, and Gatorade bring in another $50 million.

9. Oleksandr Usyk (Total Earnings: $101 million)

When Usyk beat Tyson Fury twice, he set himself up for life. It is estimated that he made over $100 million from these fights alone. The undefeated star prefers to tie up with a few brands which is why he earns just $1 million via sponsorship deals.

10. Jon Rahm (Total Earnings: $100 million)

The LIV Golf star's greatness carried over from the PGA, and to express how valuable he was, Rahm recieved a sizeable compensation. His earnings from his contract and winnings add up to $90 million with another $10 million coming in through his advertisement and sponsorship deals.

11. Giannis Antetokounmpo (Total Earnings: $94.4 million)

The Greek Freak has come a long way since his humble beginnings in the NBA. With an average salary of $45 million excluding his bonuses, and other incentive payments, Giannis made nearly $50 million through on-court earnings. His jovial nature and likeable personality have earned him lucrative endorsement deals with the likes of Nike, JBL, Hulu, Tissot, and Google that brought in another $45 million.

12. Scottie Scheffler (Total Earnings: $92.5 million)

The PGA star made $3.4 million through his winnings alone. With seven wins, including the Masters, Scheffler has continued to make bank by winning tournaments, and remaining the top-ranked golfer in the world. He made $62.5 million through golf, and another $30 million from his endorsements, investments, and sponsorship deals with Nike, TaylorMade, and Veritex Bank.

13. Deshaun Watson (Total Earnings: $91.8 million)

Cleveland's quarterback signed a massive 5-year, $230 million, fully-guaranteed deal back in 2022. Deemed to be one of the more controversial contracts in NFL owing to his off-the-field antics, it has still given Watson the right to feature on the richest active athletes list. With annual earnings of $90.8 million, and endorsement deals of up to $1 million, Deshaun Watson has thrived despite his struggles on the field.

14. Kylian Mbappé (Total Earnings: $90 million)

The young soccer star's deal with Real Madrid compesates him handsomely for his talent. Dubbed as the face of French soccer, his achievements are a testimony to his elite skillset. Mbappé makes $70 million through on-field earnings while the remaining $20 million come as royalty and fees for his affiliation to brands such as Hublot, Nike, Oakley, and Accor.

15. Rory Mcllroy (Total Earnings: $87.9 million)

Mcllroy was only the second golfer since Tiger Woods to break the $80 million career earnings threshold. His earnings through wins in the Masters, and PGA tournaments brought in an estimated $42.9 million. His investments into the TGL golf league, Puttery, Golf Genius, Tick Pick, Alpine F1, and endorsements with Nike, TaylorMade, Omega, Optum, and GolfPass bring in an estimated $45 million.

16. Patrick Mahomes (Total Earnings: $86.8 million)

The face of the NFL, Mahomes inked a historic deal lasting 10-years, for over $500 million. Despite the deal seeming massive, it paid him a little over $58 million including bonuses, and incentive payments last year. The three-time Super Bowl champion actively endorses brands like Adidas, State Farm, Subway, Oakley, Hugo Boss, and is an investor into the Kansas City Royals, Sporting KC, and Kansas City Current. All of which brought in another $28 million.

17. Jordan Love (Total Earnings: $83 million)

The Packers never miss when it comes to drafting talented quarterbacks. The same goes with Love, who officially inked a four-year, $220 million extension with $160.3 million guaranteed. Including his signing bonus, Love made $79 million last year through his football deal. Additionally, his tie-ups to Nike, Old Spice, Bose, and American Family Insurance added another $4 million to his earnings.

18. Jared Goff (Total Earnings: $80.8 million)

Goff inked a well-deserving four-year, $212 million deal with the Detroit Lions with $170 million of the sum guaranteed. The quarterback's signing bonus and first-year salary added up to $75.8 million with another $5 million coming in through his endorsement deals with Nike, BMW, Banana Republic, Bose, and Red Bull.

19. Trevor Lawrence (Total Earnings: $80.5 million)

The Jaguars made Lawrence a happy man after signing him to a five-year, $275 million deal with $200 million guaranteed. Last season alone, the signing bonus and first-year salary added up to $74.5 million. Lawrence's affiliation with Adidas, Gatorade, Bose, and EverBank earned him an additional $6 million.

20. Canelo Alvarez (Total Earnings: $80.5 million)

Canelo is one of the most successful boxers to have fought. His 2024 earnings are estimated to be around $70 million through his fights alone. His deals with Everlast, Hennessey, Under Armour, and Tecate earned him another $10 million.