In this article we are going to list the 10 highest paid athletes of all time. For a detailed coverage of this topic and a more comprehensive list please take a look at 25 highest paid athletes of all time.
10. Roger Federer
Total earnings adjusted for inflation (in millions): $1,120
He may not hold the record for the most Grand Slams in history anymore, but Roger Federer’s influence on the sport of tennis cannot be argued. The Swiss legend spent 237 consecutive weeks ranked as No.1, still a record. Along with Nadal and Djokovic, Federer dominated tennis from the early 2000s to the early 2010s and became the oldest Grand Slam winner at the age of 36.
9. Michael Schumacher
Total earnings adjusted for inflation (in millions): $1,130
The F1 legend drove for several racing teams including Mercedes and Ferrari N.V. (NYSE:RACE). The most successful racer of all time with 7 F1 titles, Michael Schumacher was the highest paid athlete in the world in 1999 and 2000.
8. Lionel Messi
Total earnings adjusted for inflation (in millions): $1,140
Arguably the greatest footballer of all-time, Messi’s career came full circle after he led Argentina to a first World Cup in 36 years in Qatar in 2022. In early 2021, Messi’s contract with Barcelona was leaked. Worth 555 million euros, this is the biggest sporting contract in history. Now playing for the wealthy PSG, Messi is very likely to climb up further in this list depending on how long he plays.
7. LeBron James
Total earnings adjusted for inflation (in millions): $1,170
Considered to be among the greatest basketball players in history, LeBron James has also earned significantly from numerous endorsements including from McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) and The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO).
6. Floyd Mayweather
Total earnings adjusted for inflation (in millions): $1,200
The highest paid athletes of all time are also among the most successful in their respective fields, with Floyd Mayweather being considered a legend for his undefeated boxing record and is arguably among the best defensive boxers of all time. His pay-per-views have earned over $1.67 billion in revenue. For his fight with Manny Pacquiao, estimates of Mayweather’s purse range from $180 million to $300 million alone.
5. Cristiano Ronaldo
Total earnings adjusted for inflation (in millions): $1,240
Taking the fifth spot is Cristiano Ronaldo, arguably the most famous player of all time, especially considering his Instagram followers are more than 100 million higher than the second placed person. Ronaldo is also one of the most successful players in history, and has long been considered among the all-time greats, while his achievements include five Ballon d’Or awards and 32 trophies including a European Championship and five UEFA Champions Leagues. Ronaldo will definitely climb this list in the future after agreeing a deal worth over $200 million per year with Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr.
4. Jack Nicklaus
Total earnings adjusted for inflation (in millions): $1,380
One of the few people in our lists whose career primarily took place before the 1980s, Jack Niklaus was the youngest person to win all four golf majors at the age of 26. Even though he turned pro in 1961, Nicklaus still earned $830 million in earnings not adjusted for inflation, which shows that being really successful at golf definitely pays.
3. Arnold Palmer
Total earnings adjusted for inflation (in millions): $1,500
Golfers take three of the top four spots in our list of the highest earning athletes of all time Arnold Palmer won 62 PGA tour titles in a career spanning multiple decades. While golf is often seen as a sport for the elite, Palmer’s humble origins were instrumental in changing that perception.
2. Tiger Woods
Total earnings adjusted for inflation (in millions): $2,100
Tiger Woods was the first athlete in the world to pass $1 billion in actual earnings, reaching this landmark back in 2009. Even though his peak is far behind him and he has been mired in controversy since, there is no denying the legacy that Tiger Woods has left in the game of golf.
1. Michael Jordan
Total earnings adjusted for inflation (in millions): $2,620
Easily topping the list of the 25 highest paid athletes of all time is Michael Jordan, even though just a small portion of his income was derived from his contracts with the teams he played for. While he only earned over $4 million twice, arguably the greatest NBA player of all time only made more than $4 million per year twice in his career of a decade and a half, Jordan’s major income is derived from his deal with NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE), which has earned him over $1 billion since.
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