Mayweather Tops List of Highest Paid Athletes

The most popular athletes are usually the highest paid athletes. These athletes are supposed to be difference makers, leaders, role models who set a high standard for themselves. Here are the top 10 highest paid athletes.

Number one is Floyd Mayweather. “Money” Mayweather is the best boxer in the sport. At age 37, he brings home $105 million. Boxing is one of the most dangerous sports there is, so it is easy to see how he earns so much for one fight. One popular fight can bring in nearly $200 million in revenue. Mayweather is the highest paid athlete as of today.

Number two is Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo is only 29 and brings in $80 million. Fifty-two million dollars of that is his salary, and the other $28 million is his endorsements. Ronaldo signed his contract with Real Madrid for five years, bringing in more than $200 million. Cristiano Ronaldo is arguably the best in the game right now and is a three-time player of the year as well.

Number three is LeBron James, earning $72.3 million at aged 30. Four MVP Awards and back-to-back championships have a lot to do with LeBron’s earnings. James also earns money through deals with Nike, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Upper Deck, and many more. James could go on to become one of the greatest basketball players of all time.

“I think LeBron will be considered the greatest of all time when his career is finished,” senior Tyler Emge said.

Lionel Messi takes the number four spot. The 27-year-old Argentinean earns $64.7 million in salary and endorsements combined. Messi was four-time player of the year and has a big sponsorship with Adidas. He is also linked with Turkish Airlines, which paired him with Kobe Bryant. Last year, the Spanish tax authority charged Messi for tax invasion.

Number five is NBA all-star Kobe Bryant, who brings in a nice $61.5 million. In the 2013-2014 season, Kobe signed a deal for $30.5 million, which was almost eight million higher than any other NBA player. Bryant missed a lot of the 2013 season due to injury.

Number six goes to Tiger Woods. Tiger earns $6.2 million in salary, then an extra $55 million in endorsements for a combined total of $61.2 million. Woods has fourteen major titles and is trying to reach the record of 18. Tiger Woods missed all of the 2013 season when he underwent back surgery.

Roger Federer is number seven, earning $56.2 million. Federer is among the world’s best tennis players, sixteen years after going pro. He holds the record for most Grand Slam wins, 17. Federer also holds the record for the most career prize money, $81 million total. Roger has endorsement deals with Nike, Rolex, and Credit Suisse.

Number eight is Phil Mickelson. The famous golfer earns $53.2 million. Mickelson picked up a new sponsor last year after winning the British Open for the first time. Phil earns more than $40 million from endorsement deals. He also has another deal to promote psoriatic arthritis after he was diagnosed with the disease in 2010.

Rafael Nadal gets the number nine spot. Another stand-out tennis player, he earns $44.5 million. The 28-year-old has his best career year in the 2013 season, posting a record of 75-7 and ranking number one in the world. That year, he also won two Grand Slams. Nadal is 66-1 all time at the Roland Garros. All these achievements sparked up a lot of sponsorships and endorsement deals for the young tennis player.

Number ten is the Falcon’s quarterback, Matt Ryan. Ryan posts a solid $43.8 million, which comes from his $42 million salary and $1.8 million in endorsement deals. He signed a new five-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons. The contract is worth $103.75 million, with a $28 million signing bonus and a $12 million option bonus. Ryan is only behind Aaron Rodgers for highest paid per year in the NFL.