The World's Highest Paid Athletes of All Time (from 2017)
Forbes magazine, who calculates annually the highest-paid athletes of the year, have combined all their data to determine who is the highest paid athlete of all time. This list includes earnings up to and including 2017, and is not too different from the list compiled a year earlier. See the 2016 list of The World's Highest Paid Athletes of All Time.
Jordan is the Highest of the Highest Paid (again)
On top of this list, just as he was last year, is basketballer Michael Jordan, who had a long and well paid career and continues to make millions after leaving the game. Second on the list, just behind Jordan, is Tiger Woods. Despite currently playing, Woods is not gaining on Jordan.
Golfers made up four of the top six positions, not surprising as it is a sport that players earn well, have large endorsements, have a long career and can continue to earn well after their playing career is over.
Boxer Floyd Mayweather (currently 9th) will jump up the list next year as the big payday from his August bout against Conor McGregor was not included in this calculation.
| rank | Country | Sport | earnings (US$)* | rank last year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Jordan | USA | Basketball | $1.85 billion | 1 |
| 2 | Tiger Woods | USA | Golf | $1.7 billion | 2 |
| 3 | Arnold Palmer | USA | Golf | $1.4 billion | 3 |
| 4 | Jack Nicklaus | USA | Golf | $1.2 billion | 4 |
| 5 | Michael Schumacher | Germany | Motorsports | $1 billion | 5 |
| 6 | Phil Mickelson | USA | Golf | $815 million | 8 |
| =7 | Kobe Bryant | USA | Basketball | $800 million | 6 |
| =7 | David Beckham | England | Football (Soccer) | $800 million | 9 |
| 9 | Floyd Mayweather | USA | Boxing | $785 million | 7 |
| 10 | Shaquille O'Neal | USA | Basketball | $735 million | 10 |
| 11 | Lebron James | USA | Basketball | $730 million | 13 |
| 12 | Christiano Ronaldo | Portugal | Football (Soccer) | $725 million | 14 |
| 13 | Greg Norman | Australia | Golf | $705 million | 12 |
| 14 | Mike Tyson | USA | Boxing | $700 million | 11 |
| 15 | Roger Federer | Switzerland | Tennis | $675 million | 15 |
| 16 | Lionel Messi | Argentina | Football (Soccer) | $600 million | 17 |
| 17 | Alex Rodriguez | USA | Baseball | $575 million | 16 |
| 18 | Jeff Gordon | USA | Motorsports | $525 million | 18 |
| 19 | Oscar de la Hoya | USA | Boxing | $520 million | 19 |
| 20 | Manny Pacquiao | Philippines | Boxing | $510 million | 20 |
Next on the list were Derek Jeter, Peyton Manning and Kevin Garnett (tied), Evander Holyfield and Andre Agassi.
source: data from Forbes online, December 2017. Earnings are in 2017 US dollar value.
Related Pages
- More highest paid all-time lists
- Top-10 highest paid athletes for 2017
- Michael Jordan appeared high on the Forbes list the most times
- List of Highest paid Athletes Lists.
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