Millions of followers are inspired by the talent, passion, and commitment of athletes, who are among the most well-known and powerful individuals in the world. They are among the richest celebrities in the world thanks to their enormous earnings from salary, endorsements, enterprises, and investments. In this blog article, we'll take a look at the top 20 richest athletes in the world and their net worth, as determined by estimations from Forbes and Celebrity Net Worth. We'll also mention some of their accomplishments and records in the sports they play.
List of top 20 richest athletes in the world and their net worth
20. Stephen Curry - Basketball
Net Worth: $160 million
Stephen Curry, one of the greatest basketball players in history, is the 20th-richest athlete in the world. The Golden State Warriors were the only team for whom the three-time NBA champion and two-time MVP played throughout his playing career. He has multiple records for made three-pointers and is recognized as the best shooter in NBA history. In addition to his salary, he has received approximately $200 million in endorsement payments, primarily from Under Armour, Chase, Rakuten, and Palm. Additionally, he has a production firm called Unanimous Media that makes movies, TV episodes, and documentaries. According to reports, Stephen Curry has $160 million net worth.
19. Kylian Mbappe - Football
Net Worth: $180 Million
As of 2023, The net worth of Kylian Mbappe is around $180 million. He plays for Paris Saint-Germain and the France national soccer team, making him one of the best-paid and most marketable soccer players in the world. He receives a $53 million basic salary and an extra $10 to $20 million per year in endorsement payments, primarily from Nike, Hublot, EA Sports, and Oakley. Additionally, he has a charity that promotes children's health and education as well as his own graphic novel.
18. Rafael Nadal - Tennis
Net Worth: $180 million
Rafael Nadal, one of the best tennis players of all time, is the 18th-richest athlete in the world. He shares the record for the most major titles won by a male player with Roger Federer (20 Grand Slam titles, six ATP Finals victories). His 13 French Open victories make him the uncontested king of clay. He has made more than $300 million in endorsement fees from companies including Nike, Babolat, Kia Motors, and Telefonica, in addition to more than $120 million in prize money. Additionally, he runs a foundation and school that funds athletic and educational initiatives in India and Spain. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Nadal net worth is estimated around $180 million.
17. Kevin Durant - Basketball
Net Worth: $200 million
Kevin Durant, one of the greatest basketball players in history, is the 17th wealthiest athlete in the world. The Golden State Warriors, the Brooklyn Nets, the USA national team, and the Seattle SuperSonics/Oklahoma City Thunder were the four teams for whom the two-time NBA champion and two-time Finals MVP played throughout his career. Along with the USA national team, he also won an Olympic gold medal in 2012 and 2016. His earnings from salary and sponsorships, primarily from Nike, Google, Mastercard, and Degree, total more than $200 million. Thirty-Five Ventures, a media firm he also owns, creates movies, TV series, and podcasts. According to CNW, The net worth of Kevin Durant is $200 million.
16. Neymar - Football
Net Worth: $240 million
Neymar, one of the greatest soccer players of all time, is the 16th wealthiest athlete in the world. In his career, the two-time Copa América and two-time Champions League champion has played for Santos, Barcelona, and Paris Saint-Germain. He is also the team's captain and second-leading scorer. In 2016, he and the Brazil national team won the Olympic gold medal. In addition to his salary, he has received over $500 million in endorsement payments, primarily from Nike, Red Bull, Gillette, and Beats by Dre. Additionally, he runs a foundation that funds humanitarian projects in Brazil. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Neymar net worth stands at $240 million.
15. Phil Mickelson - Golf
Net Worth: $300 million
Phil Mickelson, one of the most well-known golfers of all time, is the fifteenth-richest athlete in the whole globe. Only 12 players have won all four major championships in their professional careers, including the six-time major champion and 45-time PGA Tour victor. He has received approximately $500 million in endorsement fees, primarily from Callaway, KPMG, Rolex, and Amgen, and over $90 million in prize money. Additionally, he runs a nonprofit that promotes education and youth development and his own coffee brand. According to Celebrity Net Worth, he has a $300 million net worth.
14. Greg Norman - Golf
Net Worth: $400 million
Greg Norman, a legendary golfer, is the fourteenth-richest athlete in the world. The second-longest period in history, the two-time major champion and 20-time PGA Tour victor held the top spot for 331 weeks. He has made more than $500 million in endorsement fees, primarily from Reebok, Cobra, Qantas, and Omega, and more than $15 million in prize money. Great White Shark Enterprises, his own commercial empire, is comprised of the design of golf courses, fashion, wine, real estate, and investments. According to Celebrity Net Worth, he has a $400 million net worth.
13. Jack Nicklaus - Golf
Net Worth: $400 million
One of the best golfers of all time, Jack Nicklaus, is the thirteenth wealthiest athlete in the world. The 18-time major champion and six-time Masters victor holds the record for most major victories in golf history. In addition to over $1 billion in endorsement fees from companies like Rolex, Anheuser-Busch, Golf Digest, and KPMG, he has received over $5 million in prize money. Additionally, he owns Nicklaus Design, a firm that has created more than 400 golf courses throughout the globe. Additionally, he runs a nonprofit that promotes children's health care and his own clothing brand. According to Celebrity Net Worth, he has a $400 million net worth.
12. Shaquille O’Neal - Basketball
Net Worth: $400 million
Another basketball great, Shaquille O'Neal, is ranked as the world's twelfth-richest athlete. The Orlando Magic, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Miami Heat, the Phoenix Suns, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Boston Celtics were the six clubs that the four-time NBA champion and three-time Finals MVP played for throughout his career. Along with the USA national team, he also captured an Olympic gold medal in 1996. In addition to his salary, he has received over $200 million in endorsement payments, primarily from Reebok, Icy Hot, Buick, and Papa John's. Additionally, he owns a media firm called Shaq Entertainment that creates movies, TV series, and podcasts. He presently serves as an analyst for the TNT program Inside the NBA. He is $400 million in wealth.
11. David Beckham - Football
Net Worth: $450 million
David Beckham, one of the most well-known soccer players of all time, is the 11th-richest athlete in the world. The six-time league winner and former captain of England has played for some of the world's most illustrious teams, including Manchester United, Real Madrid, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, and LA Galaxy. In addition to his salary, he has received approximately $500 million in endorsement payments, primarily from Adidas, Armani, H&M, and Samsung. Additionally, he owns his own company, DB Ventures, which houses his apparel line, soccer academy, and fragrance line. He presently serves as president and co-owner of Major League Soccer team Inter Miami CF. According to Celebrity Net Worth, he has a $450 million net worth. Here you can check some interesting facts about David Beckham
10. Floyd Mayweather - Boxing
Net Worth: $450 million
Floyd Mayweather, one of the greatest boxers of all time, is the 10th-richest athlete in the world. The 12-time world champion in five weight classes and undefeated boxer has fought in some of the most profitable bouts in history, including ones with Manny Pacquiao, Conor McGregor, and Logan Paul. His career earnings have exceeded $1 billion, with the majority coming from pay-per-view sales as well as sponsorships, public appearances, and his own marketing firm, Mayweather Promotions. According to Celebrity Net Worth, he has a $450 million net worth.
9. Cristiano Ronaldo - Football
Net Worth: $500 million
Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the greatest soccer players in history, is the 9th-richest athlete in the world. CR7 net worth is estimated around $500 million. The five-time winner of the Ballon d'Or and the Champions League has represented some of the best teams in the world, including Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus. Along with being the team's captain and all-time leading scorer, he also represents Portugal at international competitions, including the Euro 2016 and the Nations League 2019. He has received over $1 billion in endorsement payments, primarily from Nike, Herbalife, CR7, and Pestana, and has made over $120 million in salary. With more than 500 million followers on various social media platforms, he is also the athlete with the largest following on instagram.
8. Lionel Messi - Football
Net Worth: $600 million
Another soccer legend, Lionel Messi, is the world's 8th-richest athlete. He is currently the richest football player in the world. The four-time Champions League champion and 7-time Ballon d'Or winner has spent his entire playing career with Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami. Additionally, he is the Argentina national team's captain and all-time greatest scorer. Together, they won the Copa America in 2021. In addition to his salary, he has received approximately $600 million in endorsement payments, primarily from Adidas, Pepsi, Huawei, and Gatorade. Additionally, he runs a nonprofit that promotes children's health and education as well as his own clothing brand. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Messi has a $600 million net worth.
7. Magic Johnson - Basketball
Net Worth: $600 million
Another basketball star, Magic Johnson, is the 7th-richest athlete in the world. The five-time NBA champion and three-time MVP spent 13 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he was a member of the illustrious "Showtime" period alongside James Worthy and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. In 1992, he and the "Dream Team" also captured an Olympic gold medal. He turned into a prosperous businessman and investor after giving up basketball, having interests in media, entertainment, sports teams, healthcare, and education. According to Celebrity Net Worth, he is presently the Lakers' president of basketball operations and has a net worth of $600 million.
6. Tiger Woods - Golf
Net Worth: $800 million
Tiger Woods, one of the best golfers of all time, is the 6th-richest athlete in the world. The 82-time PGA Tour winner and 15-time major champion has dominated the sport for more than 20 years, shattering multiple records and collecting innumerable accolades. He has received over $1 billion in endorsement fees, primarily from Nike, Rolex, Bridgestone, and TaylorMade, and over $120 million in prize money. In addition, he owns The Woods, a chain of restaurants, and his own business designing golf courses. Celebrity Net Worth estimates his net worth to be $800 million.
5. Roger Federer - Tennis
Net Worth: $1 billion
Roger Federer, probably the greatest tennis player of all time, is the fifth-richest athlete in the world. The 20-time Grand Slam champion, six-time ATP Finals champion, and more than 100-time tour winner held the No. 1 ranking for a record 310 weeks. He has made more than $600 million via endorsement deals, mostly with Rolex, Uniqlo, Credit Suisse, and Mercedes-Benz, totalling more than $130 million in prize money. He also runs a charity that funds educational initiatives in Switzerland and Africa. Federer's net worth is around $1 billion.
4. LeBron James - Basketball
Net Worth: $1 billion
LeBron James is the 2nd billionaire from the NBA after Michael Jordan. The Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Los Angeles Lakers were the three clubs for whom the four-time NBA champion and four-time MVP played throughout his career. Together with the USA national team, he also captured two Olympic gold medals. He has received salaries totalling more than $300 million and endorsement payments totalling more than $600 million, mostly from Nike, Coca-Cola, Beats by Dre, and Blaze Pizza. Additionally, he owns a media firm called SpringHill Entertainment that makes movies and TV series. The net worth of Lebron James is estimated to be $1 billion.
3. Ion Tiriac - Ice Hockey and Tennis
Net Worth: $1.2 billion
Ion Tiriac, a former ice hockey and tennis player from Romania, is the third-richest athlete in the world. In 1968, he competed in singles matches at the French Open and advanced to the quarterfinals while playing doubles. He played ice hockey for Romania at the 1964 Winter Olympics. He developed into a prosperous businessman and investor after giving up athletics, having interests in banking, insurance, car dealerships, airlines, real estate, and sports management. He is the owner of the Madrid Open tennis competition and a representative for elite athletes like Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev. Forbes estimates his net worth to be $1.2 billion.
2. Michael Jordan - Basketball
Net Worth: $1.6 billion
The greatest basketball player of all time, Michael Jordan, is also the second-richest athlete in the world. The six-time NBA champion and five-time MVP, who also played for the Washington Wizards and the Chicago Bulls, had a lifetime salary of almost $90 million. Additionally, he earned over $1 billion through sponsorships, particularly from his successful partnership with Nike, which gave rise to the legendary Air Jordan brand. He now holds a controlling share in the NBA franchise Charlotte Hornets and owns a portion of the sports betting firm DraftKings. Forbes estimates Micheal Jordan net worth to be $1.6 billion.
1. Vince McMahon - WWE
Net Worth: $2.2 billion
The richest athlete in the world is Vince McMahon, a former wrestler and the owner of WWE, the biggest wrestling organization in the world. He is not currently a competitor. Vince McMahon took over his father's business and turned it into a multibillion-dollar worldwide entertainment empire with millions of followers. He has also been involved in other projects, such as the World Bodybuilding Federation and the XFL football league. Forbes estimates his net worth to be $2.2 billion.
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