The Top 10 Richest Athletes of 2024

Magic Johnson is undeniably one of the Richest Athletes when it comes to wealth accumulation. During his peak in the NBA, he was the highest-paid player, earning $5 million per season. While this is a substantial sum, it pales in comparison to the fortune he has amassed off the court. For instance, in 2010, he reportedly made around $50 million by selling his 5% stake in the Los Angeles Lakers. Moreover, his business acumen extends beyond sports.

Johnson made a significant profit from a Starbucks chain, selling it for approximately $75 million. His investment company, Magic Johnson Enterprises, holds estimated stakes worth around $1 billion. Similarly, his involvement with the Los Angeles Football Club, valued at the same amount, contributes to his wealth. However, as he is not the sole owner, his net worth isn’t the entire value of these investments. Combining all his sources of income and accumulated wealth, various estimates place Magic Johnson’s net worth at around $1.2 billion.

Much more than just an athlete, the richest man in sports isn’t merely a footballer. We’re talking about Faiq Bolkiah a striker for the Thai Club Ratchaburi. He belongs to the royal family of Brunei and was born into a life of incredible privilege with an astounding net worth of $20 billion. But that hasn’t stopped Fake Bulkia from pursuing his passion for soccer.

He’s widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time and one of the most influential celebrities in the world. Naturally, he’s built an immense net worth over the years. During his illustrious 16-season career, Michael Jordan earned approximately $90 million in salary. However, this sum is just a small fraction of his current fortune. The bulk of his wealth was accumulated off the court, thanks to his savvy business ventures and endorsements. To illustrate the magnitude of his business empire, consider the market value of his NBA team.

Cristiano Ronaldo is currently one of the highest-paid players in the world, earning around $62 million annually from his contract with Al-Nasser Football Club. However, this figure represents just a portion of his total income. Remarkably, Ronaldo is estimated to make more money from advertising than from playing football. The reason behind this is simple: he is a global celebrity with unparalleled influence, boasting around 500 million followers on Instagram.

This massive following makes him incredibly valuable to major brands, who are eager to invest significant sums to associate their image with his. One notable example is Nike, which has a lifetime contract with Ronaldo, paying him approximately €24 million per year. It’s reported that in 2019 alone, Ronaldo earned about $47.8 million from sponsored Instagram posts, averaging more than $1 million per post. This staggering amount highlights the immense financial power of his social media presence. To put his wealth into perspective, some sources estimate Ronaldo’s net worth to be over $690 million.

Roger Federer is one of the richest athletes in the world. To give you an idea of his earnings from tennis tournaments since he turned pro in 1998, it is estimated that he has earned about $130 million. While this is a substantial amount of money, it pales in comparison to his overall fortune, as Federer has made significantly more off the court than on it. According to some sources, more than 90% of his career earnings come from sponsorships with various companies. For instance, his sponsorship deal with Nike alone reportedly earned him around $10 million a year.

However, nothing compares to the value of his contract with Uniqlo, a Japanese multinational and one of the largest fashion companies in the world. Federer signed a 10-year deal with Uniqlo worth $30 million a year, totaling $300 million over the contract’s duration. It’s no wonder Federer consistently ranks among the highest-paid athletes globally, even reaching the top of the list in 2020 with estimated earnings of $106 million before taxes. Consequently, Roger Federer’s net worth is estimated to be around $690 million, cementing his status as one of the wealthiest athletes ever.

LeBron James couldn’t possibly be left off this list. He’s already amassed an incredible fortune, being the highest-paid basketball player in the world for the consecutive year. In 2020, he was also named the fifth highest-earning athlete across all sports. As a player for the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron pulls in an impressive salary of $41 million, give or take $200,000. But while that’s a massive sum, it’s not even his biggest source of income.

Off the court, LeBron is estimated to make over $70 million, primarily through his various endorsement deals. Just from his lifetime contract with Nike alone, he rakes in approximately $30 million annually. It’s no surprise that according to Forbes, the NBA star currently boasts a net worth of over $1.2 billion.

Tiger Woods is another athlete on this list, and to get an idea of the fortune he has amassed from winning tournaments and championships as a golfer, it’s estimated that since turning pro in 1996, he has earned about $118 million. While this is a staggering amount for most people, it represents only a small fraction of his actual wealth.

The majority of Tiger Woods’ fortune comes from off the golf course, thanks to lucrative sponsorship deals with various companies. According to some sources, more than 90% of all the money he has made during his career comes from endorsements. To put this into perspective, it is estimated that he earned around $20 million per year from contracts with companies like Gatorade, Gillette, and Nike.

It’s no surprise that he has consistently been listed among the highest-paid athletes in the world, even topping the ranking for a decade straight in his prime. Woods once earned more than $100 million in a single year. His immense wealth was highlighted in 2009 when he was considered the second richest black person in the United States, only behind TV presenter Oprah Winfrey. Today, Tiger Woods’ fortune is estimated at $1 billion, reflecting his incredible success both on and off the golf course.

In the realm of soccer, Messi stands as one of the most financially formidable figures in the sport, his wealth seemingly on a perpetual rise. Reports suggest that donning the jersey for PSG, Lionel Messi secures a steady income of $45 million, with the potential to soar to $75 million with performance-based bonuses.The highest-earning athlete in 2022, boasting a staggering $130 million in earnings. When you tally up all the wealth Messi has amassed throughout his career, estimates soar beyond the billion-dollar mark. However, hefty taxes take a considerable bite, leading some sources to peg his net worth around $600 million.

Floyd Mayweather’s not just a boxer; he’s a money-making machine. What’s remarkable about his wealth isn’t just the eye-popping figures, but how he’s raked it in without plastering his face on every billboard. Sure, he’s got skills in the ring, but it’s his knack for business and his ability to draw a crowd that’s made him filthy rich.

Take his bout with Manny Pacquiao, for example. He pocketed a cool $250 million just for stepping into the ring, but that’s nothing compared to the showdown with Conor McGregor, dubbed “The Money Fight” for good reason.

Estimates put Mayweather’s earnings from that spectacle at a mind-boggling $300 million. His bank balance has been the envy of athletes worldwide, snapping the top spot on Forbes’ highest-paid list more times than I can count. Tally up all the dough he’s pulled in over the years, and some reckon his fortune sits at a hefty $450 million.

But Mayweather himself has been quick to correct the record, claiming he’s been a billionaire for a while now. In fact, he’s tossed out a figure of around $1.2 billion for his current net worth. Now that’s what you call making it rain.