Top Richest / Highest-Paid Athletes in the World (2025)

Top Richest / Highest-Paid Athletes in the World (2025)

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This article explores who is earning the most among global athletes in 2025, combining on-field salary / winnings with off-field income (endorsements, business ventures, media rights). Sports like football (soccer), basketball, American football, boxing, golf and baseball feature frequently among the top earners.

Sample Top 20 Highest-Paid Athletes (2025)

RankAthleteSportEstimated Earnings*
1Cristiano RonaldoFootball (Soccer)≈ US$ 275 million
2Stephen CurryBasketball≈ US$ 156 million
3Tyson FuryBoxing≈ US$ 146 million
4Dak PrescottAmerican Football≈ US$ 137 million
5Lionel MessiFootball≈ US$ 135 million
6LeBron JamesBasketball≈ US$ 133.8 million
7Juan SotoBaseball≈ US$ 114 million
8Karim BenzemaFootball≈ US$ 104 million
9Shohei OhtaniBaseball≈ US$ 102.5 million
10Kevin DurantBasketball≈ US$ 101.4 million
11Oleksandr UsykBoxing≈ US$ 101 million
12Jon RahmGolf≈ US$ 100 million
13Giannis AntetokounmpoBasketball≈ US$ 94.4 million
14Scottie SchefflerGolf≈ US$ 92.5 million
15Deshaun WatsonAmerican Football≈ US$ 91.8 million
16Kylian MbappéFootball≈ US$ 90 million
17Rory McIlroyGolf≈ US$ 87.9 million
18Patrick MahomesAmerican Football≈ US$ 86.8 million
19Jordan LoveAmerican Football≈ US$ 83 million
20Jared GoffAmerican Football≈ US$ 80.8 million

“Estimated Earnings” include salary, winnings, and endorsement income over the past 12 months.

Notes & Highlights

  • Cristiano Ronaldo tops the list by a large margin — over US$ 275 million combining club salary, endorsements, and business.
  • Big names from football (soccer), basketball, boxing, golf, and American football dominate the top slots.
  • Some athletes make more off the field (endorsements, brand deals) than from playing/winning alone. For instance, Stephen Curry has very high off-field earnings.
  • Earnings shift quickly — new contracts, big sponsorships, or endorsement deals can change rankings year to year.
  • The floor to make the Top 50 is rising: in 2025 it was about US$ 53.6 million.
  • Sports like basketball, soccer, American football, and boxing remain dominant among top earners. But golfers and MLB players are also represented.
  • Off-field income (endorsements, business ventures) is a big deal: for many athletes, it accounts for a large fraction of total earnings (sometimes 30-50% or more).
  • Saudi football leagues and golf (with new investment, e.g. LIV Golf) are pushing up salaries and prize pools, which helps boost some players’ on-field earnings.
  • Notably, no female athlete made the Top 50 in 2025 according to Forbes.

Challenges in Making a Full Top 100

  • Data availability: Not all athlete contracts are public. Endorsements are often private.
  • Fluctuating values: Currency changes, bonuses, penalties, injuries, etc., can affect income.
  • Verification: Reliable sources (like Forbes) are good, but even they sometimes have to estimate.

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