Highest-Paid Athletes 2011 / 2012 – World’s Richest Athletes
The World’s Top-Earning Athletes
This year’s Forbes SportsMoney 50-50 athlete earnings totals are derived from salaries, bonuses, prize money, appearance fees, licensing and endorsement income between May 2010 and May 2011.
The Magazine did not deduct taxes or agents’ fees. The 50 highest-paid athletes earned a combined $1.4 billion, or $28 million on average.
No. 1: Tiger Woods
Sport: golf
May 2010 to May 2011 Earnings: $75 million
Net Worth: $500 million – As of September 2010, according to Forbes
Age: 35
Though woods has failed to win tournaments or sign new sponsorship deals since his November 2009 car crash and the infidelity scandal that followed, he remains the highest-paid athlete in the world. Retaining two valuable partners, Nike and Electronic Arts, both of which built businesses with Woods as a centerpiece.
No. 2: Kobe Bryant
Sport: basketball
May 2010 to May 2011 Earnings: $53 million
Net Worth: $140 million – As of May 2009, according to Forbes
Age: 32
The most valuable NBA player recently signed on as pitchman for Mercedes-Benz’s Smart Car brand in China. His $24.8 million salary during the 2010-2011 season was $4 million more than any other player.
No. 3: LeBron James
Sport: basketball
May 2010 to May 2011 Earnings: $48 million
Age: 26
James received a minor stake in Fenway Sports Group-owned soccer club Liverpool in April 2011 after his partnership with FSG to manage his business interests. Having #1 basketball shoe on the market, his jersey was the NBA’s bestseller this season, and he has the
No. 4: Roger Federer
Sport: tennis
May 2010 to May 2011 Earnings: $47 million
Age: 29
With 10 major deals including Nike, Credit Suisse, Rolex and Wilson, Federer commands the most impressive endorsement portfolio in sports.
No. 5: Phil Mickelson
Sport: golf
May 2010 to May 2011 Earnings: $46.5 million
Age: 40
Earned a deal as a spokesman for Amgen and Pfizer, makers of Enbrel.
No. 6: David Beckham
Sport: Football
May 2010 to May 2011 Earnings: $40 million
Net Worth: £135 million or $219m – As of May 2011, according to Sunday Times Rich List
Age: 36
Beckham served as an ambassador during London’s 2012 Olympic Games bid process, in May 2011 he signed awith Samsung to become the company’s global brand ambassador for the Games.
No. 7: Cristiano Ronaldo
Sport: Football
May 2010 to May 2011 Earnings: $38 million
Age: 26
Using social media to expand his brand. With 26 million Facebook fans, twice as many as any other athlete and 3 million Twitter followers.
No. 8:Alex Rodriguez
Sport: Baseball
May 2010 to May 2011 Earnings: $35 million
Age: 35
No. 9: Michael Schumacher
Sport: Racing
May 2010 to May 2011 Earnings: $34 million
Age: 42
Return to Formula 1 racing in 2010 did not go as planned as he finished a disappointing ninth in the overall standings but his earnings are boosted by a strong endorsement portfolio that includes DVAG, Jet Set, Navy Boot, Audemars Piguet, Schuberth and Rosbacher.
No. 10: Lionel Messi
Sport: Football
May 2010 to May 2011 Earnings: $32.3 million
Age: 23
With annual salary of $16 million, the Argentina pro footballer has recently built up his endorsement portfolio, which now includes Adidas, PepsiCo, Konami, Audemars Piguet, Chery and AirEuropa.
No. 11: Fernando Alonso
Sport: Racing
May 2010 to May 2011 Earnings: $32 million
Age: 29
Alonso has the highest salary of any F1 driver, and finished second to Sebastian Vettel in last year’s championship standings. In May Alonso extended his driving contract with Ferrari through 2016.
No. 12:Rafael Nadal
Sport: Tennis
May 2010 to May 2011 Earnings: $31.5 million
Age: 24
Nadal earned $10.5 million in prize money over the last 12 months.
No. 13 (tie) Tom Brady
Sport: football (NFL)
May 2010 to May 2011 Earnings: $31 million
Age: 33
The two-time league MVP signed a $72 million 4 year contract extension in September 2010 with the Patriots making it NFL’s richest deal on an annual basis.
No. 13 (tie) Valentino Rossi
Sport: Racing
May 2010 to May 2011 Earnings: $31 million
Age: 32
No. 15: Lewis Hamilton
Sport: Racing
May 2010 to May 2011 Earnings: $30 million
Net Worth: £50 million or $82m – As of May 2011, according to Sunday Times Rich List
Age: 26
Have a deal with Reebok that is worth $4 million annually, but most of his promotional rights are controlled by his race team, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes.
No. 16: Derek Jeter
Sport: Baseball
May 2010 to May 2011 Earnings: $29 million
Age: 36
No. 17: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Sport: Racing
May 2010 to May 2011 Earnings: $28.5 million
Age: 36
No. 18: Yao Ming
Sport: Basketball
May 2010 to May 2011 Earnings: $27.7 million
Age: 30
No. 19 Dwight Howard
Sport: Basketball
May 2010 to May 2011 Earnings: $27.6 million
Age: 25
No. 20: Dwyane Wade
Sport: Basketball
May 2010 to May 2011 Earnings: $26.2 million
Age: 29
Wade made $14.2 million during the 2010-11 season, $300,000 less than his new teammates, after accepting to take a reduced salary to accommodate Chris Bosh and LeBron James under the NBA’s salary cap.
No. 21 Peyton Manning
May 2010 to May 2011 Earnings: $26.1 million
Sport: Football (NFL) , Age: 35
No. 22 Ichiro Suzuki
May 2010 to May 2011 Earnings: $26 million
Sport: Baseball , Age: 37
No. 23 Carmelo Anthony
May 2010 to May 2011 Earnings: $25.1 million
Sport: Basketball , Age: 26
No. 24 (tie) Kaka
May 2010 to May 2011 Earnings: $25 million
Sport: Football , Age: 29
No. 24 (tie) Manny Pacquaio
May 2010 to May 2011 Earnings: $25 million
Sport: Boxing , Age: 32
No. 26 Jeff Gordon
May 2010 to May 2011 Earnings: $24.9 million
Sport: Racing , Age: 39
No. 27 Ronaldinho
May 2010 to May 2011 Earnings: $24.7 million
Sport: Football , Age: 31
No. 28 Amar’e Stoudemire
May 2010 to May 2011 Earnings: $24.5 million
Sport: Basketball , Age: 28
No. 29 Maria Sharapova
May 2010 to May 2011 Earnings: $24.2 million
Sport: Tennis, Age: 24
No. 30 Wayne Rooney
May 2010 to May 2011 Earnings: $24.1 million
Sport: Football , Age: 25
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