How much money do the world’s greatest athletes really make? And how do they compare between different sports? Visual Capitalist analyzed the earnings of the highest-earning athletes in various professional sports, according to calculations by Forbes. The earnings reported here cover the period from May 2022 to May 2023. Earnings include on-court (salary, bonus, cash prizes) and off-court (sponsorships, etc.) revenues.
The research Forbes forecast was based on research with industry insiders, news reports and analysis of salary databases. Cristiano Ronaldo was the highest-paid athlete in the world, earning around $136 million between May 2022 and May 2023. His move to Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr set a record for the largest contract in the sport at era.
Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James made the most money in basketball (just under $120 million), which is nearly double Formula 1’s top earner, Lewis Hamilton, who took home around $65 million in 2022-23.
This is especially evident in the case of Roger Federer, who retired in 2022, after playing his last Laver Cup. However, his massive deals with Uniqlo, Rolex and Mercedes, as well as his stake in the company On, keep him still at the top of these lists. Along with Ronaldo and James, these three athletes are widely considered the face of their sport, undoubtedly helping them secure sponsorships and lucrative commercial deals.
