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Imagine making a living playing a sport. Now, imagine becoming a multi-millionaire for being one of the best at your sport. There are the player contracts, endorsements, bonuses, and straight-up fame that help these athletes rake in the cash. All around the world, the greatest athletes in their respective sports are signing deals that are making sports agents cry with joy.
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Here are the 26 highest-paid athletes of all time and just how much dough they made:
26. Alex Rodriguez
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Three-time AL MVP A-Rod was a big bat for the New York Yankees. His non-adjusted earnings are $540M, but inflation-adjusted, they total $810M. In 2008, he signed a 10-year, $275 million contract extension with the Yankees. My favorite WTF stat of his is that he leads the MLB all-time in grand slams (25).
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25. Peyton Manning
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Five-time NFL MVP, quarterback Peyton Manning's non-adjusted earnings are $570M. Adjusted for inflation, he yelled "Omaha, Omaha" on his way to $810M. It's impressive, given how tight the NFL salary cap is, and you remember the countless commercials and advertisements featuring everyone's favorite Manning.
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24. Manny Pacquiao
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*imitates boxing punching noises* Keeping your head on a swivel can rack in some dough, and Pacquiao was one of the best. His non-adjusted earnings are $595M, but after inflation adjustment, they're $815M. The Filipino boxer won 12 world titles in just eight years, a feat no one has achieved in such a short time.
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23. Rory McIlroy
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This Northern Irish golfer is the back-to-back Masters winner. His non-adjusted earnings are $720M, which translates to $870M. He's one of the hottest golfers in the world right now and has six major championships. For perspective, the last golfer to win back-to-back Masters was Tiger Woods.
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22. Canelo Álvarez
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Saul "Canelo (Cinnemon)" Alvarez is a Mexican boxer who packs a punch both in the ring and with earnings. His non-adjusted earnings are $760M, which is $870M after accounting for inflation. With a record of 63-2-2, he has fought big fights in four different weight classes, making him one of the best fighters in the world pound-for-pound.
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21. Tom Brady
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The seven-time Super Bowl-winning QB is one of the best to ever do it. Famous for taking pay cuts during his playing career, it shouldn't be shocking that his money has come from his own businesses and endorsements. His non-adjusted earnings are slinging in at $700M. That's around $890M adjusted for inflation (insert Deflategate joke). Over a 23-season career, he has put up video game numbers that future QBs will be chasing. His most unbreakable might be his more than 100,000 combined passing yards in both regular and postseason play.
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20. Mike Tyson
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There are few scarier athletes in history than Iron Mike. As one of the biggest KO boxers ever, he also had knockout earnings, with his non-adjusted earnings totaling$495M. We're talking '80s and '90s, so his inflation-adjusted earnings are a whopping $1B. From endorsements to business decisions, the youngest heavyweight champion ever is the first person on this list to crack the billion mark.
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19. Stephen Curry
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Night-night! Curry has become one of the best shooters in the NBA, and his non-adjusted earnings reflect that at $920M. That is a total of $1.06B adjusted for inflation. The four-time NBA champion's recent animated film GOAT dribbled $192 million worldwide, proof of his business choices hitting nothing but the bottom of the net.
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18. Lewis Hamilton
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Maybe the most recognizable name in modern F1, Hamilton's inflation-adjusted earnings are an impressive $1.08B ($880M unadjusted). Not bad for a racer...only a cool billion. He holds the all-time F1 record for most wins, a jaw-dropping 105 total.
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17. Kobe Bryant
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"Kobe!" Black Mamba's non-adjusted earnings are $755M; 1.18B after inflation adjustment. He won five NBA titles in his 20-year career. He was in the 2000s what Jordan was in the '90s—a sports icon.
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16. Kevin Durant
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Durant's non-adjusted earnings are $985M, which is really 1.18B after adjusted for inflation. He is a four-time NBA scoring champion and has two rings with the Golden State Warriors.
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15. Greg Norman
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Norman not only had one of the greatest golf nicknames, The Great White Shark," but the Australian golfer also earned a ton of money worldwide as a golfer. His non-adjusted earnings are $765M...$1.21B after adjusting for inflation. He finished his career with 91 professional wins worldwide.
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14. Neymar
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Maybe the best Brazilian soccer (football) player this century, Neymar, has become a South American icon. His non-adjusted earnings are $1.05B, which is really $1.24B after inflation.
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13. Shaquille O'Neal
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Can you dig it? Shaq's non-adjusted earnings are $865M, but once adjusted for inflation, he has pulled down 1.32B. I don't know, in my lifetime, I have seen someone in more ads than Shaq. The Big Diesel has earned it, earning himself the title of a four-time NBA champion, three of which earned Finals MVP nods.
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12. Michael Schumacher
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The highest racer on this list, Schumacher, is arguably the most successful Formula 1 racer in history. His inflation-adjusted earnings are $1.42B ($815M non-adjusted earnings). With seven World Championships, he has crossed the finish line first 91 times...that's indeed a winner's circle number.
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11. Phil Mickelson
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Maybe the most famous "Lefty" in sports, Mickelson can still count cash with his left hand. His inflation-adjusted earnings are $1.53B ($1.1B unadjusted). With six major championships, he has a total of 45 PGA Tour wins.
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10. Floyd Mayweather
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A boxer with the nickname "Money" might've wanted to hit me with a straight jab if he hadn't appeared in the Top 10. His inflation-adjusted earnings currently sit at $1.57B ($1.16 unadjusted), making him the highest-earning boxer of all time. He finished his boxing career with a 50-0 record and is practically the undisputed champ when it comes to defensive boxing.
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9. Roger Federer
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Who many consider to be the GOAT of men's tennis, Federer's non-adjusted earnings are $1.29B. After inflation is accounted for, he ranks as a Top-10 highest-paid athlete of all time with 1.67B. He finished his career with 20 Grand Slams and held a ridiculous record of 237 consecutive weeks at world No. 1. That's almost five years as the undisputed No. 1 player in an individual sport.
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8. David Beckham
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There's no bending these numbers like Beckham. His non-adjusted earnings are $1.26B, and his inflation-adjusted earnings total $1.68B. He had his peak earnings of $75 million in one year (2014), which means a good chunk of his wealth comes from endorsements. His move to the MLS (U.S.) was also a game-changer, helping rake in $255M.
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7. Jack Nicklaus
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Arguably the greatest golfer ever, Nicklaus didn't "lay up" on the fairway when it came to financial earnings. His adjusted earnings are $1.83B (930M before inflation-adjustment). He finished his career with 73 PGA Tour wins. What's most impressive: his career prize money is approximately $5.7 million, which shows that his businesses after his golfing career really elevated his financial standing.
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6. Arnold Palmer
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Palmer's non-adjusted earnings are $885M, but after inflation adjustment, $1.85B. With the nickname "The King" and a drink named after you, it's safe to say his name alone has carried him to great financial success. He finished his career with 62 PGA Tour titles. That'd buy you a lot of glasses of Arnold Palmers.
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5. Lionel Messi
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As the reigning World Cup champion, Messi has become one of the most beloved players in soccer (football) history. His non-adjusted earnings are an impressive $1.62B. Adjusted to inflation, that's just under $2B, with 1.99B. The 8-time Ballon d'Or award winner, who plays like the ball is on a string at his feet, is estimated to be currently making $20.45 million per year with Inter Miami.
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4. LeBron James
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"Taking his talents" into the Top 5 highest-paid athletes of all time, Lebron James ranks among the most recognizable active American athletes today. James' non-adjusted earnings are $1.62B and, adjusted for inflation, $2.03B total. With four NBA championships and league MVPs, his most impressive feat might be his longevity, as he is still playing great basketball at age 41.
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3. Cristiano Ronaldo
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"SIUUU!" An icon in soccer (football), Ronaldo's non-adjusted earnings are $2.09B. Once adjusted for inflation, that's a whopping $2.52B. Winning 5 Ballon d'Or awards, the Portuguese star has also won league titles in three different countries (England, Spain, and Italy).
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2. Tiger Woods
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We wear red on Sundays. Woods has had years where he was the most recognizable athlete on the planet, and his non-adjusted earnings stand at $1.97B. Inflation-adjusted, that number blows up to $2.88B. What would you expect from a golfer with 82 PGA Tour wins and 15 major championships?
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1. Michael Jordan
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Air Jordan is arguably the greatest basketball player ever, and his non-adjusted earnings are off the charts at $3.28B. Inflation-adjusted, that's a jaw-dropping total of $4.5B in earnings. He earned roughly around $94M in salary earnings throughout his career, making him extremely underpaid, but his icon status kept printing money.
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Which of these athletes do you think is the most iconic in sports history? Tell me why in the comments below!
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