List of 10 Highest-Paid Athletes In the World 2024

Cristiano Ronaldo’s career has taken several notable turns over the past eight years, from playing for Real Madrid to Juventus and Manchester United to now playing for Al Nasr in the Saudi Professional League. Despite changing clubs, the one constant in Ronaldo’s career has been his ability to earn a substantial amount of money.

As of 2024, Ronaldo is recognized as the highest-paid athlete in the world, with an estimated income of $260 million. This staggering number highlights his continued influence and market value both on and off the field.

Ronaldo’s enduring popularity, combined with his extraordinary talent and brand appeal, ensures that he remains one of the most financially successful athletes in the world.

Also Read | Richest Billionaires in India 2024

rank

Name

sports

total profit

On-site income

off-market revenue

1

cristiano ronaldo

football

$260 million

US$200 million

$60 million

2

Jon Rahm

golf

$218 million

$198 million

$20 million

3

Lionel Messi

football

$135 million

$65 million

$70 million

4

LeBron James

basketball

$128.2 million

$48.2 million

$80 million

5

Giannis Antetokounmpo

basketball

$111 million

$46 million

$65 million

6

Kylian Mbappe

football

$110 million

$90 million

US$20 million

7

Neymar

football

$108 million

$80 million

$28 million

8

Karim Benzema

football

$106 million

$100 million

$6 million

9

Stephen Curry

basketball

$102 million

$52 million

$50 million

10

Lamar Jackson

football

$100.5 million

$98.5 million

$2 million

Source: Forbes

In 2024, the highest-paid athlete in the world is Cristiano Ronaldo, with a total earnings of $260 million (INR 2,081 crore).

He earned $200 million on the court while playing for Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr, while off the court he earned an additional $60 million through endorsements with brands like Nike and his own CR7 merchandise.

He is followed by Jon Rahm with a total income of $218 million (INR 1,712 crore), of which $198 million comes from golf performance and $20 million from endorsements, especially benefiting from his participation in the LIV Golf Tour Success in the game.

Lionel Messi ranks third with total earnings of $135 million (INR 1,074 crore), of which $65 million comes from his on-field activities while playing for Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami and another $70 million Endorsements from companies like Adidas and Apple.

LeBron James follows closely with earnings of $128.2 million (INR 9.90 billion), of which he earned $48.2 million on the court as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers and off the court through various business ventures including his Media company SpringHill) earned an impressive $80 million.

Giannis Antetokounmpo is second with total earnings of $111 million (INR 873 crore), of which $46 million comes from his job with the Milwaukee Bucks and $65 million from brands like Nike and WhatsApp Endorsement.

Kylian Mbappé is worth $110 million (INR 881 crore) and earned $90 million on the field while playing for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and another $20 million through endorsements .

Neymar follows with a total income of $108 million (INR 864 crore), of which $80 million comes from PSG wages and $28 million from endorsements.

Karim Benzema’s total earnings are $106 million (INR 864 crore), mainly due to his recent move to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad, where he earns $100 million on the field and $100 million off the field Revenue was $6 million.

Stephen Curry’s total earnings are $102 million (INR 797 crore), including $52 million from on-court earnings as a star player for the Golden State Warriors and another $50 million from endorsements, particularly with Under Armour.

Finally, Lamar Jackson rounded out the top 10 with total earnings of $100.5 million (INR 7.90 billion), including $98.5 million on the field and $2 million off the field as the quarterback of the Baltimore Ravens.

The top 10 athletes will earn a combined more than $1.38 billion through 2024, highlighting a significant increase in their earnings across sports thanks to lucrative contracts and endorsements.

The list is based on Forbes’ “World’s Highest-Paid Athletes” ranking, which provides a comprehensive overview of the earnings of the world’s top athletes.

According to Forbes, the world’s 50 highest-paid athletes earned an estimated $3.88 billion in the past 12 months before taxes and agent fees. This represents a significant increase of 13% compared to last year’s record $3.44 billion.

Also Read | [Updated] The 13 Richest Football Players in the World in 2024: Net Worth, Career, Salary, and More

List of the 10 richest people in Australia in 2024

[Latest] Jeff Bezos Net Worth 2024: Salary, Net Worth in Rupees (INR), Income