Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, LeBron James among highest-earning athletes ever – but who is No 1?
- Sportico compiled the 50 wealthiest sporting personalities, dominated by Americans and also featuring Roger Federer and David Beckham
- Only one woman features among the 50, while one Asian superstar makes the cut
NBA stars have dominated a list of the highest-earning athletes of all time, with 12 of US basketball’s players in the top 50.
There were nine different sports represented in the list compiled by Sportico, across 17 countries, including one from Asia, in boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, the 22nd-highest earner with US$565 million (HK$4.4 billion).
Tennis star Serena Williams, at No 40, is the only woman to make the cut, with US$470 million.
More than half of the top 50 are from the United States, with a whopping 32 across basketball, golf, boxing, baseball, American football, tennis and Nascar stock car racing. Figures were adjusted for inflation, to allow eras to be compared.
But who made the top 10? Here is a quick run-down:
10. Floyd Mayweather Jnr, boxing: US$1.48 billion
The boxing legend enjoyed a 21-year career from 1996 to 2017 that he finished undefeated with 50 victories.
