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We’ve all heard about the top 10 highest-paid athletes in the world, but what does it all mean? The average Joe has no clue about the net worth of these athletes, and neither does he care about their endorsement deals. Yet sports fans do care about the salaries of full-time athletes. These athletes are paid in excess of $20 million a year, and they’re not just playing for the money. Read on to learn more about the top athletes in the world!
Canelo Alvarez
Canelo Alvarez will likely make it to Forbes’ list of the world’s highest-paid athletes next year.
The former middleweight champion is due to earn more than $40 million over the next five years. His fights with Dmitry Bivol, Callum Smith, and Billy Joe Saunders have earned him around $70 million in prize money. In fact, Alvarez made a reported $20 million a year from real estate investments.
While many athletes are chasing the same goals, Canelo Alvarez is one athlete who is making headlines for different reasons. He has a successful MMA career, sponsors and brand endorsements, investments, and notable honours. His fights also generate a ton of revenue for the sports industry. His latest deal with DAZN was a five-year, $365 million deal for broadcast rights of his fights. This contract ends in 2020, making Canelo a free agent. He signed a two-fight contract with Everlast in 2014.
Lionel Messi
After 17 years at Barcelona, Lionel Messi left for Paris Saint-Germain. He has since had his best year as a pro, earning $130 million in pre-tax earnings for the last 12 months. This makes him the highest paid athlete in the world according to Forbes. This article will discuss how Messi’s money is derived from his sports career, and how his contract with PSG has impacted his earnings.
Forbes has revealed the list of the world’s highest paid athletes for the year 2022. According to the publication, Messi will earn $130 million from soccer and his other endorsement deals. His contract with PSG is worth $40 million per year. He has received a whopping $35 million in endorsements, including Adidas, Hard Rock International, and Saudi Arabia Tourism. With that kind of money, it is no wonder that Messi is one of the highest paid athletes in the world.
LeBron James
The NBA superstar LeBron James has a net worth of $1 billion, becoming the first active player to reach this milestone. The Los Angeles Lakers small forward made $121 million last year, making him one of the highest paid athletes in the world. Forbes has also listed him among the 10 highest paid athletes of the year, with a salary that will reach $1 billion by 2022. The NBA’s salary structure is also a significant contributor to his net worth, and he is expected to make another $100 million in 2018.
While LeBron is a world-renowned basketball player, he is also an actor. In addition to his acting roles, the superstar has appeared in a number of films, most of which he starred in himself. He has acted in Trainwreck (2015), Smallfoot (2018), and Space Jam 2 – the sequel to his 2006 film of the same name. LeBron is a major star and is paid a staggering amount, and his popularity has continued to rise.
Roger Federer
Roger Federer is one of the world’s most famous athletes, with his endorsement deals earning him more money than any other sport. During the past year alone, the tennis star has earned over $85 million in endorsement deals, second only to basketball legend LeBron James. Although the tennis legend does not play much, his name and image remain incredibly attractive to sponsors. Among other things, he holds the men’s record for most consecutive weeks ranked No. 1. In addition, he has reached the top three in the rankings for 750 straight weeks. He has also made it to the quarterfinals in 18 Slam tournaments, which is one of the highest-paying sports.
The list of highest-paid athletes has been published annually by Forbes since 1990. For the first time, a tennis player has topped the list. This year, he earned $106.3 million, a record-high, topping Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, who had previously held the title. Federer earned $100 million from endorsement deals and prize money. He also won the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and U.S. Open championships.
