Which athlete makes the most money in 2026? What athlete has the highest salary? Who are the highest-earning athletes right now? Forbes has listed the top 50 earners among athletes from different sports. The popular magazine makes such a list every year and no exception happened in 2025 as well. Sportsnile relists the Forbes’ 50 Highest Paid Athletes in the World in 2025. Richest Footballer in the World 2026 (Top 10, Forbes, Worth).
50 Highest Paid Athletes in the World
| Highest-Paid Athlete Name | Nationality & Sports | Annual Overall Earnings |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal, Soccer | 275 Million US Dollars |
| Stephen Curry | USA, Basketball | 156 Million US Dollars |
| Tyson Fury | UK, Boxing | 146 Million US Dollars |
| Dak Prescott | USA, American Football | 137 Million US Dollars |
| Lionel Messi | Argentina, Soccer | 135 Million US Dollars |
| LeBron James | USA, Basketball | 133.8 Million US Dollars |
| Juan Soto | Dominican Rep., Baseball | 114 Million US Dollars |
| Karim Benzema | France, Soccer | 104 Million US Dollars |
| Shohei Ohtani | Japan, Baseball | 102.5 Million US Dollars |
| Kevin Durant | USA, Basketball | 101.4 Million US Dollars |
| Oleksandr Usyk | Ukraine, Boxing | 101 Million US Dollars |
| Jon Rahm | Spain, Golf | 100 Million US Dollars |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Greece, Basketball | 94.4 Million US Dollars |
| Scottie Scheffler | USA, Golf | 92.5 Million US Dollars |
| Deshaun Watson | USA, American Football | 91.8 Million US Dollars |
| Kylian Mbappe | France, Soccer | 90 Million US Dollars |
| Rory McIlroy | UK, Golf | 87.9 Million US Dollars |
| Patrick Mahomes | USA, American Football | 86.8 Million US Dollars |
| Jordan Love | USA, American Football | 83 Million US Dollars |
| Jared Goff | USA, American Football | 80.8 Million US Dollars |
| Trevor Lawrence | USA, American Football | 80.5 Million US Dollars |
| Canelo Alvarez | Mexico, Boxing | 80 Million US Dollars |
| Lewis Hamilton | UK, Auto Racing (F1) | 80 Million US Dollars |
| Max Verstappen | Netherlands, Auto Racing (F1) | 78 Million US Dollars |
| Neymar | Brazil, Soccer | 76 Million US Dollars |
| Justin Herbert | USA, American Football | 73.6 Million US Dollars |
| Tua Tagovailoa | USA, American Football | 72.4 Million US Dollars |
| Justin Jefferson | USA, American Football | 72.2 Million US Dollars |
| Damian Lillard | USA, Basketball | 67.5 Million US Dollars |
| Blake Snell | USA, Baseball | 67.4 Million US Dollars |
| CeeDee Lamb | USA, American Football | 66.7 Million US Dollars |
| Josh Allen | USA, American Football | 66.1 Million US Dollars |
| Anthony Edwards | USA, Basketball | 62.1 Million US Dollars |
| Erling Haaland | Norway, Soccer | 62 Million US Dollars |
| Shai Gilgeous Alexander | Canada, Basketball | 61.2 Million US Dollars |
| Joel Embiid | USA, Basketball | 60.4 Million US Dollars |
| Jimmy Butler | USA, Basketball | 59.8 Million US Dollars |
| Luka Doncic | Slovenia, Basketball | 58.5 Million US Dollars |
| Devin Booker | USA, Basketball | 58.3 Million US Dollars |
| Bradley Beal | USA, Basketball | 58.2 Million US Dollars |
| Nikola Jokic | Serbia, Basketball | 57.6 Million US Dollars |
| Kawhi Leonard | USA, Basketball | 57.3 Million US Dollars |
| Paul George | USA, Basketball | 56.3 Million US Dollars |
| Jayson Tatum | USA, Basketball | 55.8 Million US Dollars |
| Tiger Woods | USA, Golf | 55.4 Million US Dollars |
| Vinicius Jr | Brazil, Soccer | 55 Million US Dollars |
| Kyler Murray | USA, American Football | 54.6 Million US Dollars |
| Sadio Mane | Senegal, Soccer | 54 Million US Dollars |
| Xander Schauffele | USA, Golf | 53.6 Million US Dollars |
| Russell Wilson | USA, American Football | 53.6 Million US Dollars |
Forbes Top 50 Highest Paid Athletes 2025
The above chart is based on the yearly earnings of the athletes in 2025. It’s the combined annual income of individual sportsmen, considering both on-field salaries, incentives, and off-field endorsements, and other earnings. Off-field earnings are also related to sports because it comes from the popularity and face value of the athletes.
Top 10 Highest Paid Athletes in the World
| Player Name | On-Field Earnings | Off-Field Earnings |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | US$225 Million | US$50 Million |
| Stephen Curry | US$56 Million | US$100 Million |
| Tyson Fury | US$140 Million | US$6 Million |
| Dak Prescott | US$127 Million | US$10 Million |
| Lionel Messi | US$60 Million | US$75 Million |
| LeBron James | US$48.8 Million | US$85 Million |
| Juan Soto | US$109 Million | US$5 Million |
| Karim Benzema | US$100 Million | US$4 Million |
| Shohei Ohtani | US$2.5 Million | US$100 Million |
| Kevin Durant | US$51.4 Million | US$50 Million |
What Athlete makes $100 Million a Year?
The following 12 athletes make a minimum of 100 million US Dollars per year, according to Forbes. Among them, 6 athletes make at least 100m from their on-field salaries and incentives. 2 players receive US$100m yearly payment from their sponsorship deals.
Jon Rahm
This Spaniard Golfer bagged exactly the 9-figure earnings last year, revealed Forbes. He earned around US$90 million from prize pools and on-field sets. Meanwhile, the remaining 10 million dollars were pocketed from the sponsorship deals.
Oleksandr Usyk
Despite earning 100m just from the on-field category, the Ukrainian boxer stands 11th on the list. His off-field earnings are merely a million dollars, and hence, the overall income is 101 million USD.
Kevin Durant
The NBA star keeps a balance between his on-field and off-field earnings. The first category provides his 51.4 million, while the 2nd category yields him 50 million dollars. With an overall 101.4 million USD income in 2025, he makes it into the top 10.
Shohei Ohtani
Japanese is the 2nd-highest-earning baseball player as well as the highest-paid Asian athlete in 2025. Despite just 2.5 million on-field salary and incentives, he bagged an immense 102.5 million dollars thanks to his off-field earnings.
Karim Benzema
The Frenchman has been the 3rd highest-earning soccer star behind CR7 and Messi. The former Madrid forward bags a whopping 100m yearly salary from his Saudi Pro League club. With 4m more from off the field sponsors, his overall yearly income stands at US$104m.
Juan Soto
The Dominican is the world’s highest-earning baseball star right now. Juan Soto makes a total of 114 million US Dollars. By the way, the majority of his income belongs to the salaries and incentives (109 million), unlike Ohtani.
LeBron James
The legend requires no further identity to unfold. He is one of the biggest stars in American sports. His 133.8 million yearly income places him in 6th place. His on-field and off-field earnings are 48.8m and 85m, respectively.
Lionel Messi
The Argentine soccer sensation makes it into the top 5 among the Highest Paid Athletes in the World, although many expected him to be at a higher spot. However, his move out of Europe heavily decreased his on-field salary and bonuses, non-surprisingly. Inter Miami pays him around 60 million dollars while his endorsers yield him around 75 million. The overall income is 135 million dollars.
Dak Prescott
With a massive 137 million dollars earning, Mr Prescott is the world’s highest-paid NFL star right now. The Dallas Cowboys pay a healthy 127 million dollars to this quarterback, and he adds 10 million more from the sponsors.
Tyson Fury
Mr Fury is the highest-paid Britishman. He is also the highest-paid athlete among individual sports players. His 146 million income places him in the 3rd position, while based on on-field income, he sits in the 2nd place.
Stephen Curry
Sitting in the overall 2nd place, Stephen Curry is the highest-paid American athlete. Curry’s yearly income is a whopping 156 million US Dollars and is among the only 2 sportstars to earn over 150 million a year. His on-field salary is 56 million, and his off-field earnings are 100 million.
Who is the Highest Paid Athlete in the World?
Can you guess? Yes, it’s none other than the soccer great Cristiano Ronaldo. He cleared the top spot by more than a 100 million dollar margin. The Portuguese sensation’s earnings in 2025 were a mammoth 275 million USD, at least 119 million more than 2nd placed Curry. The amount is also more than double what Messi earned ($135m), the 2nd highest-earning footballer on this list. Ronaldo’s 225 million comes from the salary and incentives from his Al Nassr deal. Meanwhile, he also pockets 50 million more from his sponsors.
Which Athlete has the Highest Salary?
Among athletes from all sports, Cristiano Ronaldo has the highest salary or wage fee. Forbes revealed that, in 2025, from salary & incentives, the Al-Nassr forward grabbed a total of 225 million US Dollars, which is way more than any other athlete’s overall yearly income. He has an incredibly high weekly salary of 4.32 million dollars, which is a dream monthly salary for most athletes, let alone weekly. CR7’s monthly salary is around 18.75 million dollars, which is more than many famous athletes’ yearly or half-yearly income.
Who are the Top 5 Paid Athletes?
The top 5 athletes or sportsmen in the world are:
- Cristiano Ronaldo – 275 Million US Dollars
- Stephen Curry – 156 Million US Dollars
- Tyson Fury – 146 Million US Dollars
- Dak Prescott – 137 Million US Dollars
- Lionel Messi – 135 Million US Dollars.
In 2025, a total of 12 athletes made a minimum of 100 million dollars throughout the year. However, this content lists out the top 50 Highest Paid Athletes in the World. Also, Top 10 Highest Paid F1 Drivers 2026 (Salary per Win, Month, Year).
![Top 10 Most Successful Athletes in Olympic History [Updated List]](https://www.sportsnile.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Top-10-Most-Successful-Athletes-in-Olympic-History-SportsNile.jpg)
