Today, top athletes have multiple avenues of earning cash on and off the field. Athletes are the marketing gold for franchises while they develop their brands. Endorsements, deals, salaries, and businesses have churned out some billionaire players. In this write-up, we present the wealthiest athletes in the world.
Michael B. Jordan
Michael Jordan shares the spotlight with hall of fame members such as Magic Johnson in the NBA. The former Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards player has a net worth in the region of $2.2 billion. He is currently the wonder of the Charlotte Hornets and the brand behind the famous shoe and clothing line, Jordan, in a partnership with Nike.
During his playing era, he earned $90 million. But he channeled his salary into developing his brand and redefined what basketball players can become.
Vince McMahon
Vince McMahon is the majority owner and CEO of the WWE franchise. McMahon had a short wrestling career but still goes down in the annals of history as a wrestler. McMahon took over from his father and is the wealthiest person in the WWE universe and the richest sports personality as stated on Vwin. Currently, McMahon’s net worth stands at $1.6 billion.
Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods’ life has been filled with golf success, scandals, and money. Tiger Woods has won many titles, from the U.S. Open to worldwide tournaments. Tiger Woods’ net worth is an estimated $800 million. He could be more, but the notorious golfer faces multiple lawsuits, some from his wife, which eat up his bankroll.
Michael Schumacher
Michael Schumacher was a renowned Formula 1 driver back in his glory days. Schumacher races for Alpine racing but has won 7 Formula one World Championships with different franchises. Schumacher’s net worth is an estimated $600 million.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo’s long-standing football rivalry with Lionel Messi has provided entertainment to us for over two decades. Cristiano Ronaldo’s official net worth was $500 million, but reports suggest that the player recently surpassed the $1B mark. He has endorsements from Nike, his own underwear and perfume line, and many other businesses, such as luxury hotels in Portugal. CR7 even owns an island, in addition to the slew of private jets and cars he owns.
Lionel Messi
You can’t mention Cristiano without Lionel Messi coming to mind. The two are arguably the greatest footballers of all time. The current Parisian player, Lionel, earns a whopping $75 million from his current deal at PSG. He is the highest-paid athlete of 2022 and is currently valued at $600 million. Lionel Messi’s salary, coupled with Adidas deals and sponsorships from Heineken, UEFA Champions League, and more, makes Lionel Messi the third richest footballer in the world, only second to Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham.
Conclusion
Many of the wealthiest athletes in this post got their riches off the field. Sports provided a head start, which they leveraged to earn their spots amongst the richest sportspeople in the world. It is essential to note that the most affluent athletes’ list changes from time to time. Notable prodigies that may join the list include Kylian Mbappe, who recently signed a lucrative deal with PSG.
