The 2024 Forbes list of the highest-paid athletes is a tale of two leagues and a testament to the enduring power of global superstars. Cristiano Ronaldo, the ageless Portuguese footballer, cemented his status as a sporting and financial icon by claiming the top spot for the fourth time in his career.
Ronaldo’s Record-Breaking Reign:
Ronaldo’s ascension to the top is fueled by his blockbuster move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr. Forbes estimates his total earnings to be a staggering $260 million, a new record for any footballer. This astronomical sum is divided into a staggering $200 million in on-field earnings, reflecting his lucrative contract with Al-Nassr, and a cool $60 million off the field. Ronaldo’s immense popularity, with a staggering 629 million followers on Instagram alone, translates into lucrative sponsorship deals with major brands eager to capitalize on his global reach.
LIV Golf Shakes Up the Rankings:
Spanish golfer Jon Rahm is the surprise package on this year’s list, surging into second place after his controversial yet lucrative switch to the Saudi-backed LIV Golf series. Media reports suggest Rahm received a guaranteed payout of at least $300 million for joining the breakaway league, a move that sent shockwaves through the golfing world. Combined with his on-field earnings of $218 million, Rahm joins Ronaldo as the only two athletes surpassing the $200 million mark.
Messi, James, and the NBA Elite:
Following Ronaldo and Rahm is the perennial contender, Lionel Messi. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner transitioned to Major League Soccer with Inter Miami, adding a lucrative contract to his already impressive portfolio. Messi’s estimated earnings of $135 million include $65 million on the field and a whopping $70 million off it, thanks to his association with major sponsors like Adidas and Apple.
The dominance of basketball continues with LeBron James, the ageless wonder of the Los Angeles Lakers, securing the fourth spot with $128.2 million. Despite nearing the end of his career, James, the first NBA player to score 40,000 points, retains immense commercial value and is gearing up for one last shot at Olympic glory. Rounding out the top five is Giannis Antetokounmpo, the reigning NBA champion with the Milwaukee Bucks, who raked in an estimated $111 million.
Shifting Sands in European Football:
Kylian Mbappé, the French phenomenon, finds himself at number six with $110 million. After a stellar seven-year stint at Paris Saint Germain, where he became the club’s all-time leading scorer, Mbappé is poised to join Spanish giants Real Madrid. This upcoming transfer highlights the ever-shifting landscape of European football, where young stars command astronomical fees.
Beyond the Big Three Sports:
Former PSG teammate Neymar also features on the list at number seven with $108 million, despite missing most of the season due to injury. His move to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal showcases the growing financial muscle of the league, attracting big names with lucrative contracts. French striker Karim Benzema follows at number eight with $106 million, another beneficiary of the Saudi league’s spending spree.
The World’s 10 Highest-Paid Athletes
#1 • $260M
Cristiano Ronaldo
On-Field: $200 million | Off-Field: $60 million | Nationality: Portugal | Sport: Soccer | Age: 39
YASSER BAKHSH/GETTY IMAGES
Ronaldo’s estimated total earnings of $260 million, an all-time high for a soccer player, makes him the world’s highest-paid athlete for the fourth time in his career. That’s largely thanks to his massive $200 million annual salary with Al Nassr, which has seemingly been a worthy investment for the Saudi Pro League club. The 39-year-old forward leads the league with 33 goals scored and earned Player of the Month honors in August, September, December and March. He’s also still enormously valuable to sponsors as well, frequently plugging his partners—including crypto exchange Binance and fitness app Erakulis—to his 629 million Instagram followers, in addition to other deals with Nike, Herbalife, Clear Haircare and, more recently, Whoop. Ronaldo is also owed a $10.5 million check from his former club, Juventus, after an arbitrator ruled the Serie A team was still on the hook for outstanding wages dating back to a Covid-19 pandemic pay cut.
#2 • $218M
Jon Rahm
On-Field: $198 million | Off-Field: $20 million | Nationality: Spain | Sport: Golf | Age: 29
FRANCOIS NEL/GETTY IMAGES
Rahm’s decision to join LIV Golf last December has been enormously lucrative, even outside the reported $350 million guarantee he received to join the Saudi-backed tour. While the Spaniard has yet to win a LIV event, he’s already earned $6.6 million from seven tournaments in 2024, which would place him sixth on the PGA Tour’s official money list this season (as of May 13). Rahm was also tapped to captain LIV’s 13th team, Legion XIII, a title that has traditionally come with a 25% equity stake in the league’s franchises.
#3 • $135M
Lionel Messi
On-Field: $65 million | Off-Field: $70 million | Nationality: Argentina | Sport: Soccer | Age: 36
MIKE EHRMANN/GETTY IMAGES
Messi’s arrival in Miami has been nothing short of a revelation for his new club—Inter Miami has juiced ticket sales, staged a groundbreaking global preseason tour and added a slew of lucrative sponsorships, including a partnership with Royal Caribbean, the most valuable jersey deal in MLS history. Forbes estimates Inter Miami is now the second-most valuable franchise in Major League Soccer at $1.03 billion, and the club expects to grow revenues from $118 million in 2023 to more than $200 million this year. Meanwhile, Messi has been performing as advertised. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner scored 10 goals in his first nine matches this season and recently became the first MLS player to record five assists in a single game. Off the field, Messi added Lowe’s to a group of sponsors that includes Adidas, Apple and Konami. He’s also reportedly partnering with the maker of White Claw Hard Seltzer to launch his own sports drink this summer.
#4 • $128.2M
LeBron James
On-Field: $48.2 million | Off-Field: $80 million | Nationality: United States | Sport: Basketball | Age: 39
JUSTIN FORD/GETTY IMAGES
James’ future with the Los Angeles Lakers is the subject of great speculation after another disappointing playoff exit. The four-time MVP has a $51.4 million player option with the team, according to Spotrac, but has also expressed a desire to play with his eldest son, Bronny, who declared for the NBA Draft while maintaining his college eligibility. In the meantime, James will make what is likely his final Olympic appearance as Team USA aims to win gold in Paris this summer. And as he contemplates life after the NBA, James added a partnership with DraftKings in January and joined a slew of celebrities investing in the golf world’s new commercial venture, PGA Tour Enterprises.
#5 • $111M
Giannis Antetokounmpo
On-Field: $46 million | Off-Field: $65 million | Nationality: Greece | Sport: Basketball | Age: 29
STACY REVERE/GETTY IMAGES
Antetokounmpo is on the mend after a calf injury ended what was a tumultuous campaign for the Milwaukee Bucks star, undergoing a midseason coaching change and helplessly watching his team suffer a first-round playoff exit. Off the court, his star continues to rise. Antetokounmpo launched a production company in January, added a partnership with Pepsi’s Starry soft drink in February and has his sixth signature sneaker with Nike on the way later this year.
#6 • $110M
Kylian Mbappé
On-Field: $90 million | Off-Field: $20 million | Nationality: France | Sport: Soccer | Age: 25
ALEX CAPARROS/GETTY IMAGES
Mbappé’s impending departure from Paris Saint-Germain will put an end to PSG’s $1.3 billion super-team experiment, as the 25-year-old French superstar is widely expected fulfill his childhood dream by joining Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid next season. Despite collecting six of a possible seven Ligue 1 titles during his tenure, PSG failed to win a Champions League with Mbappé on the roster. Win or lose, he remains very active outside of soccer. Mbappé formed a production company in 2022, which partnered with the NBA, and has deals with Nike, Hublot and Oakley, among others.
#7 • $108M
Neymar
On-Field: $80 million | Off-Field: $28 million | Nationality: Brazil | Sport: Soccer | Age: 32
FRANCOIS NEL/GETTY IMAGES
To entice him to join Saudi Arabian soccer Al Hilal last year, Neymar reportedly received a pay package filled with perks, including access to a private jet, a fleet of luxury cars and a fully staffed mansion. But his tenure got off to an inauspicious start. In October, while playing in a World Cup qualifying match, the Brazilian star tore his ACL, ending his club season with just five matches played between the Saudi Pro League and AFC Champions League. That hasn’t stopped Neymar from signing new endorsement deals. Since the injury, he has added Skims to his portfolio, launched a new soccer boot with Puma and partnered with Fun Brands to develop his own line of cocktails and mocktails.
#8 • $106M
Karim Benzema
On-Field: $100 million | Off-Field: $6 million | Nationality: France | Sport: Soccer | Age: 36
TULLIO PUGLIA/FIFA/GETTY IMAGES
Benzema, who won the Ballon d’Or in 2022, left Real Madrid as a free agent last year and joined Saudi Pro League team Al Ittihad. “As a Muslim, when you are in Mecca you feel at peace,” he said in an official league interview, offering a deeply personal look at why he made the move. His first season with Al Ittihad has been plagued by health issues, however, which is why he’s returned to Real Madrid’s clinic under the supervision of his former doctor in Spain, according to ESPN.
#9 • $102M
Stephen Curry
On-Field: $52 million | Off-Field: $50 million | Nationality: United States | Sport: Basketball | Age: 36
THEARON W. HENDERSON/GETTY IMAGES
Curry’s sharpshooting has continued into the later phases of his career, leading the NBA with 357 three-pointers this season and earning a place on Team USA’s Olympic roster this summer. He has also been a force off the court, signing a new deal with Under Armour last year that will run well into retirement with $75 million in stock vesting in equal installments between 2029 and 2034. The Curry Brand has now expanded beyond its namesake star, signing Sacramento Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox in October and South Carolina guard MiLaysia Fulwiley in November. Curry is also branching out in front of the camera, co-starring in an upcoming mockumentary that was ordered straight to series by Peacock.
#10 • $100.5M
Lamar Jackson
On-Field: $98.5 million | Off-Field: $2 million | Nationality: United States | Sport: Football | Age: 27
PERRY KNOTTS/GETTY IMAGES
Lamar Jackson arrives in the top ten thanks to the $72.5 million signing bonus he received with his new Baltimore Ravens contract last year, which he negotiated as his own agent. The 27-year-old quarterback celebrated by earning his second NFL MVP award after leading the Ravens to a 13-4 record and an AFC Central division title. Off the field, Jackson works with Oakley and StatusPro, makers of the NFL Pro Era virtual reality video game. He also owns a series of businesses including a soul food restaurant, a production company, a record label and a clothing line called Era 8.
Golden State’s Splash Brother and the Lone NFL Star:
The NBA’s presence continues with Golden State Warriors’ sharpshooter Stephen Curry at number nine with $102 million. Curry’s on-court brilliance translates into significant endorsement deals, solidifying his position among the world’s highest-paid athletes.
Lamar Jackson, the electrifying quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens, is the lone NFL representative on the list at number 10. His new contract, particularly the hefty signing bonus, propelled him into this elite company. Jackson’s inclusion signifies the rising value of star quarterbacks in the NFL and his unique talent on the field.
The 2024 Forbes’ list paints a picture of a dynamic sporting landscape. Established stars like Ronaldo and Messi continue to dominate, while new leagues like LIV Golf are shaking up the status quo with astronomical payouts. The presence of athletes from a diverse range of sports underscores the global appeal of athletic excellence and its ability to generate immense wealth.
