Who is the Richest Athlete in the World?
Becoming a successful athlete takes a lot of practice, skill, and dedication. Having the right mindset and attitude towards your chosen sport is also important.
Some athletes make money through prizes, while others rely on endorsements or business investments. We’ve rounded up the richest athletes in the world based on their net worth.
Michael Jordan
Aside from being the best basketball player of all time, Michael Jordan is also the richest athlete in the world. He has made a fortune off the court through smart business moves.
MJ earned over $17 million a year during his career and has an estimated net worth of $2.2 billion.
He has a huge wealth of endorsements and owns a brand that brings in over $3 billion annually. This includes his Air Jordans, which have resurged in popularity due to celebrity partnerships and new versions of classic styles that reconnect with older fans.
Vince McMahon
Many have managed to rake in millions, whether it’s footballers, basketball players, cricketers or golfers. With mouth-watering deals and incredible salaries, these sportsmen have accumulated massive wealth.
Vince McMahon is one of the richest athletes in the world, and he has earned this fortune through his professional wrestling career. After taking control of WWE from his father, he grew it into the world’s largest professional wrestling company.
He is a business executive and professional wrestler born on August 24, 1945, in Pinehurst, North Carolina, United States. He is the current chairman and CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, commonly known as WWE.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Currently, the richest athlete in the world is Cristiano Ronaldo. He has an estimated net worth of $500 million and earns around $100-150 million yearly from his football career.
CR7 has greatly influenced the world of soccer and is regarded as one of the best players in the game. He has won over 30 major trophies and is a five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
He also holds the record for the most goals in a single Champions League season with 17 goals. In 2019, he made the list of Forbes’ highest-paid athletes.
Arnold Palmer
Throughout his long career, Palmer impacted the world of golf through his aggressive style of play and engaging personality. He also paved the way for scores of other athletes to reap millions from endorsement deals.
His business interests included golf academies, tournament and course management companies, equipment companies, clothing lines and more. He also co-founded The Golf Channel, which remains one of the most widely-watched sports programs in the world today.
He was also a highly-successful business executive, skilled aviator, prominent advertising spokesman and talented consultant. His devotion to family and down-to-earth nature earned him a devoted following worldwide.
Jack Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus is one of the richest athletes in the world. Nicklaus has made much money through his endorsement deals, investments and business.
Nicklaus is also the author of many books and launched several companies. He also designed numerous golf courses around the world.
He was born on January 21, 1940, in Columbus, Ohio. Nicklaus was a natural athlete with multiple sports interests and started playing golf at 10.
Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods is one of the most famous athletes in the world and is ranked as the richest athlete by Forbes. The 14-time major winner has topped the list for the past 12 months and is now officially the highest-paid athlete in the world.
He has earned $1.7 billion in endorsements, winnings and other income over his career. Most of his earnings have come from the golf industry and are supplemented by various business ventures. These include a golf design company, live events production company and The Woods restaurant.