The sports players who make the most money each year typically earn income from a combination of team contracts, tournament winnings, sponsorships, endorsements, business ventures, and other investments. Because these income sources can change from year to year, there is not always one athlete who remains at the top.
In recent years, soccer, basketball, and other major professional sports have produced athletes with annual earnings reaching tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo has frequently ranked among the world’s highest-paid athletes. His income comes from his soccer salary and other compensation, along with major endorsement and business activities.
Ronaldo’s enormous global following makes him particularly valuable to international brands. His earnings can therefore extend well beyond what he receives from playing soccer.
Stephen Curry
Stephen Curry is one of the NBA’s highest-paid players. His earnings include his Golden State Warriors contract as well as substantial income from endorsements and business ventures.
Curry has developed a major personal brand outside basketball, including partnerships with companies and involvement in sports and media businesses.
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi is another athlete who has earned hundreds of millions of dollars during high-earning years.
His income can include his Inter Miami compensation, sponsorship agreements, endorsements, and other commercial activities. His worldwide popularity makes him attractive to international brands.
Other Athletes With Very High Annual Earnings
Several other sports stars can earn enormous amounts in a single year.
These include:
- LeBron James — basketball
- Shohei Ohtani — baseball
- Kevin Durant — basketball
- Giannis Antetokounmpo — basketball
- Patrick Mahomes — American football
- Canelo Álvarez — boxing
Their total annual earnings vary depending on contracts, competition schedules, endorsements, and business income.
How Do Athletes Make So Much Money?
An athlete’s yearly income is usually made up of several different sources.
Team or Player Salary
Professional athletes can receive large salaries from their teams. Contracts may include guaranteed money, bonuses, incentives, and other forms of compensation.
Endorsements
Major athletes often sign endorsement agreements with companies. These deals can sometimes generate more money than an athlete’s playing salary.
Sponsorships
Athletes may have long-term sponsorship relationships with sportswear, technology, beverage, financial, and other companies.
Prize Money
Individual sports such as tennis, golf, boxing, and some racing competitions can provide significant prize money or event earnings.
Business Ventures
Some athletes build companies, invest in businesses, launch product lines, or participate in media projects. These activities can become an important part of their annual income.
Is the Highest-Paid Athlete Always the Highest-Paid Player?
Not necessarily. Lists of the world’s highest-paid athletes usually estimate total earnings rather than just playing salary.
For example, one athlete might receive a very large team salary but relatively little endorsement income. Another might have a lower playing salary but earn substantially more from sponsorships and businesses.
It is therefore important to check whether a ranking refers to salary only or total annual earnings.
Why Do Athlete Earnings Change Every Year?
Athlete income can change significantly because contracts expire, players sign new teams, bonuses are triggered, endorsement agreements begin or end, and business investments perform differently.
For that reason, a list from one year may look quite different from a list published several years later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which sport pays athletes the most?
There is no single sport that pays every athlete the most. The highest individual earnings can come from several sports, including soccer, basketball, baseball, boxing, golf, and American football.
Who is the highest-paid soccer player?
Cristiano Ronaldo has frequently been among the highest-paid soccer players, with income coming from both soccer and commercial activities.
Do athletes make more money from salary or endorsements?
It depends on the athlete. Some earn most of their income from their playing contracts, while global stars can generate enormous amounts through endorsements, sponsorships, and businesses.
Can an athlete make $100 million in one year?
Yes. At the very highest level of professional sports, some athletes can exceed $100 million in annual total earnings when salary, prize money, endorsements, and other income are combined.
The Bottom Line
The sports players who make the most money each year are usually global stars with multiple sources of income. Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Stephen Curry, LeBron James, and other elite athletes have all reached exceptionally high annual earnings.
The exact highest earner changes from year to year, so when comparing athletes, it is important to specify the year and whether you are comparing playing salary or total annual earnings.