Making it to the top in the world of professional sports is no easy feat, so it comes as no major surprise that only a handful of people actually make it. Those who actually do are compensated extremely well for their other worldly abilities, as well as their skill and hard work. Personal performance, generous contracts and endorsement deals all help build an athlete’s wealth. Take a look at the list and find out which of your favorite athletes have the highest net worth.
Michael Jordan – $1.9 Billion
Michael Jordan is not only the highest paid athlete of all time, he’s also one of the most famous. He rose to fame thanks to his skills on the basketball court, where he played 15 seasons in the NBA. Although he retired in 2003, he is still considered to be the best basketball player of all time. Since leaving the league, he hasn’t stopped, and has built an incredibly successful career for himself. Michael Jordan is the owner and creator of the signature shoe and athletic brand ‘Jordan’. The enterprise alone brings in an average of $3 billion in revenue each year. He is also the principal owner of the NBA team, the Charlotte Hornets. As of 2019, Michael Jordan is the richest athlete in the world with a net worth of $1.9 billion.
Michael Jordan – $1.9 Billion
Alex Rodriguez – $350 Million
American professional baseball player Alex Rodriguez, also known as A-Rod, is considered one of the best to have ever graced the sport. He was the #1 pick in the 1993 draft, playing most of his career with the New York Yankees. When the Yankees signed him in 2007, he agreed to a $275 million deal, one of the highest in the history of the sport. A-Rod played in the MLB for a total of 22 seasons before retiring in 2016. After leaving the league, like many other athletes, Rodriguez got into business ventures, creating A-ROD CORP, a private holding company. He is also an analyst on Fox Sports and ESPN. Currently, A-Rod is worth $350 million.
Alex Rodriguez – $350 Million
David Beckham – $450 Million
David Beckham is a professional English soccer player, and also one of the most famous. Although he did play most of his career for Manchester United, he also played for top teams such as Real Madrid, Milan, and Paris Saint-Germain. The 2002 movie Bend It Like Beckham was produced about David and his signature kick. He and wife, former Spice Girl, Victoria Beckham live quite a lavish lifestyle with numerous mansions. But their home base is London, England, where they reside with their four children. The footballer is worth a large $450 million.
David Beckham – $450 Million
Tiger Woods – $740 Million
American professional golfer Tiger Woods is one of the highest paid athletes on a yearly basis in the entire world. Eldrick Tont “Tiger” Woods is his real name. In 1996, when he was only 20 years old he turned professional, and he hasn’t stopped since. Tiger has won the PGA Player of the Year award 11 times, and he’s been the #1 player in the world for the most number of weeks, and the most consecutive weeks. In 2005, Tiger signed the largest endorsement package ever, an $105 million contract with Nike for 5 years. With all of his awards and prestige, it comes as no surprise that Tiger’s net worth is a whopping $740 million.
Tiger Woods – $740 Million
Danica Patrick – $60 Million
Danica Patrick is an American professional race car driver. She started her racing career after high school, and slowly made her way to the top. Currently, she is the most successful woman in the sport, as well as the best female racer in the entire world. Although she retired full-time in 2018, she holds the record for most races ever won by a woman, and the first woman to lead the Indy 500. Throughout her career, Danica was sponsored by GoDaddy Inc., the world’s largest cloud platform. Danica has also written a book and has her own athleisure clothing line. This strong woman’s net worth is recorded at $60 million.
Danica Patrick – $60 Million
Floyd Mayweather – $560 Million
Professional boxer, Floyd Mayweather has a record of 50-0…you got that right, he’s undefeated! He competed professionally from 1996-2007, 2009-2015 and then made a one-fight comeback in 2017. ESPN has ranked him the greatest “pound for pound” boxer. He is also the athlete with the most lucrative pay-per-view statistics with approximately 23.8 million buys and a revenue of $1.67 billion. From 2012-2015, he was ranked by Forbes as the highest paid athlete. Although he is retired now, Floyd is still active in the industry, mainly thanks to his boxing promotional firm, Mayweather Productions. Floyd has a net worth of $560 million.
Floyd Mayweather – $560 Million
Cristiano Ronaldo – $450 Million
Professional Portuguese soccer player, Cristiano Ronaldo is regarded by many as the best in the world, and one of the best in the sport, ever. When Cristiano was just 16 years old, he was signed by Manchester United for over $1 million USD, a record deal no less. He currently plays for Juventus F.C. but previously played for Spanish club Real Madrid. As a forward, he is quite a scorer, with a record of most official goals at 125. In 2016 Nike announced that they would be giving Ronaldo a lifetime deal of $1 billion. Currently, he has 31 sponsorship deals across 24 industries. Cristiano Ronaldo’s net worth is a whopping $450 million.
Cristiano Ronaldo – $450 Million
Arnold Palmer – $700 Million
Professional golfer Arnold Palmer, also known as “The King”, is one of the most iconic golfers to live. Palmer was so popular that in 1968, he trademarked his own logo and name. Although the charismatic player passed away in 2016, he has many awards and firsts under his belt. Arnold became the first to win $100,000 in a season, and became the first golfer to ever pass the $1 million mark. In 2001, Arnold Palmer Enterprises began bottling the Arnold Palmer® Tea And Lemonade Beverage, a 50/50 mix of tea and lemonade. The drink is now embedded into the American culture, as well as the food and beverage industry. Arnold Palmer was worth $700 million when he passed away.
Arnold Palmer – $700 Million
Serena Williams – $180 Million
American professional tennis player Serena Williams is one of the best female players ever. Serena has been playing professionally for over 23 years, and has won 23 Grand Slams thus far. She currently holds the most wins for singles, doubles, and mixed doubles combined. Serena has won 4 Olympic gold medals, a record she shares with her sister, Venus Williams. In 2016, she was recorded as being the highest paid female athlete. In 2017, she mad waves as the only woman on Forbes‘ 100 Highest Paid Athletes List. Serena is the CSO (Chief Sporting Officer) of luxury car manufacturer, Aston Martin. Currently, she is worth $140 million.
Serena Williams – $180 Million
Magic Johnson – $600 Million
American basketball player Magic Johnson played point guard for the LA Lakers for 13 seasons before going into retirement. Magic won many awards as a player and is currently in the NBA Hall of Fame. He was the first overall pick in the 1979 draft, and won the NBA Finals MVP award as well as the championship that same year. In 1991 he retired after finding out he was HIV positive. He returned to the league to play in the 1992 All-Star game but later retired for 4 more years after protests from other players. In 1996, he returned to the league yet again to play 32 more games before retiring for good. Magic is active in many business ventures and charity work and is currently worth $600 million.
Magic Johnson – $600 Million
Anna Kournikova – $50 Million
Russian-American professional tennis player Anna Kournikova is one of the most famous female tennis players to date. In the prime of her career, Anna was one of the most sought after female endorsers. Although she hasn’t won any major titles, she and doubles partner were considered No. 1 players for awhile, calling themselves the “Spice Girls of Tennis”. Unfortunately, Anna retired at only 21 years old because of serious back and spinal issues. Anna dabbles in TV and modeling as well as charity work. She currently resides in Miami Beach with her longtime boyfriend Enrique Iglesias and their twins. Anna Kournikova has a net worth of $50 million.
Anna Kournikova – $50 Million
Tom Brady – $180 Million
American football player Tom Brady is quarterback for the New England Patriots. He has played in the NFL for 19 years, and is regarded by many as the best, often called the “GOAT” (greatest of all time). He has won 6 Super Bowl championships with the New England Patriots, the most out of any football player, ever. He was also the youngest quarterback ever to take home a Super Bowl ring. Tom Brady has numerous sponsorship deals with the likes of Aston Martin, Dunkin’ Donuts, Intel, Nike, UGG Australia, Wheaties, and Visa, to just name a few. The GOAT makes $8 million a year just in endorsements. He is married to supermodel Gisele Bundchen, their combined net worth a whopping $580 million.
Tom Brady – $180 Million
Roger Federer – $450 Million
Professional Swiss tennis player Roger Federer is one of the best in the world., currently #4 for men’s singles. Roger is currently 37 years old, and heading toward the end of his career, but man has he done incredible things throughout his career. Not only was he ranked #1 in the world for 6 consecutive years, he has won a total of 20 grand slams in the singles. Federer also takes 2nd place for most career match wins in the Open Era, with a total of 1,198. In 2003, he created the Roger Federer Foundation which aims to help disadvantaged children access education and sports. Roger’s net worth currently stands at $450 million.
Roger Federer – $450 Million
Lindsey Vonn – $6 Million
American Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn is America’s most successful ski racer. She became the first woman to win Gold in the downhill race, and she currently has 3 Olympic medals, 1 gold and 2 bronze. She also won the World Cup Championships 4 times, one of only two female skiers with this achievement. When Lindsey retired in February of 2019, she left the world of skiing as the most decorated female skier in history. She is known for her athleticism and highly competitive attitude. Laureus World Sports Awards named Lindsey the 2010 Sportswoman of the Year. Vonn has an estimated net worth of $6 million.
Lindsey Vonn – $6 Million
Lionel Messi – $400 Million
Lionel Messi is a professional soccer player from Argentina. He is recognized as one of the best footballers to date, his jersey worn by fans all over the world. F.C. Barcelona signed Messi when he was only 13 years old, later making his debut at the age of 17. He has been playing for them ever since, as well as for the Argentina national team. He is currently the 3rd richest soccer player, trailing Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham. He also has the title for the 3rd most goals scored during the World Cup. Messi usually celebrates a goal by pointing both fingers into the air, a sign of respect to his late grandmother. Lionel Messi is currently worth $400 million.
Lionel Messi – $400 Million
Roger Staubach – $600 Million
Professional American football player, Roger Staubach was a quarterback in the NFL for 11 seasons. Roger began his professional career in 1969 with the Dallas Cowboys, and ended his career with them as well. He led the Cowboys to 4 Superbowl Championships, 2 of those, victories. He had a few nicknames fans and fellow players used to call him, such as “Roger the Dodger”, “Captain America” and “Captain Comeback”. In 2018, Roger was given the Medal of Freedom. The legendary quarterback is now 77 years old and resides in his home state of Ohio. Staubach is currently worth $600 million.
Roger Staubach – $600 Million
LeBron James – $450 Million
American professional basketball player LeBron James has been in the NBA for 16 years. LeBron has played for the likes of the Miami Heat, the Cleveland Cavaliers and since 2018, the LA Lakers. The 6 ft 8 forward has 3 Olympic medals, is a 3-time NBA champion, and a 15-time NBA All-Star. LeBron is considered by many as one of the best ever, and will most definitely be in the Hall of Fame upon his retirement. He has been ranked as one of the most influential athletes in the world by Forbes, and was listed as one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time. In 2013, his earnings of $56.5 million USD made him the highest paid basketball player in the world. LeBron is currently worth $450 million.
LeBron James – $450 Million
Maria Sharapova – $135 Million
Professional Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova is one of the highest paid female athletes of all time. She moved to the U.S. at 16 years old, and won her first Grand Slam at Wimbledon just a year later. In 2005 and 2008, she was the most-searched athlete by Yahoo, and she has appeared in Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Edition. Maria is endorsed by the likes of Nike and Head, and is a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Development Project. She won a silver medal at the 2012 Olympics and was ranked #1 female player 5 times throughout her career. Maria Sharapova is currently worth $135 million.
Maria Sharapova – $135 Million
Troy Aikman – $25 Million
California-born, NFL quarterback Troy Aikman has a current net worth of $25 million. In 1989, Troy became the #1 draft pick and went on to play with the Dallas Cowboys for 12 seasons. In 1993 Troy made history by becoming the highest paid NFL player after signing an 8-year, $50 million deal. In 2006, he was inducted into the Football Hall of Fame and he currently works for Fox as a sportscaster, where he makes $1 million a year. He is also quite the investor, co-owner of the San Diego Padres and NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series racing team.
Troy Aikman – $25 Million
Conor McGregor – $110 Million
Conor McGregor is the most well-known MMA fighter in the world. The Irish world champion fighter is also a boxer, showing an unbelievable amount of skill on both fronts. His attitude is why people love him, and why they also hate him. In 2017, Conor decided he wanted to fight retired boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr., saying he would easily knock out the master himself. In the end, Floyd won, but Conor went home with $100 million…not too shabby.
Conor McGregor – $110 Million
Sachin Tendulkar – $200 Million
Professional Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar is viewed by many as the greatest batsman in cricket history. He began his professional career when he was only 16 years old, going on to become the first ever to score fifty centuries in the history of the sport. Tendulkar has endorsement deals with many well-known brands such as Visa, Coca-Cola, Colgate-Palmolive and Sanyo BPL among others. Sachin retired when he was 40 years old and has become quite the entrepreneur. He not only opened 2 restaurants, he is also planning to launch fitness and health care products very soon. Sachin currently has a net worth of $200 million.
Sachin Tendulkar – $200 Million
Alex Morgan – $3 Million
American professional soccer player Alex Morgan is a force to be reckoned with. The forward and striker has been named FIFA World Player of the Year and the U.S. Soccer Female Athlete of the Year. Alex has a gold medal from the 2012 London Olympics and became the youngest player at the 2011 FIFA Women’s’ World Cup at only 22 years old. In her professional career she has played for West Coast FC, California Storm, Pali Blues, Western New York Flash, Seattle Sounders, Portland Thorns FC and currently plays for Orlando Pride. Morgan is endorsed by Nike, Coca Cola, Bridgestone, Nationwide and Panasonic. The 29 year old has a net worth of $3 million.
Alex Morgan – $3 Million
Junior Bridgeman – $600 Million
Junior Bridgeman is a 6 ft 5 professional American basketball player. In 1975, Junior was the 8th overall 1st round pick in the NBA draft. He played for the likes of the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Clippers over a 12 year period. Throughout his career, Junior scored 11,517 points, and his number was later retired by the Milwaukee Bucks. After leaving the league in 1987, Junior didn’t take it easy…he actually did quite the opposite. He decided to invest his money into different franchises, specifically Wendy’s. Currently, Junior owns 160 Wendy’s and 118 Chili’s restaurants. In addition to that, he owns a stake in Milwaukee soda’s Black Bear Beverages, and is on the board of the PGA. Bridgeman is currently worth $600 million.
Junior Bridgeman – $600 Million
Wayne Gretzky – $200 Million
Canadian-born professional hockey player Wayne Gretzky also goes by the nickname “The Great One”. Wayne made his NHL debut when he was only 18 years old with the Indianapolis Racers. Throughout his career, he also played for the Edmonton Oilers, the Los Angeles Kings, the St. Louis Blues and the New York Rangers. Gretzky won the Stanley Cup four times, leading the Oilers to victory. Upon his retirement in 1999, he was immediately inducted into the NHL Hall of Fame, and his #99 jersey was retired league-wide. Gretzky is the only player to have scored over 200 points in a single season…and he did it 4 times. He is currently the head coach of the Phoenix Coyotes and a partner and vice-chairman of Oilers Entertainment Group. Wayne is currently worth $200 million.
Wayne Gretzky – $200 Million
Michael Schumacher – $800 Million
The most well-known German race car driver in the Formula One is Michael Schumacher. He is regarded by many as the greatest driver of all time, and is the only person ever to win 7 Formula One World Championships. He raced for Jordan Grand Prix, Benetton, Ferrari and Mercedes. Michael began his professional career in 1991 and later retired in 2012. With the company Schuberth, Schumacher helped develop the 1st lightweight carbon helmet. Unfortunately, the elite driver was involved in a tragic skiing accident in 2013 and was put into a medically-induced coma. He is still unable to stand or walk. Michael currently has a net worth of $800 million.
Michael Schumacher – $800 Million
Derek Jeter – $185 Million
Professional American baseball player Derek Jeter is one of the highest paid and most popular athletes to date. Jeter began his MLB career on Opening Day of 1996, and hit a home run that very same day. During the short stop’s first year, he was awarded Rookie of the Year, and also won the World Series. He also won the World Series in 1998, 1999 and 2000. Thanks to his great success, in 2001 he signed a 10-year $189 million contract with the Yankees. Jeter also holds the spot for most hits on the Yankees, shutting out Lou Gehrig. Often considered the most marketable player in baseball thanks to his clean-cut image, he has endorsement deals with the likes of Nike, Gatorade, Discover Card, Fleet Bank, VISA, Ford, and XM Satellite Radio. Derek retired in 2014 and the Yankees retired his number in 2017. Derek Jeter has a net worth of $185 million.
Derek Jeter – $185 Million
Abby Wambach – $4 Million
American professional soccer player Abby Wambach is one of the most decorated women in the sport. When Abby was in her final year of college, she left to play for the Washington Freedom in the MLS league. Throughout her career she also played for Ajax America Women, magicJack and Western New York Flash. Wambach is a two-time Olympic gold medal winner and a 6-time U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year winner. From 2003 to 2015, she played on the U.S. women’s national soccer team, and was a fan favorite. Before retiring in 2015, Abby snagged the title for most international goals scored in the women’s league. The 38 year old forward has 2 books to her name and has a net worth of $4 million.
Abby Wambach – $4 Million
Ion Țiriac – $1.28 Billion
Romanian professional tennis and hockey player Ion Țiriac has quite an impressive net worth. Although tennis was his main sport, he was also a great hockey player, a member of team Romania in the 1964 Winter Olympics. Interestingly enough, Ion was the first male player to ever have a match against a woman in a sanctioned tournament. He was once a top 10 player and won the 1970 French Open in men’s doubles. Țiriac became notorious after retirement, becoming the owner and developer of the Mutua Madrid Open Tennis Tournament and a contributor to the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Ion currently has a net worth of $1.28 billion.
Ion Țiriac – $1.28 Billion
Tony Hawk – $140 Million
Tony Hawk is the most popular American Professional skateboarder to date. When he was only 14 years old, he turned pro, becoming the National Skateboard Association world champion 12 years in a row. He has won gold 10 times, silver 3 times, and bronze twice at the X Games. In 1999, Hawk became legendary when he successfully landed and created the 900, about two and a half turns in mid-air. After this accomplishment, Tony retired that very same year. Since stepping away from the skate park, he has appeared in numerous movies and TV shows such as XXX, Jackass: The Movie, and Sharknado 5: Global Swarming. Hawk is currently worth a whopping $140 million.
Tony Hawk – $140 Million
Shaquille O’Neal – $400 Million
American professional basketball player Shaquille (Shaq) O’Neal played in the NBA for 19 seasons. He is known for being one of the biggest players of all time in the league, at 7 foot 1 and 325 pounds. He was the #1 pick in the 1992 NBA draft to the Orlando Magic. Throughout his career, the center also played for the LA Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics. Shaq is considered by many to be one of the greatest players in NBA history as the 8th highest regular season scorer. Shaquille has 4 NBA championships under his belt and numerous other accolades. After retiring in 2011, O’Neal became a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame just 5 years later. Shaq is currently an NBA analyst and has a net worth of $400 million.
Shaquille O’Neal – $400 Million
Lance Armstrong – $50 Million
American professional cyclist Lance Armstrong is the most well-known in the sport for numerous reasons. For awhile, Lance was one of the highest-earning athletes in the entire world. Armstrong was the winner of 7 Tour de France events, and was the most decorated in the history of the sport. Soon, that all came crashing down. In 2012, it was revealed that Lance Armstrong had been using performance enhancing drugs. He then became infamous for the largest doping scandal in cycling history. He was banned from racing and was forced to give up all of his medals, including sponsorships with big names like Nike. On the flip side, he has inspired many cancer patients and his cancer foundation has raised more than $500 million. Armstrong is currently worth $50 million.
Lance Armstrong – $50 Million
Vince McMahon – $3.3 Billion
American professional wrestler Vince McMahon takes the #1 spot on our list for highest net worth. His net worth can be attributed to being a wrestling promoter and executive, as well as an American football executive and businessman. Vince’s grandfather, Jess, and his father, Vincent, were also wrestling promoters. In the 80’s, he took over WWE from his father, and is currently the CEO, chairman and majority owner of the company. Although he is currently retired, he was once a two-time world champion. He was a great wrestler, but most of his net worth comes from his career after retirement, mainly with the WWE company. At 73 years old, Vince currently has a net worth of $3.3 billion.
Vince McMahon – $3.3 Billion