Top 10 highest-paid athletes in the world in 2022

It’s a secret that the world of professional sport is frequently very generously paid. And keeping in mind that our local athletes rake in exceptionally good yearly earnings, their salaries don’t exactly compare to the athletes and sportspeople of Europe, South America, and the United States — where the audiences are bigger, the cash is as well.

Financial publication Forbes released its yearly list of the most generously paid athletes recently and keeping in mind that there are unquestionably a few shocks, one thing you can’t prevent is the sheer profitability from getting into the professional sporting world.

This is the way the Forbes list works: it calculates the list on the sum every athlete earns on the field, as well as the amount they acquire through different avenues. Argentinian soccer superstar Lionel Messi, for instance, has a lifetime contract with Adidas, while L.A. Lakers basketball player LeBron James likewise sidelines as a cultural force, continuing in the footsteps of fellow basketballer Michael Jordan in the impending Space Dilemma film and furthermore boasting a number investments across the sports and entertainment industry.

The amounts procured on and off the field vary relying upon the athlete; 90% of Dallas Cowboys Quarterback Dak Prescott’s pay is from his contract with the NFL, while Swiss tennis superstar Roger Federer has acquired nearly his whole income via support as of late because of a spate of injuries. (Imagine actually pocketing $123 million in endorsements when you’re technically off sick?)

Below, find the highest-paid athletes in the world as of now, and their yearly earnings, as per Forbes.

List of the highest-paid NBA players for 2022-23

All figures converted over completely to AUD as of August 29, 2022.

1. Lionel Messi — $189.5 million

Sport: Soccer
On-field: $109.3 million
Off-field: $80.2 million

The arguable GOAT has recently been kept off the number 1 spot by Conor McGregor, however, has reclaimed his crown as the best-paid athlete in the world. Messi’s contract with french super club PSG is monstrous, pocketing him more than $90 million every year, while his lifetime deal with Adidas and different endorsements with Budweiser, Pepsi, and Socios keep his paychecks rolling in.

2. LeBron James — $176.7 million

Sport: Basketball
On-field: $60.1 million
Off-field: $116.6 million

The NBA’s greatest name and most bankable athlete, King James actually rules the NBA earnings list, for the most part, because of his off-court exercises. The essential driver of James’ off-court earnings is his production organization Springhill — which helped the Space Jam sequel to life— which he sold a huge minority stake in the year before. He likewise has endorsement deals with Nike and Crypto.com, and investments in Tonal and sports tech startup StatusPRO.

3. Cristiano Ronaldo — $167.6 million

Sport: Soccer
On-field: $87.4 million
Off-field: $80.2 million

The legendary Portuguese winger’s yearly earnings are decently split down the middle. Ronaldo has a tremendous contract with Manchester United following his signing with them recently, yet as arguably the world’s most marketable athlete, he likewise brings back home millions through deals with Nike, Herbalife, and Clear shampoo, as well as investments in Tatel restaurants and ZujuGP.

4. Neymar — $138.4 million

Sport: Soccer
On-field: $102 million
Off-field: $36.4 million

While Neymar’s on-field career stays in a strange state of flux, the Brazilian wunderkind is in any case making bank. His contract with PSG is, similar to his team-mate in number 1, one of the greatest in world soccer, while he likewise procured an immense financial boost by switching sportswear sponsors from Nike to Puma.

5. Stephen Curry — $135.2 million

Sport: Basketball
On-field: $66.7 million
Off-field: $68.5 million

Steph Curry’s grand return to the basketball court after a long spate of injuries has accompanied a huge jump up the athlete earnings standings. The Golden State Warrior has the richest contract in the NBA, netting him more than $60 million every year, while he’s one of Under Armor’s greatest endorsees and, in the same way as other of his NBA contemporaries, owns his own production company.

6. Kevin Durant — $134.2 million

Sport: Basketball
On-field: $61.3 Million
Off-field: $72.9 Million

Free-scoring Brooklyn Net Kevin Durant is a long-term stalwart of these lists, commanding huge contracts any place he goes. He additionally is Nike’s second-highest-paid NBA athlete and has one of the greatest investment portfolios of anyone in the league.

7. Roger Federer — $132.2 million

Sport: Tennis
On-field: $1 million
Off-field: $131.2 million

Another long-time fixture in the highest-paid athlete discussion, Federer has converted his two decades of on-court dominance into one of the century’s most lucrative endorsement and investment portfolios. Federer remains the athletic jewel in the crown of Japanese retailer Uniqlo, and is also one of Rolex’s most famous endorsees. He also invested in Swiss running company On, which has blown up in recent years.

8. Canelo Alvarez — $131.2 million

Sport: Boxing
On-field: $123.9 million
Off-field: $7.3 million

Canelo stays by a long shot the highest-paid active boxer in the world right now, thanks by and large to the 10-fight mega-deal he signed with DAZN a couple of years back. Truth be told, per match, not many athletes in the world make as much as the Mexican Middleweight, and his pay is supplemented through deals with Hennessy and his own promotions organization, which runs battles across the USA and Mexico.

9. Tom Brady — $122.2 million

Sport: American football
On-field: $46.5 million
Off-field: $75.7 million

The NFL’s GOAT was, for this present year, likewise its most elevated earner, thanks by and large to the shrewd moves the 43-year-old QB has made to plan for his inevitable retirement. TB12 established his own sportswear brand this year, has his own production company Religion of Sports, and helped to establish the NFT platform Autograph, which brought more than $100 million up in financing the year before. He’s likewise set to procure hugely after his retirement because of a ten-year, $375 million deal he’s signed to get on Fox Sports as its chief NFL analyst.

10. Giannis Antetokounmpo — $117.8 million

Sport: Basketball
On-field: $58.1 million
Off-field: $59.7 million

The youngest player on this list, the inarguable MVP of the NBA’s latest era is, at last, converting the hype into large dollars. The Greek Freak at present boasts the greatest contract in NBA history, which is set to pocket him more than $250 million in its five-year duration, and interestingly has a list of endorsement and investment deals that currently eclipses his on-court earnings, including Nike, Google, WhatsApp, watch resale website Watchbox, and NFT platform NFTSTAR.