2021 LIST OF THE 15 HIGHEST PAID ATHLETES
IN THE WORLD
Forbes has released a list of the Top 50 highest page
athletes for 2021. We have
highlighted the Top 15, below. Click on the Links to be taken to the Forbes.com
profile of each athlete.
|
Rank |
Athlete |
Total $ |
Salary |
Endorsements |
|
1. |
Connor
McGregor
(UFC) |
180 |
22 |
158 |
|
2. |
Lionel
Messi
(Soccer) |
130 |
97 |
38 |
|
3. |
Cristiano
Ronaldo
(Soccer) |
120 |
70 |
50 |
|
4. |
Dak
Prescott (NFL) |
107.5 |
97.5 |
10 |
|
5. |
LeBron
James
(NBA) |
96.5 |
31.5 |
65 |
|
6. |
Neymar (Soccer) |
95 |
76 |
19 |
|
7. |
Roger
Federer
(Tennis) |
90 |
30 |
90 |
|
8. |
Lewis
Hamilton
(Grand Prix) |
82 |
70 |
12 |
|
9. |
Tom
Brady
(NFL) |
76 |
45 |
31 |
|
10. |
Kevin
Durant
(NBA) |
75 |
31 |
44 |
|
11. |
Steph
Curry
(NBA) |
74 |
34.5 |
40 |
|
12. |
Naomi
Osaka
(Tennis) |
60 |
5 |
55 |
|
13. |
Tiger
Woods
(Golf) |
60 |
200k |
60 |
|
14. |
Russell
Westbrook
(NBA) |
59 |
33 |
26 |
|
15. |
Patrick
Mahomes
(NFL) |
54.5 |
32.5 |
22 |
The Forbes List actually includes 48 athletes (there
are some ties), and none of them are baseball players. According to The
Richest, the answer is Dodger’s pitcher Trevor Bauer, who will earn a
$40 million salary in 2021.
California Angels outfielder Mike Trout received a 12-year
$430 million contract from the club in 2019, and will earn $37.1 million in
2021. A certain first ballot Hall of
Famer already at age 29, he is relatively unknown to the world.
As far as endorsements go, we have seen reports that Trout,
who is famously private and low key, received
“only” $3 million or so in endorsement money in 2019, all from companies
that manufacture baseball shoes and gear.
Baseball players earn salaries that match up well with
other professional athletes (the
top 10 salaries for baseball players in 2021 all exceed $32.9 million!)
), but the
only one who had any significant endorsement money as of 2019 was the Phillies
Bryce Harper, with a “paltry” 6.5 million!
That said, it is notable that soccer player Kylian Mbappe comes in at #31 on the list, with total earnings of $40 million. That would put him behind Mike Trout, and in a tie with Trevor Bauer if the latter had no endorsements at all. Moreover, the last 4 athletes on the Forbes list earn $34.5 million per year or less. According to TheRichest.com article, 7 baseball players have contracts that will pay them more than that in 2021.
Oh, and if you are wondering, we confirmed the accuracy of the Richest's numbers Here.
Forbes list is simply wrong.
There are zero hockey players on the Forbes list, and no
netminder, forward, wing or defenseman came close.
Alas, hockey players lag far behind the other major team
sports. According the HockeyAnswered.com:
The highest paid player in
the NHL is Connor McDavid with an annual average salary (aav) of $12.5 million.
However, yearly salaries can be higher or lower than the aav, and Auston
Matthews made the highest actual salary at $15.9 million.
There are 2. The aforementioned Naomi Osaka, and Serena
Williams. Serena, perhaps the greatest
female athlete of all time (can you name one better?) came in at #28, with
total earnings of $41.5. Of those
earnings, she made $1.5m on the court and $40m in endorsements.
Click Here to see Forbes.com list of highest paid female
athletes of 2021.
How Many NBA Players Are in the Forbes 2021
List of the 50 Highest Earning Athletes? Which NBA
Players Will Make the Most in 2021?
We count 13. In descending
order, they are: LeBron, KD, Steph,
Russ, James Harden, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Klay Thompson, Kyrie Irving, Damian
Lilliard, Chris Paul (only $7 million in endorsements – c’mon, State Farm!),
Jimmy Butler, Paul George and Anthony Davis (#40 - $36m -- $26m in salary, $10m
in endorsements).
How Many NFL Players Are in the Forbes 2021
List of the 50 Highest Earning Athletes?
Which NFL Players Will Make the Most in 2021?
17, by our count. In descending order, they are: Prescott,
Brady, Mahomes, David Bakhtiari, Ronnie Stanley, Joey Bosa, Jalen Ramsey, Myles
Garret, DeAndre Hopkins, Leonard Williams, Marlon Humphrey, Chris Jones, Aaron
Donald, Matt Judon, DeShaun Watson, Shaquil Barrett, J.J. Watt (#46t - $34.5m--
$27m in salary, $7.5m in endorsements).
There are 8. In descending order, they are: Messi, Ronaldo, Neymar, Mbappe, Mohammed Salah, Paul Pogba, Andres Iniesta and Robert Lewandowski (although the last 4 would not make the cut of MLB players had been included).
How Many Golfers Are in the Forbes 2021 List of
the 50 Highest Earning Athletes?
Three: In descending order,
they are: Tiger, Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson (#29 - $41m -- $1m in
salary, $40m in endorsements – look for Phil to be moving up across the board!).
Forbes lists 4. In descending order, they are: Roger Federer, Naomi
Osaka, Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic (#46t - $34.5, $4.5 in salary, $30m
in endorsements).
There are 2: Mr. Hamilton, Max
Verstappen (another Grand Prix driver, who made $42.5m, $41m of which he earned
on the track – someone get Mr. Verstappen some endorsements!).
No NASCAR drivers made the
list!
Who Are the Highest Paid NASCAR Drivers?
Making left turns can be
lucrative (and dangerous). According
to Sportekz.com, in 2020 the top 3 earners were Kyle Bush and Jimmie Johnson
and Denny Hamlin. Bush earned
$16.1, while Johnson made $14.8 and Hamlin $13.1. Johnson had the most endorsement earnings, at
$2.8.
How Many Boxers Are in the Forbes 2021 List of the
50 Highest Earning Athletes?
Just one – Canelo Alvarez. He comes in at #48 with $34m, $32 in earnings in the ring and $2m in endorsements (he apparently refuses to try and learn English). We should expect a Floyd Mayweather sighting this year, though!
Thanks for checking in with us - and don't hesitate to let Forbes.com know about their strikeout where MLB players are concerned!