The World’s Top-Earning AthletesWho are the highest paid athletes? According to Forbes, Floyd Mayweather tops the list of
100 highest-paid athletes in
the world between 2011-2012, losing out Tiger Woods who has been
hailed by Forbes as the highest earning athlete from 2001-2011. Woods
landed in the third rank with total earnings of $59.4
million. Mayweather got a huge payday amounting to a total of $85
million for his fights against Victor Ortiz with $40 million and Miguel
Cotto with $45 million. He is part of the 4 biggest non-heavyweight
pay-per-view events throughout the boxing history. He owns the
Mayweather Promotions which he uses to promote his fight thereby
increasing his earnings substantially.
The
total earnings of the athletes are derived from their bonuses,
salaries, appearance fees, prize money, endorsement and licensing from
June 2011 to June 2012. According to Forbes, the 100 highest-paid
athletes made a combined $2.6 billion in the past 12 months. The
athlete’s agent’s fees and taxes were not deducted from their earnings.
#1. Floyd Mayweather
Total Earnings between June 2011 to June 2012: $85 million
Salary/winnings: $85 million
Endorsements: $0
Sport: Boxing , Age: 35
#2. Manny Pacquaio
Total Earnings between June 2011 to June 2012: $62 million
Salary/winnings: $56 million
Endorsements: $6 million (Monster Energy, Hennessy, Nike, Hewlett-Packard)
Sport: Boxing , Age: 33
#3. Tiger Woods
Total Earnings between June 2011 to June 2012: $59.4 million
Salary/winnings: $4.4 million
Endorsements: $55 million (Nike)
Sport: Golf, Age: 36
Net Worth: $500 million – As of September 2010, according to Forbes
#4. LeBron James
Total Earnings between June 2011 to June 2012: $53 million
Salary/winnings: $13 million
Endorsements: $40 million ( Nike, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, State Farm and others)
Sport: Basketball, Age: 27
#5. Roger Federer
Total Earnings between June 2011 to June 2012: $52.7 million
Salary/winnings: $7.7 million
Endorsements: $45 million (Nike, Rolex, Wilson, Credit Suisse)
Sport: Tennis, Age: 30
#6. Kobe Bryant
Total Earnings between June 2011 to June 2012: $52.3 million
Salary/winnings: $20.3 million
Endorsements: $32 million
Sport: Basketball, Age: 33
#7. Phil Mickelson
Total Earnings between June 2011 to June 2012: $47.8 million
Salary/winnings: $4.8 million
Endorsements: $43 million (Callaway, Barclay’s, KPMG, Exxon, Rolex, Amgen/Pfizer)
Sport: Golf, Age: 41
#8. David Beckham
Total Earnings between June 2011 to June 2012: $46 million
Salary/winnings: $9 million
Endorsements: $37 million (Burger King, Sainsbury’s, Samsung)
Net Worth: £160 million ($260m) – As of April 2012, according to the Sunday Times Rich List
Sport: Football, Age:37
#9 Cristiano Ronaldo
Total Earnings between June 2011 to June 2012: $42.5 million
Salary/winnings: $20.5 million
Endorsements: $22 million (Nike, Castrol, Konami and others)
Sport: Football, Age: 27
#10 Peyton Manning
Total Earnings between June 2011 to June 2012: $42.4 million
Salary/winnings: $32.4 million
Endorsements: $10 million (Reebok, Sony, Wheaties, DirecTV, Gatorade, Papa John’s)
Sport: Football (NFL) , Age: 36
#11. Lionel Messi
Total Earnings between June 2011 to June 2012: $39 million
Salary/winnings: $20 million
Endorsements: $19 million (PepsiCo, Herbalife, EA Sports, Cherry, Audemars Piguet, Dolce & Gabanna and others)
Sport: Football, Age: 24
#12 Haloti Ngata
Total Earnings between June 2011 to June 2012: $37.3 million
Salary/winnings: $37.1 million
Endorsements: $200,000
Sport: Football (NFL)