Lionel Messi, LeBron James tops Forbes' list of highest-paid athletes (2024)

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Lionel Messi, LeBron James tops Forbes' list of highest-paid athletes? ›

International soccer stars Cristiano Ronaldo ($136 million), Lionel Messi ($130 million) and Kylian Mbappe ($120 million) are the top three highest-paid athletes, while all-time NBA scoring leader LeBron James ($119.5 million) and Mexican boxing champion Canelo Álvarez ($110 million) round out the top five.

Cristiano Ronaldo became the world's highest-paid athlete after his move to Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr nearly doubled his annual playing salary while Paris Saint-Germain duo Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe round off the top three, according to Forbes.

Ronaldo, Messi ($130 million) and LeBron James ($119.5 million) have all reached that threshold before, but the other five—Mbappé and Johnson, plus boxing champion Canelo Álvarez ($110 million), Mickelson ($106 million) and NBA sharpshooter Stephen Curry ($100.4 million)—earned nine figures for the first time.

The sport with the highest average salary per player globally is basketball, with an average wage of $4.9 million annually. The statistic indicates that on a global scale, basketball players have the highest average salary among all sports, with each player earning an average of $4.9 million annually.

Jordan claimed the top spot on the list, with inflation-adjusted earnings of $3.75 billion since he left the University of North Carolina to turn pro. Golf icon Tiger Woods holds second place, with earnings of $2.66 billion, while football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is third, with earnings of $1.92 billion.

Rounding out the top five: Jon Rahm ($203 million), Lionel Messi ($130 million), LeBron James ($125.7) and Kylian Mbappé ($125 million), based on estimated earnings for 2023 through Dec.

Barcelona star Lionel Messi has become football's second billionaire. After Cristiano Ronaldo previously achieved the feat, Messi has now earned $1billion in pre-tax earnings during his career, as reported by Forbes.

Kurt Badenhausen of Sportico shared the publication's top-10 highest-paid athletes ever, and Jordan tops the list with inflation-adjusted earnings of $3.75 billion. Golf legend Tiger Woods is second at $2.66 billion, while James rounds out the top five at $1.7 billion.

Who is the wealthiest athlete in 2024? ›

Messi is the second highest-paid athlete in the world as of 2023, and has earned an estimated $1.15 billion in his career so far, according to Forbes. Messi owns a multi-million dollar real estate portfolio, holds lucrative brand partnerships, and even owns a hotel chain.

Cristiano Ronaldo is the highest-paid soccer player in the world with an estimated $260 million income in 2023. He returns to the top spot after being dethroned by Kylian Mbappé last year and had a four-year run from 2014-2017.

Although golfer Tiger Woods has been dominant on the top of the highest paid athlete lists recently, the dominance of Michael Jordan earlier on and several other basketballers who have also made the top 10 lists has ensured that basketball leads on this combined list.