Every year Forbes’ list of highest paid athletes becomes an instant hit. Everybody wants to learn not only how much money do athletes earn but also who beats whom and who is making it in the top ten list.
The highest-paid athletes for 2023 are from various sports and notably you should consider that highest-paid does not necessarily mean the greatest athlete of all others. For example, some of these athletes that you’ll see in this list are not necessarily the top favorites in sportsbooks’ odds. Just think that whether you are a fan of NBA betting, football betting, soccer betting, tennis betting or MMA betting, the names you will encounter in the following list may be far from what you would expect.
Soccer (or European football) and basketball hold the leading positions when it comes to players being among the highest paid of all.
Soccer Player Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi is a name that echoes through the world of soccer. The Argentine athlete is considered one of the greatest players of all time. With his unmatched skills on the field, Messi has managed to mesmerize fans and opponents alike. His incredible dribbling and goal-scoring ability have earned him numerous accolades, including being crowned as the world’s best player six times. Outside of his talent, Messi is also admired for his humility and philanthropic work. His drive and determination have set him apart as a true legend of the beautiful game.
Basketball Player Lebron James
LeBron James, often referred to as “King James,” is widely recognized as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Hailing from Akron, Ohio, James began making a name for himself in high school, where he quickly gained national attention for his incredible athleticism and skill on the court. He was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003 and helped lead the team to their first NBA championship in 2016. James has also played for the Miami Heat and currently plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. Off the court, James is known for his philanthropy and activism, particularly in regards to education and social justice issues. Regardless of your personal opinion on James, there’s no denying that he has had a major impact on the sport of basketball and beyond.
Tennis Player Roger Federer
Roger Federer is undoubtedly one of the greatest tennis players in history. Known for his incredible serve, graceful movement on the court, and ability to dominate matches with ease, Federer has left an indelible mark on the sport. His list of accomplishments is impressive to say the least, including 20 Grand Slam titles and dozens of other tournament victories. But it’s not just his technique and results that make him so beloved by fans around the world. Federer is also known for his sportsmanship, humility, and dedication to helping others through his philanthropic work. Whether you’re a die-hard tennis fan or simply a lover of athletic excellence, there’s no denying the impact that Roger Federer has had on the game and the people who follow it.
The top three positions are captured by star soccer players Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe. All multi-millionaires under 40 – in fact Mbappe under 30 – and all playing for the high profile European leagues (at least until very recently). Ronaldo last January joined Al Nassr and this has also accounted for his number one position. The Portuguese athlete has earned nearly $135million the past year from both off-field and on-field revenues.
Messi follows Ronaldo with some $130million, halved between off-field and on-field earnings, while Mbappe completes the trio with $120million from both sources.
There are three basketball players in the list as well, though in lower ranked positions. LeBron James is in fourth place with $119.5million earnings both off-court and on-court. He has been in Forbes’ list the past few years, but this year he has moved up the list going from number five to number four! His entrepreneurial spirit has pushed him up the ladder and now he is among the richest basketball players of all times.
Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant complete the three basketball players of the list. Curry earned $100.4million this year, split in both sources, off-court and on-court while Durant’s revenues from the sport reached $89.1million. Curry holds the 8th position in the list whereas Durant comes last, in the 10th place.
Golf has two great athletes in the list of the top ten highest-paid of all. Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson. Johnson is number 6 with $107million, despite not being even close to the list last year -in fact he didn’t even make it to the top 50 in the previous year. Noticeably, $102 of the $107million came from on-field prize money and sports revenues. Mickelson, now is the number 7 in the list with $106million, most of which also earned on-field. Phil Mickelson is one of the richest golf players in the world, surpassing $1billion gross earnings last year.
And then we have one boxer and one tennis player completing the full list of top ten highest-paid athletes. Canelo Alvarez, the number 5 in the list, made almost $100million last year from boxing events and sponsorships. This brought him at the forefront and made him the highest-paid boxer in the world.
And of course we have Roger Federer, the number 9 in the list, who reported earnings of $95.1million from both off-field and on-field revenues. Federer has announced his retirement but he continues to be a million-dollar making ‘machine’!
This is the list with the top ten highest paid athletes of all according to Forbes. Every year this list becomes more interesting and every year sports fans are expecting to see how much their favorite athletes earn and whether these earnings are enough to put them in the elite group!