The highest-paid athletes in sports make headlines not only because of how well they play on the field, court, or ring, but also because of how much money they make both on and off the field.
In today’s commercial sports world, top athletes can make as much revenue as small countries do through salaries, prize money, endorsements, business ventures, and media ventures.
In this in-depth look at the highest-paid athletes in sports, Sportsleo talks about who they are, how they make their money, the trends that are affecting athlete wealth today, and how a few elite stars have become near‑unmatched financial success.
The Money Behind the Title: How Earnings Are Calculated
When talking about the highest-paid athletes in sports, it’s important to know that their total earnings come from more than one source:
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On‑field or on‑court earnings — salaries, winnings, bonuses or prize money from sport.
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Off‑field earnings — endorsements, sponsorships, licensing deals, appearances, and business investments.
For example, Forbes’ 2025 ranking includes earnings from both categories, blending contract pay with commercial revenues to produce a holistic list of global athlete paydays.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo, a football star, is once again the highest-paid athlete in sports, making an estimated $275 million in the last year.
Ronaldo’s huge haul includes a lucrative on-field contract with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr (reportedly worth $225 million) and about $50 million from endorsements and business ventures like his CR7 brand and global sponsorships.
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Ronaldo is still a top athlete and a top businessman at 40 years old, and he is still at the top of the list of the highest-paid athletes in sports.
2. Stephen Curry
Basketball star Stephen Curry came in second on the list of the highest-paid athletes, making about $156 million in total.
Curry makes a good amount of money from both his NBA salary (about $56 million) and his other jobs (about $100 million).
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His business interests, like his partnerships and his Curry Brand with Under Armour, as well as his media interests, show how modern athletes can make more money than just through contracts.
3. Tyson Fury
Tyson Fury, a heavyweight boxer, is the third highest-paid athlete in sports, making about $146 million.
Fury’s main source of income is fight purses, prize money, and other boxing contracts. His endorsement income is lower than that of other athletes, but his on-field pay is still huge because heavyweight boxing is popular all over the world.
4. Dak Prescott
American football quarterback Dak Prescott is now one of the highest-paid athletes in sports, with about $137 million in earnings. This is mostly because of his new contract with the Dallas Cowboys and endorsement deals.
Prescott’s earnings reflect how lucrative NFL contracts can be, especially when restructured to maximize payout within a given financial window.
5–6. Lionel Messi and LeBron James
Trailing closely among the highest‑paid athletes in sports are Lionel Messi and LeBron James. Messi’s income in 2025 was estimated around $135 million, driven by both club salary and massive endorsement deals.
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LeBron’s haul was also huge, about $133.8 million. The NBA star is still having a great career on the court and is making more money through lifetime brand deals.
7–10. Other Big Earners in 2025
The following athletes are among the highest-paid in sports:
- Juan Soto (Baseball) – about $114 million.
- Karim Benzema (Football) – about $104 million.
- Shohei Ohtani (Baseball) is worth about $102.5 million.
- Kevin Durant (basketball) made almost $101.4 million.
Each athlete’s earnings come from a unique blend of athletic contracts and commercial markets, showing how diverse top‑tier compensation can be across different sports.
How Endorsements Shape the Wealth of Top Athletes
A defining feature of highest‑paid athletes in sports is how much they earn off the field, especially from endorsements. Superstars like Curry and Ronaldo have become global brands that go beyond their home leagues.
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Stephen Curry’s partnerships include Under Armour and his own Curry Brand initiatives.
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Cristiano Ronaldo’s CR7 empire includes fashion, fragrance, and media partnerships around the world.
These business ventures often make up a big part of a player’s yearly income, sometimes even more than their salary.
Why Some Sports Pay More Than Others
When we talk about the highest-paid athletes in sports, it’s clear that some sports make more money than others:
- Soccer and basketball players have a huge global reach, which means they can get big contracts and endorsement deals.
- Boxing allows for enormous fight purses for marquee fighters like Fury.
- Baseball and American football have big team salary caps, but players can still make a lot of money.
Women are starting to make more money, but female athletes have never been among the highest-paid athletes in sports because of differences in prize money, TV revenue, and sponsorship intensity.
Trends in Athlete Earnings: What’s New in 2025
There are two big trends that are affecting the highest-paid athletes in sports:
1. Record Breaking Earnings
The standard for being one of the highest-paid athletes in sports has been getting higher. In 2025, the lowest amount of money you could make to be in Forbes’ top 50 was $53.6 million, which was a big increase from previous years.
2. No UFC or MMA Fighters in Top Rankings
Mixed martial arts is very popular, but no UFC or MMA fighter made the top 100 in the most recent earnings list. This shows how much less money MMA fighters make than players in other major sports like soccer and basketball.
Global Appeal and Market Forces
The list of the highest-paid athletes in sports is often a mix of global fans and business opportunities:
- Cristiano Ronaldo’s brand value goes up because he has hundreds of millions of followers on social media.
- Basketball players who have big shoe deals or media projects make more money than just what they make on game days.
Some athletes, like Shohei Ohtani, have a huge crossover appeal that draws attention in both domestic and international markets. This makes big endorsement deals easier to justify.
Notable Achievements Beyond Earnings
This article is mostly about the highest-paid athletes in sports, but it’s important to note that many of these athletes are also the best in their sports at winning championships, setting records, or both. For example:
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Ronaldo continues to break scoring milestones, adding to his global profile.
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Stephen Curry’s NBA records — including 3‑pointers — reinforce his influence both on and off court.
This connection between athletic talent and business value helps explain why these stars make so much money.
The Future of Athlete Earnings
Looking forward, highest‑paid athletes in sports may continue to expand as:
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Media rights deals grow larger.
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Global markets further embrace sports franchises.
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Brands invest more heavily in athlete partnerships.
As interest in sports and markets grows around the world, we may also see new athletes from newer markets or sports start to make more money.
Conclusion
The world of the highest-paid athletes is always changing because of how global sports, brand appeal, and business opportunities are changing.
The modern elite athlete makes money from both their performance and their personality. For example, Cristiano Ronaldo makes a lot of money at the top, but so do other stars in basketball, boxing, American football, and more.
As we look ahead to future rankings, the combination of athletic success and global branding will keep the list of the highest-paid athletes in sports interesting and inspiring to fans all over the world.
