Forbes recently released its list of the world’s 50 highest-paid athletes for 2024, topped by soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo. The lineup factors in both on- and off-field earnings, which includes sponsorship deals, appearance fees, memorabilia and licensing income, among other revenue streams.
The combined earnings for 2024 totaled $3.88 billion, up 13 percent from 2023 and had a cutoff of $45.2 million. No UFC fighters, including former Top 50 earner Conor McGregor, were included in this year’s list, though veteran boxers Anthony Joshua (No. 16) and Tyson Fury (No. 42) both made the cut.
McGregor has not competed since breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier in summer 2021.
Here’s the Top 10 for 2024:
Name | Sport | Total Earnings
Cristiano Ronaldo | Soccer | $260m
Jon Rahm | Golf | $218m
Lionel Messi | Soccer | $135m
LeBron James | Basketball | $128.2
Giannis Antetokounmpo | Basketball | $111m
Kylian Mbappé | Soccer | $110m
Neymar | Soccer | $108m
Karim Benzema Soccer | $106m
Stephen Curry | Basketball | $102m
Lamar Jackson | Football | $100.5m
See the entire list at Forbes here.
McGregor, 35, will likely find his way back to the Top 50 for 2025, assuming he returns (as scheduled) for the upcoming UFC 303 pay-per-view (PPV) event on June 29 in Las Vegas. “Notorious” will be facing fellow Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 31 coach Michael Chandler in the five-round, welterweight main event.
For much more on that upcoming showdown click here.