Legendary basketball star Michael Jordan who earned over $2.62 billion is number one on the list of highest earning athletes
Basketball icon Michael Jordan who earned over $2.62 billion is number one on the list, while the top five was rounded out by golfers Tiger Woods ($2.1 billion), Arnold Palmer ($1.5 billion), Jack Nicklaus ($1.38 billion) and soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo ($1.24 billion).
In sixth position is boxing legend Floyd Mayweather who is nicknamed ‘Moneyman’, with the undefeated retired boxer earning $1.2 billion.
Jordan topped a list in which he is followed by three golfers: Tiger Woods ($2.1 billion), Arnold Palmer ($1.5 billion) and Jack Nicklaus ($1.38 billion). Current NBA superstar LeBron James ranks seventh on the list at $1.17 billion.
Here’s a look at the full top-10 list: Rank Adjusted Earnings
1. Michael Jordan - $2.62 billion
2. Tiger Woods - $2.1 billion
3. Arnold Palmer - $1.5 billion
4. Jack Nicklaus - $1.38 billion
5. Cristiano Ronaldo - $1.24 billion
6. Floyd Mayweather - $1.2 billion
7. LeBron James - $1.17 billion
8. Lionel Messi - $1.14 billion
9. Michael Schumacher - $1.13 billion
10. Roger Federer - $1.12 billion
11. Phil Mickelson - $1.08 billion
12. David Beckham - $1.05 billion
13. Kobe Bryant - $930 million
14. Shaquille O'Neal - $870 million
15. Greg Norman - $815 million
16. Mike Tyson - $775 million
17. Alex Rodriguez - $650 million
18. Manny Pacquiao - $630 million
19. Kevin Durant - $625 million
20. Lewis Hamilton - $620 million
21. Neymar - $615 million
22. Jeff Gordon - $595 million
23. Oscar de la Hoya - $580 million
24. Peyton Manning - $570 million
25. Derek Jeter - $555 million.
The richest football player on the planet remains Faiq Bolkian who boasts of a staggering $20 billion to emerge number one.
Meanwhile, six-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi has emerged the number two player with the highest net worth having amassed staggering wealth to the tune of $600 million (about N247 billion).