Forbes has released its list of the world’s highest-paid athletes for 2019 with the cut-off for the top 100 at $25 million as compared to $17.3 million some 5 years ago showing how lucrative the industry has been over time.
Forbes calculated the earnings of the top 100 athletes from 10 sporting disciplines between June 2018 and June 2019. The athletes, who are from 25 countries combined for a total of $4 billion in earnings which they received as prize money, salaries and endorsement deals. Forbes further reports that this year’s combined earnings increased by 5% as compared to the previous year.Basketball came up tops with 35 NBA players combining to rack up $1.3 billion with a breakdown of $972 million in earnings and $321 million in endorsements. The other sports disciplines that follow are football ($704 million), soccer ($457 million), baseball ($449 million) and tennis ($46 million) respectively.Argentine and FC Barcelona soccer star Lionel Messi is listed as this year’s highest earner with $127 million ($92 million in salary/winnings and $35 million in endorsements). At second is Portuguese and Juventus soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo with $109 million ($65 million in salary/winnings and $44 million in endorsements). Both athletes are the only soccer players to ever rank first on the Forbes highest-paid athletes list.Breaking even on the top 10 list are 5 black athletes. Scroll through to take a look at their impressive earnings:
1. Neymar (World Rank: 3rd)
The Brazilian and Paris Saint-Germain soccer star is listed at number 3 with $105 million in earnings with a breakdown of $75 million in salary/winnings and $30 million in endorsements.
2. Russel Wilson (World Rank: 6th)
The Seattle Seahawks NFL player is listed at number 6 with $89.5 million in earnings with a breakdown of $80.5 million in salary/winnings and $9 million in endorsements. He became the NFL’s highest paid player this year when he signed a $140 million 4-year extension deal with the Seahawks.
3. Lebron James (World Rank: 8th)
The Los Angeles Lakers basketball star is listed at number 8 with $89 million in earnings with a breakdown of $36 million in salary/winnings and $53 million in endorsements. James, who joined the Lakers last year on a $153 million 4-year deal also owns other businesses and has multiple investments.
4. Steph Curry (World Rank: 9th)
The Golden State Warriors basketball star is listed at number 9 with $79.8 million in earnings with a breakdown of $37.8 million in salary/winnings and $42 million in endorsements. Curry made history in 2017 when he signed a $200 million contract with the Warriors making him the first player to ever do so. He also owns businesses and has investments.
5. Kevin Durant (World Rank: 10th)
The Golden State Warriors basketball star is listed at number 10 with $65.4 million in earnings with a breakdown of $30.4 million in salary/winnings and $35 million in endorsements. Forbes reports that he has investments in over 30 companies.Read Below Article Too:Richest Black Female Musicians in the World 2019 – Forbes
