Ideally, the list of the richest sportsmen should not include former athletes who have gone on to engage in other things such as business. They could get a mention among the richest businessmen, or the richest of anything else.
This list should be for sportsmen who are still active in their various fields; and whose primary source of income is the sport they engage in.
This is a way of celebrating their talent and consistency; which are both necessary ingredients for the kind of success that brings such wealth.
Top 100 Richest Sportsmen In The World
1. Vince McMahon
Net Worth: $2.2 billion
Vincent Kennedy McMahon is the Chairman and CEO of WWE; which is the biggest brand in wrestling entertainment. There is no reason why he should not be a billionaire; and it looks likely that his wealth will increase even more as the brand continues to grow.
He still makes the occasional ring appearance which is for the show more than anything else. Wrestling is more of a show than a sport; but as long as it continues to be listed as a sport, then Vince McMahon will continue to be listed as arguably the richest sportsman alive.
2. Tiger Woods
Net Worth: $1.1 billion
If golf is considered a rich man’s sport then Tiger Woods is the king of the rich men. In a sport that has less marketing value than football, American Football and basketball, Eldrick Tiger Woods has made a mountain of money.
To be fair; he is the best the sport has ever seen; he has won more accolades, and contributed more to the sport than anyone else; and so it is only natural that he be given more endorsements than it is common for Golfers.
When he retires; Golf as a sport may suffer somewhat because it has been his face projecting the sport to the world for the last two decades or there about.
3. Anna Kasprzak
Net Worth: $1 billion
Anna Kasprzak of Denmark is a Dressage rider. Many people don’t even know what Dressage is; but it is a kind of horse riding that is done for show and applause. It is an Olympic sport; and while it is not the most popular; it is one that can give the participants plenty of trophies.
It has certainly given Anna Kasprzak plenty of trophies, and the trophies come with prize monies, and then comes the endorsements.
Anna Kasprzak has made her fortune through a combination of winnings and endorsement deals.
4. Lebron James
Net Worth: 1 Billion
Lebron James is an American basket baller; the top pick of his generation. He has shone consistently over the years, and won more accolades than any player still active. Furthermore, he has scored more points in the NBA than anyone else. In fact, he has edged the great Michael Jordan to this record.
His talent was noticed quite early; and those with inside knowledge of the sport favored him to become one of the greatest ever that the game has ever seen. He did not disappoint; he has achieved all the accolades needed to seal his place in history. In return, he has been rewarded with more money than anyone thought possible.
5. Lionel Messi
Net Worth: $600 million
Still talking about players whose talent were spotted early; Lionel Messi was spotted playing on the grounds of Santa Fe in Argentina. He even had a genetic condition that inhibited his growth. Nevertheless, Football Club Barcelona in Spain took him in, and groomed him- the result was massive.
Lionel Messi spent 20 years with the club, and became their all time leading goal scorer. He also won everything that a player could hope to win; and he even got a record number of Balon d’Ors.
Lionel Messi could have possibly made even more money if he had the mind to leave Barcelona earlier; but he stayed loyal to the club that came to his aid and groomed him into someone of note.
6. Cristiano Ronaldo
Net Worth: $500 Million
For the last 20 years it has been difficult to mention Lionel Messi without mentioning Cristiano Ronaldo- he has given Messi a run for his money; challenging him for every accolade. Cristiano is the highest goal scorer in the Champions League, and he is also the highest goal scorer for clubs with over 700 club goals.
Cristiano Ronaldo has made more money through endorsements; he has been the face of the Champions League for too many years, and has amassed a fortune advertising for brands like Binance, Armani, Herbalife, and PokerStars.
7. Tom Brady
Net Worth: $500 Million
Tom Brady has been the most valuable player in the NFL for a number of years. He has been rock solid as a player; and the face of the game. Some have even said he was the reason why they bothered to watch the league in the first place.
He has now retired but we do not believe him because this is not the first time he has made an announcement about retiring.
Whether or not he comes back to the field, he is certainly the highest earner in the history of the sport. It is important to note that most of his earnings have come from endorsements rather than the actual running on the field.
8. Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Net Worth: $500 Million
Floyd Mayweather Jr. is an American boxer who still steps into the ring as a trainer. His father too is a boxing legend- the great Floyd Mayweather.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. is one of the few boxers to have an unbeaten record throughout his career. He is quite skillful; but perhaps the most important aspect of his character is his aggressive nature. He is very domineering in the ring, and most times that is what makes the difference.
9. Phil Mikelson
Net Worth: $400 Million
Phil Mikelson is worth around 400 million which he has earned from endorsements more than anything else. Phil has been consistent as a top golfer, and has the accolades to show for it. Phil Mikelson has been one of the notable golfers who have been in contention for every top honor in the sport, year after year.
This consistency has attracted all the big name brands to identify with him; and this is what has made him so rich.
10. Roger Federer
Net Worth: $400 million
Roger Federer the crème of the tennis profession for around 20 years, Roger Federer is an elite tennis player who has been a dominant force in his sport over the years, and has won plenty of accolades to show for his effort.
Roger Federer has also earned a heft amount for his work, and for his contributions to the sport. As with most superstars; the money actually comes from endorsement deals.
The following is a more extensive compilation of the top 100 richest sportsmen in the world.
| Position | Name | Net worth | Country | Sport |
| 1 | Vince McMahon | 2.2 billion | United States | Wrestling |
| 2 | Tiger Woods | 1.4 Billion | United States | Golf |
| 3 | Lebron James | 1 Billion | United States | Basketball |
| 4 | Lionel Messi | $600 million | Argentina | Football |
| 5 | Cristiano Ronaldo | $500 Million | Portugal | Football |
| 6 | Tom Brady | $500 Million | United States | American Football |
| 7 | Floyd Mayweather Jr. | $500 Million | United States | Boxing |
| 8 | Phil Mickelson | $400 Million | United States | Golf |
| 9 | Roger Federer | $400 Million | Switzerland | Tennis |
| 10 | Kevin Durant | 300 million | United States | Basketball |
| 11 | Alex Rodriguez | $300 Million | United states | |
| 12 | Greg Norman | $300 Million | Australia | |
| 13 | Jack Nicklaus | $280 Million | United states | |
| 14 | Lewis Hamilton | $280 Million | United kingdom | Formula 1 |
| 15 | Dale Earnhardt, Jr. | $225 Million | United states | |
| 16 | Paul Caddick | $225 Million | United kingdom | |
| 17 | Novak Djokovic | $230 million | Tennis | |
| 18 | Rafael Nadal | $220 Million | Spain | Tennis |
| 19 | Dave Whelan | $210 Million | United kingdom | |
| 20 | Ken Block | $200 Million | United states | |
| 21 | Connor McGregor | $200 Million | Ireland | Mixed Martial Arts |
| 22 | Kimi Raikkonen | $200 Million | Formula 1 | |
| 23 | Wayne Gretzky | $200 Million | Canada | |
| 24 | Neymar | $200 Million | Brazil | Football |
| 25 | John Madden | $200 Million | United states | |
| 26 | Bob Arum | $200 Million | United states | |
| 27 | Fernando Alonso | $200 Million | Spain | |
| 28 | Russell Westbrook | $200 million | United states | Basketball |
| 29 | Oscar De La Hoya | $200 Million | United states | Boxing |
| 30 | Peyton Manning | $200 Million | United states | |
| 31 | Richard Childress | $200 Million | United states | |
| 32 | Maria Sharapova | $195 Million | United states | Tennis |
| 33 | Manny Pacquiao | $190 Million | Filipino | Boxing |
| 34 | Zlatan Ibrahimovic | 190 Million | Sweden | Football |
| 35 | Derek Jeter | $185 Million | United states | |
| 36 | Kevin Garnett | $180 Million | United states | |
| 37 | Grant Hill | $180 Million | United states | |
| 38 | Tim Duncan | $177 Million | United states | |
| 39 | Tripple H | 170 Million | United states | Wrestling |
| 40 | Toni Kross | 170 million | Germany | Football |
| 41 | Dirk Nowitzki | $170 Million | Germany | Basketball |
| 42 | Serena Williams | $170 Million | United states | Tennis |
| 43 | Andy Murray | $165 Million | Tennis | |
| 44 | Johnny Dumfries | $165 Million | United kingdom | |
| 45 | James Harden | 165 Million | United states | |
| 46 | Sabathia | $155 Million | United states | |
| 47 | Jeff Gordon | $150 Million | United states | |
| 48 | Pete Sampras | $150 Million | United states | |
| 49 | Mario Lemieux | $150 Million | Canada | |
| 50 | Paul Pogba | 150 million | France | |
| 51 | Gareth Bale | $150 Million | United states | Football |
| 52 | Kylian Mbappe | $150 Million | French | Football |
| 53 | Romelu Lukaku | $150 Million | Belgium | Football |
| 54 | Alexandre Pato | $145 Million | Brazil | Football |
| 55 | Chris Webber | $143.4 Million | United states | |
| 56 | Albert Pujols | $140 Million | United states | |
| 57 | Ryan Howard | $140 Million | United states | |
| 58 | Gilbert Arenas | $135 Million | United states | |
| 59 | Gary Payton | $130 Million | United states | |
| 60 | Novak Djokovic | $130 Million | ||
| 61 | Drew Brees | $130 Million | United states | |
| 62 | Lance Armstrong | $125 Million | United states | Cycling |
| 63 | Adrian Beltre | $125 Million | ||
| 64 | Miguel Cabrera | $125 Million | ||
| 65 | Valentino Rossi | $120 Million | Italy | |
| 66 | Eden Hazard | $100 million | Belgian | Football |
| 67 | Mohammed Salah | $100 Million | Egyptian | Football |
| 68 | Usain Bolt | $100 Million | Jamaican | Football |
| 69 | Venus Williams | $100 Million | American | Football |
| 70 | Robert Lewandoski | 85 Million | Poland | Football |
| 71 | David de Gea | 75 million | Spanish | Football |
| 72 | Jordi Alba | 70 million | Spanish | Football |
| 73 | Luka Modric | 80 Million | Croatian | Football |
| 74 | Karim Benzema | 80 Million | French | Football |
| 75 | Gerard Pique | 70 Million | Spanish | Football |
| 76 | Kevin De Bryune | 65 Million | Belgian | Football |
| 77 | Deshaun Watson | 65 million | American | NFL |
| 78 | Kyler Murray | 45 million | American | NFL |
| 79 | Lamar Jackson | 40 million | American | NFL |
| 80 | Jalen Hurts | 35 million | American | NFL |
| 81 | Russell Wilson | 165 million | American | NFL |
| 82 | Aaron Rodgers | 200 million | American | NFL |
| 83 | Ronnie Stanley | 100 million | American | NFL |
| 84 | Denzel Ward | 71 million | American | NFL |
| 85 | Myles Garrett | 50 million | American | NFL |
| 86 | Daron Payne | $60.02 million | American | NFL |
| 87 | Aaron Donald | $60 million | American | NFL |
| 88 | Chris Jones | $60 million | American | NFL |
| 89 | Dexter Lawrence | $60 million | American | NFL |
| 90 | Naomi Osaka | $51 million | Japanese | Tennis |
| 91 | Roquan Smith | $60 million | American | NFL |
| 92 | Derwin James Jr. | $42 million | American | NFL |
| 93 | Jack Grealish | 30 million | American | NFL |
| 94 | John Stones | 30 million | England | Football |
| 95 | Phil Foden | 27 million | England | Football |
| 96 | Kyle Walker | 25 million | England | Football |
| 97 | Ilkay Gündogan | 25 million | Germany | football |
| 98 | Harry Maguire | 25 million | England | Football |
| 99 | Kante | 20 million | France | Football |
| 100 | Olivier Giroud | 20 million | France | Football |
Related:
- Top 100 Richest Investors In The World
- Top 100 Richest Countries In The World
- Top 100 Highest Currencies In the World
Closing
The richest sportsmen in the world is perhaps the most inclusive rich list that one can find anywhere in the world; it includes people from all corners of the globe. Another important consideration is that these players often make the bulk of their money from endorsements-after proving themselves in their various sports, of course.