Cristiano Ronaldo has once again claimed the top spot among the world’s highest-paid athletes, marking his third consecutive year at number one and the fifth time in his career. His estimated earnings have soared to $275 million, bolstered by his move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr. Off the field, Ronaldo added $15 million to his income through endorsements and sponsorships, leveraging his massive global presence, with 939 million social media followers as of May.
In second place is Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry, who climbed the rankings after a historic achievement in March, becoming the first NBA player to hit 4,000 career three-pointers. Curry’s earnings reached $156 million, a reflection of both his on-court brilliance and his expanding endorsement portfolio.
Boxing heavyweight Tyson Fury secured third place with $146 million, despite losing his world titles to Oleksandr Usyk in December. His earnings were supported by commercial deals, including campaigns for Maltese tourism and revenue from his Netflix reality series.
Fourth on the list is NFL quarterback Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys, earning $137 million. His impressive total is largely due to signing bonuses and a lucrative contract extension, setting new benchmarks within the league.
Lionel Messi, who transitioned to Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami, sits in fifth with $135 million—matching his earnings from the previous year. He continues to benefit from top-tier endorsements, notably with Adidas and Apple, which have sustained his financial strength despite the shift in leagues.
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers, approaching the twilight of his storied career, comes in sixth with $133.8 million. His legacy continues to attract significant commercial interest.
In seventh place is Juan Soto, outfielder for the New York Mets, with $114 million. At 26, Soto signed a historic 15-year, $765 million contract, making it the largest in Major League Baseball history.
French striker Karim Benzema, now with Al Ittihad in Saudi Arabia, follows at eighth with $104 million in total income. Japanese sensation Shohei Ohtani ranks ninth with $102.5 million, aided by deferred earnings and a boost from the Dodgers’ recent World Series title.
Closing the top ten is NBA star Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns, earning $101.4 million through a mix of salary and endorsement deals.
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