Ronaldo Third Time Tops Forbes List
Cristiano Ronaldo has once again claimed the top spot on Forbes’ list of the world’s highest-paid athletes — marking his third consecutive year and the fifth time in his career. Ronaldo boosted his earnings by $15 million through off-field ventures, including lucrative sponsorship deals and endorsements, capitalizing on his massive social media presence, which reached 939 million followers as of May.
Ronaldo boosted his earnings by $15 million through off-field endorsements and lucrative sponsorship deals, driven by his massive social media following, which totals 939 million as of May.
Despite the financial gain, Ronaldo has yet to win a major trophy in the Saudi Pro League to match the many titles he earned at Manchester United and Real Madrid
Other than Ronaldo,
Boxer Tyson Fury claimed third place with $146 million. Although he lost his world heavyweight titles to Oleksandr Usyk in December, Fury’s earnings have been boosted by partnerships promoting Maltese tourism and his Netflix reality show.
MLB’s New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto took seventh place with $114 million. The 26-year-old Dominican signed a record $765 million, 15-year contract, the largest in baseball history.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, nearing the end of his legendary career, ranked sixth with $133.8 million.
France’s striker Karim Benzema, who plays for Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad, earned $104 million, securing eighth place.
Meanwhile, Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, who made history in March as the first NBA player to hit 4,000 career 3-pointers, rose to second place in the rankings with $156 million.
Baseball star Shohei Ohtani claimed ninth place with $102.5 million, largely due to deferring earnings from his massive contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. His income was also boosted by the Dodgers’ World Series victory last year.
Argentine footballer Lionel Messi fell to fifth place with $135 million—unchanged from last year—after moving to MLS side Inter Miami CF while continuing to earn high-profile endorsements from Adidas and Apple.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott secured fourth place with $137 million, thanks to record-setting signing bonuses and a lucrative contract extension.
Phoenix Suns NBA star Kevin Durant rounded out the top 10 with $101.4 million.
Ronaldo Tops 3 years in a row but Here is the list of Forbes’ top 10 highest-paid athletes for the period from May 1, 2024, to May 1, 2025:Golf Monthly
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Christiano Ronaldo (Soccer) – $275 million
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Stephen Curry (Basketball) – $156 million
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Tyson Fury (Boxing) – $146 million
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Dak Prescott (Football) – $137 million
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Lionel Messi (Soccer) – $135 million
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LeBron James (Basketball) – $133.8 million
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Juan Soto (Baseball) – $114 million
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Karim Benzema (Soccer) – $104 million
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Shohei Ohtani (Baseball) – $102.5 million
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Kevin Durant (Basketball) – $101.4 million BBC+2Reuters+2CNN+2
This marks the first time in history that all top 10 athletes have earned over $100 million each, collectively amassing a record $1.38 billion before taxes and agents’ fees over the past 12 months. Forbes+1BBC+1
Cristiano Ronaldo’s earnings include $200 million from his contract with Al Nassr and $75 million from off-field endeavors, such as endorsements and social media. Stephen Curry’s income is bolstered by his basketball career and lucrative sponsorships. Tyson Fury’s earnings stem from his boxing matches and promotional deals, while Dak Prescott’s substantial income is attributed to his NFL contract and endorsements.
Lionel Messi continues to earn significantly from his soccer career and endorsements. LeBron James’ earnings are a combination of his NBA salary and extensive off-court business ventures. Juan Soto’s earnings reflect his MLB contract and endorsements. Karim Benzema’s income is derived from his soccer contract and endorsements. Shohei Ohtani’s earnings come from his dual-role as a baseball player and endorsements. Kevin Durant’s income is a mix of his NBA salary and business ventures.
These figures highlight the growing financial influence of athletes across various sports, with significant contributions from endorsements, media rights, and business ventures