Top 8 World’s Highest Paid Athletes 2014

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1. Floyd Mayweather – $210 Million
Ranked the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world, undefeated Floyd Mayweather, Jr., has literally fought his way to the top, winning 10 world titles and the lineal championship in four separate weight classes. In September 2013, his fight against Canelo Alvarez set records for its pay per view gross of $150 million, its live gate of $20 million and its total revenue intake of over $200 million. Mayweather recently announced a September rematch with Marcos Maidana, who severely challenged Mayweather in May.


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2. Cristiano Ronaldo – $160 Million
The Real Madrid and Portugal superstar may have had a disappointing World Cup, but 2013’s soccer MVP still has millions of reasons to flash his beautiful smile. He is in the second year of his record-setting $200 million contract with Real Madrid, and his mega endorsement deals with Tag Heuer and Nike keep the money pouring in.

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3. LeBron James – $144.6 Million
Four years ago, the so-called king of basketball dramatically bolted from his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers and took his crown to Miami, helping the Heat win back-to-back championships. However, the San Antonio Spurs bounced the Heat from the NBA Finals in five games this year, and the four-time league MVP just announced he and his $53 million in endorsement deals with McDonald’s, Nike, Coca-Cola and Upper Deck are returning to Cleveland.

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4. Lionel Messi – $129.4 Million
Barcelona’s top goal scorer signed a $50 million contract with the Barça in May. A stellar World Cup performance will undoubtedly net the Argentinian more lucrative sponsorship deals to go with his Adidas and Turkish Airlines deals.

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5. Kobe Bryant – $123 Million
Despite missing all but six games of the 2013-14 season due to a knee fracture, the L.A. Lakers star enjoyed the NBA’s highest salary, $30.5 million, for the fourth straight year and boasted the league’s third best-selling jersey. His endorsement deals with Nike, Panini, Turkish Air, Hublot and Lenovo bring in more than $30 million yearly, and his newly formed company Kobe Inc. recently invested $6 million to purchase 10% of sports drink maker BodyArmour.

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6. Tiger Woods – $122.4 Million
The last year has been unkind to the golf superstar, with back surgery in March forcing him to miss the Masters for the first time since 1994 and Electronic Arts choosing to end its longstanding relationship with him after 16 successful video games. However, Woods’ deal with Nike and foreign tournament appearance fees help keep him among the world’s highest paid athletes.

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7. Roger Federer – $112.4 Million
Sixteen years after turning pro, the record holder for both most singles Grand Slam wins at 17 and career winnings at $81 million has an impeccable portfolio of top-flight sponsorship deals. His longterm deals with Rolex, Nike and Moet & Chandon bring him over $40 million annually.

8. Phil Mickelson – $106.4 Million
After 42 PGA victories, last year’s British Open winner has raked in $74 million in career prize money, ranking him second all-time. Mickelson counts Callaway, Rolex, and Exxon Mobil among his sponsors. He added psoriatic arthritis drug Enbrel to his endorsement stable after he was diagnosed with the disease in 2010.