Forbes Ranks the Highest-Paid Athletes of All Time
Forbes recently ranked the 20 highest-paid athletes of all time, with their estimates covering salaries, bonuses, prize money, endorsements and licensing, as well as fees from books and appearances through the end of May 2016.
Forbes Ranks the Highest-Paid Athletes of All Time
1. Michael Jordan — $1.7 billion
Walter Iooss Jr.
2. Tiger Woods — $1.65 billion
Al Tielemans
3. Arnold Palmer — $1.35 billion
Jerry Cooke
4. Jack Nicklaus — $1.15 billion
John Iacono
5. Michael Schumacher — $1 billion
Simon Bruty
6. Kobe Bryant — $770 million
Walter Iooss Jr.
7. Floyd Mayweather — $765 million
Simon Bruty
8. Phil Mickelson — $760 million
Robert Beck
9. David Beckham — $730 million
Matt Dunham/AP
10. Shaquille O'Neal — $700 million
Walter Iooss Jr.
11. Mike Tyson — $685 million
Neil Leifer
12. Greg Norman — $680 million
John Iacono
13. LeBron James — $640 million
Todd Rosenberg
14. Cristiano Ronaldo — $620 million
Matthias Hangst/Getty Images
15. Roger Federer — $600 million
Adam Pretty
16. Alex Rodriguez — $600 million
Simon Bruty
17. Lionel Messi — $520 million
Yu Tsai
18. Jeff Gordon — $515 million
George Tiedemann
19. Oscar De La Hoya — $510 million
Robert Beck
20. Manny Pacquiao — $490 million
Robert Beck
