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