The sports industry continues to generate staggering earnings for elite athletes, and 2024 was no different. Sportico has unveiled its annual ranking of the highest-paid athletes for the year, showcasing the biggest names across football, basketball, boxing, and golf. This year, Cristiano Ronaldo remains at the pinnacle, raking in a record-breaking amount through both salary and endorsements.
Let’s take a closer look at the highest-paid athletes of 2024, how their earnings are calculated, and what drives their financial success.
How Are Athletes’ Earnings Calculated?
The ranking takes into account:
- Salary & Winnings – Base salaries, prize money, bonuses, and performance incentives.
- Endorsements – Sponsorships, licensing, royalties, merchandise sales, and media appearances.
- Other Income Streams – Investments, book deals, business ventures, and personal brand partnerships.
For team-based sports like football and basketball, the earnings include weighted averages of salaries from both 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons, factoring in bonuses received in 2024.
Top 10 Highest-Paid Athletes of 2024
Below is the list of the top-earning athletes in 2024, ranked based on their combined earnings from salaries and endorsements.
🏆 Highest-Paid Athletes of 2024 (Top 10)
| Rank | Athlete | Sport | Team/Club | Salary/Winnings | Endorsements | Total Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1️⃣ | Cristiano Ronaldo | Football | Al-Nassr | $215M | $45M | $260M |
| 2️⃣ | Stephen Curry | Basketball | Golden State Warriors | $53.8M | $100M | $153.8M |
| 3️⃣ | Tyson Fury | Boxing | – | $140M | $7M | $147M |
| 4️⃣ | Lionel Messi | Football | Inter Miami CF | $60M | $75M | $135M |
| 5️⃣ | LeBron James | Basketball | Los Angeles Lakers | $48.2M | $85M | $133.2M |
| 6️⃣ | Neymar | Football | Al-Hilal | $108M | $25M | $133M |
| 7️⃣ | Oleksandr Usyk | Boxing | – | $120M | $2M | $122M |
| 8️⃣ | Karim Benzema | Football | Al-Ittihad | $108M | $8M | $116M |
| 9️⃣ | Kylian Mbappé | Football | Real Madrid | $85M | $25M | $110M |
| 🔟 | Jon Rahm | Golf | – | $85.8M | $20M | $105.8M |
Key Takeaways from the 2024 List
- ✅ Cristiano Ronaldo leads the rankings again, thanks to his massive salary at Al-Nassr and numerous global sponsorship deals.
- ✅ Basketball stars dominate the top ranks, with Stephen Curry and LeBron James securing significant earnings through endorsements and contracts.
- ✅ Boxing remains a high-paying sport, as seen with Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, both earning more than $120M.
- ✅ No female athletes made it to the top 100, showing the significant earnings gap between men’s and women’s sports.
- ✅ Endorsements play a crucial role in boosting an athlete’s total income—evident in Curry’s and LeBron’s massive off-court earnings.
Final Thoughts
The world’s top athletes continue to earn astronomical sums, driven by club contracts, endorsements, and business ventures. While football and basketball dominate the rankings, individual sports like boxing and golf still produce some of the highest-paid stars.
With the growing influence of Saudi-backed leagues and global sponsorship deals, we can expect even bigger paydays for top athletes in the coming years.
FAQs
1. Who was the highest-paid athlete in 2024?
📌 Cristiano Ronaldo topped the list with $260 million in earnings, combining his Al-Nassr salary and endorsements.
2. Which sport produced the most top-earning athletes in 2024?
📌 Football dominated the list, with five players in the top 10. However, basketball and boxing also had strong representation.
3. How much did Stephen Curry earn in 2024?
📌 The Golden State Warriors star earned $153.8 million, making him the second highest-paid athlete of the year.
4. Why are no female athletes in the top 100 highest earners?
📌 The gender pay gap in sports remains significant. Women’s leagues and endorsements don’t generate as much revenue as men’s leagues, limiting earnings potential.
5. Which athlete had the highest endorsement earnings in 2024?
📌 Stephen Curry led in endorsements, making $100 million from sponsorships, licensing, and media ventures.