The 31 Most EXPENSIVE Sports Stars Across the Globe

The staggering salaries of elite sports stars

Sports stars don't just make their fortunes on the field or court.

From lucrative sponsorships to savvy side hustles, the world's sporting elite can leverage their celebrity status to boost their bank balance in many surprising ways.

Read on to discover who the highest-earning sports stars are in 2023 and how they scored their money over the last 12 months, with figures sourced via Forbes's list of the world's highest-paid athletes. All dollar amounts in US dollars.

Joint 28th: Mohamed Salah, $53 million

Soccer player Mohamed Salah is Liverpool FC's star striker. Forbes reports that he scored his 100th Premier League goal for the English football team in 2020, making him the fastest player in the club's history to reach the milestone.

The Egyptian player, who signed a three-year contract extension with Liverpool in 2022, has earned $35 million on the pitch over the last year.

And he's made a further $18 million thanks to juicy endorsement deals with the likes of Adidas, Vodafone, and Pepsi.

Joint 28th: Aaron Rodgers, $53 million

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers signed a three-year contract with the Green Bay Packers worth $150 million in 2022, though he was traded to the New York Jets in April. 

The four-time MVP winner pulled in $42 million on the football field this past year.

He made a further $11 million outside of football thanks to business interests that include his minority ownership stake in the Milwaukee Bucks NBA team, resulting in total earnings of $53 million.

Joint 28th: Jon Rahm, $53 million

Jon Rahm is currently the world's top-ranked golfer. 

The Spanish star set the single-season PGA Tour prize money record this April when he banked $14.5 millio. Overall, he's earned around $28 million from golf this past year. 

His lucrative sponsorship deals with brands including Mercedes-Benz, Rolex, and VistaJet helped Rahm pocket a further $25 million last year, bagging him impressive total earnings of $53 million.

Joint 28th: Anthony Joshua, $53 million

Following a series of shock defeats, former world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua made an epic comeback in April with his win over Jermaine Franklin. 

Of the $53 million that Joshua has earned over the last 12 months, at least $50 million will have been made inside the ring.

Meanwhile, his money-making partnerships with sportswear brand Under Armour, streaming service DAZN, and luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet bumped up his bank balance by an extra $3 million. 

27th: James Harden, $55.1 million

NBA star James Harden signed a two-year contract with the Philadelphia 76ers in July 2022 that was worth $68.6 million.

As a result, the MVP point guard banked $33.1 million on the basketball court. 

Harden scored an additional $22 million thanks to his hefty endorsement deal with Adidas, as well as his stakes in the sports drink brand Bodyarmor and the Houston Dynamo soccer team.

26th: Max Scherzer, $56.7 million

New York Mets player Max Scherzer is tied with his teammate Justin Verlander for the highest-paying salary in Major League Baseball.

The superstar pitcher earned $56.7 million this past year, with $55.7 million made on the field.

He took home an additional $1 million from sponsorships with brands such as Nike and the trading card company Topps.

25th: Damian Lillard, $58.6 million

NBA player Damian Lillard earned $58.6 million over the last 12 months, partly thanks to the contract extension he signed with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2022. The deal was reportedly worth $122 million and will keep him at the club until the end of the 2026/27 season.

Over the last year, the hot shot point guard has made an impressive $42.6 million on the basketball court, as well as a further $16 million off the court thanks to his endorsement portfolio, signature shoe line with Adidas, and his rapping side hustle under the moniker Dame D.O.L.LA.

24th: Patrick Mahomes, $59.3 million

Superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes earned $59.3 million over the last 12 months.

The two-time Super Bowl champion made $39.3 million on the football field thanks to the 10-year contract extension he signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2020, which is worth up to $503 million.

Mahomes made an additional $20 million thanks to his impressive range of sponsorships with leading brands including Adidas, Subway, and Nestlé. 

23rd: Klay Thompson, $60.9 million

Golden State Warriors player Klay Thompson triumphantly returned to the basketball court last year after missing out on two seasons due to injury. 

The superstar shooter made $60.9 million over the last year, with $40.9 million earned on the court.

The five-time All-Star netted an additional $20 million thanks to sponsorship deals with Waiakea Water and Hasbro, as well as via his $80 million 10-year endorsement contract with the Chinese shoe brand Anta.

22: Max Verstappen, $64 million

Dutch-Belgian racing driver Max Verstappen became Formula 1's youngest-ever race winner in 2016, at the tender age of 18.

The Red Bull racer, who's the current World Drivers' Champion, is said to have earned $60 million on the track last season.

His endorsement deals with video game developer Electronic Arts and beverage brand Heineken revved his bank balance up by a further $4 million, taking his total annual earnings to $64 million.

21st: Lewis Hamilton, $65 million

While Max Verstappen cruised to victory, F1 legend Lewis Hamilton had one of his worst-ever racing seasons, with his sixth place in the championship representing his lowest finish since his 2007 debut.

Regardless, the Mercedes racer still earned an impressive $55 million from the sport during the latest season.

The sought-after racing driver took home an additional $10 million thanks to sponsorship deals with Tommy Hilfiger, Puma, and drink brand Monster Energy.

20th: Bryson DeChambeau, $69 million

Bryson DeChambeau left golf's PGA Tour in favor of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf League in 2022.

The massive upfront payment he received for joining the newly formed league, coupled with his prize money, has seen the golf champ take home $68 million from the sport over the past year.

DeChambeau also banked a cool $1 million thanks to his lucrative sponsorship deal with the luxury watch brand Rolex.

19th: Kyler Murray, $70.5 million

NFL star Kyler Murray signed an extension contract with the Arizona Cardinals last year that was reportedly worth up to $230.5 million.

As a result, the quarterback will have earned an impressive $67 million on the football field by the end of 2023.

Overall, Murray will have made $70.5 million, with a further $3.5 million (coming from his money-spinning deals with Bodyarmor, Nike, and esports organization FaZe Clan. 

18th: Brooks Koepka, $72 million

Another golf pro who seriously profited by leaving the PGA Tour and joining the LIV Golf League last year was Brooks Koepka.

The American tar has reportedly made $72 million over the last 12 months, with $66 million earned on the green.

Koepka's juicy sponsorship portfolio, which includes brands such as Nike and Rolex, helped him bank a further $6 million.

17th: Cameron Smith, $73 million

Rising star Cameron Smith is yet another golf pro who joined the LIV Golf League in 2022.

The Australian golfer took home an enviable $73 million in annual earnings, with a hefty $66 million made from the sport.

Smith is on the receiving end of a further $6 million thanks to his sponsorship deals with investment banking business Citigroup, clothing company Perry Ellis International, and private plane company NetJets.

16th: Tiger Woods, $75.1 million

Tiger Woods is one of the wealthiest athletes in the world, with a jaw-dropping $1.1 billion net worth.

The golf legend turned down a "mind-blowingly enormous" nine-figure deal to join the LIV Golf tour last year, although he still earned $15.1 million from the sport. 

Woods banked a further $60 million from his various business ventures, which include his high-end mini golf chain Popstroke and the entertainment company TMRW Sports, which he founded with fellow golfer Rory McIlroy last year.

Meanwhile, his money-making endorsement portfolio includes leading brands such as Rolex, TaylorMade, and Monster Energy.

15th: Rory McIlroy, $80.8 million

Like Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy turned down LIV Golf to stick with the PGA Tour.

The decision didn't impact his bank balance though: McIlroy has made $80.8 million this past year, with $40.8 million earned on the green.

McIlroy took home the additional $40 million from his lucrative sponsorship portfolio and numerous business interests, which include TMRW Sports and GolfPass – a digital subscription service that he launched with NBC Sports in 2019. 

14th: Russell Westbrook, $82.1 million

NBA player Russell Westbrook is on track to bank an impressive $82.1 million this year.

The nine-time All-Star, who signed with the Los Angeles Clippers in February, has made $47.1 million on the basketball court.

Westbrook is set to make a further $35 million thanks to his signature shoe line with Nike and sponsorship deal with liquor brand Hennessy.

Joint 12th: Russell Wilson, $85 million

Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson has earned an eye-watering $72 million on the football field this past year.

The NFL hot shot banked an additional $13 million from his endorsement portfolio, which includes Nike, Amazon, and Mercedes-Benz, as well as via his brand management firm, West2East Empire.

The business-savvy star is also an investor in the Portland Diamond Project, which is working towards bringing a Major League Baseball team to Oregon.

Joint 12th: Neymar, $85 million

Soccer star Neymar has also earned $85 million this past year according to Forbes's research.

The Paris Saint-Germain player, who inked a contract extension (including performance bonuses) with the French club in 2021, earned $50 million from his skills on the pitch.

The Brazilian superstar scored a further $35 million thanks to endorsement deals with brands such as Puma, Red Bull, Qatar Airways, and the NFT platform NFTSTAR. 

11th: Giannis Antetokounmpo, $87.6 million

Milwaukee Bucks player Giannis Antetokounmpo has netted himself an incredible $87.6 million over the past year.

The two-time MVP earned $42.6 million on the basketball court and a further $45 million off the court. 

The so-called 'Greek Freak' has an impressive range of sponsors, which includes the likes of Nike, Amazon, and Google. And last year Disney+ even released a movie called Rise based on his life story.

10th: Kevin Durant, $89.1 million

Kicking off our top 10 is NBA star Kevin Durant, who took home $89.1 million in annual earnings.

The 13-time All-Star, who was traded to the Phoenix Suns in February, earned $44.1 million on the court and $45 million outside of basketball.

The business-savvy star has invested in more than 80 companies, runs his own media brand called Boardroom, and also owns stakes in several sports teams. Meanwhile, his sponsors include Nike, Coinbase, and gaming company 2K Sports.

9th: Roger Federer, $95.1 million

Tennis champ Roger Federer earned a mere $100,000 on the tennis court this past year.

However, the Swiss star has raked in an unbelievable $95 million away from the sport, partly owing to his unrivalled sponsorship portfolio, which includes a 10-year deal worth $300 million with the Japanese apparel company Uniqlo.

Federer also profited from his stake in Swiss athletic apparel company On, taking his total annual earnings to $95.1 million.

8th: Stephen Curry, $100.4 million

NBA legend Stephen Curry has made a jaw-dropping $100.4 million over the last year, according to Forbes.

The Golden State Warriors star has made $48.4 million on the court. However, it's his off-court ventures that have brought in even more money...

Curry's production company, Unanimous Media (which inked a development deal with Comcast NBCUniversal in 2021), and his clothing collection with Under Armour have helped him make a further $52 million. 

7th: Phil Mickelson, $106 million

Phil Mickelson, another golf pro who joined the Saudi-backed LIV Golf League in 2022, made $104 million on the course this past year. 

Sponsors Workday and KPMG dropped Mickelson over his controversial comments that he was willing to ignore human rights violations in Saudi Arabia to be part of the LIV Golf Tour. 

Despite this, he still banked $2 million from money-making deals with other sponsors, which include Rolex, Grayhawk Golf Club, and VistaJet.

6th: Dustin Johnson, $107 million

Dustin Johnson also joined LIV Golf in 2022.

Though the decision cost him his fruitful Adidas sponsorship, Johnson still banked a total of $107 million over the last year, making him the highest-earning golfer in our round-up.

The star made $102 million on the golf course and a further $5 million from his lucrative sponsorship portfolio, which includes Bodyarmor and golf equipment brand TaylorMade.

5th: Canelo Alvarez, $110 million

Mexico's Canelo Alvarez earned a knockout sum of $110 million this past year, making him the highest-earning boxer in the world.

Alvarez, who rakes in tens of millions per fight, banked $100 million inside the ring.

Meanwhile, he earned a further $10 million thanks to his numerous business ventures, which include the entertainment company Canelo Promotions, a clothing line, the drinks brand Yaoca, and fitness app I Can. 

4th: LeBron James, $119.5 million

With a fortune worth $1 billion, NBA superstar LeBron James is undeniably one of the world's richest sports stars.

The Los Angeles Lakers player has earned $119.5 million this last year alone, with $44.5 million of that netted on the basketball court.

His endorsement deals with brands such as PepsiCo, Sony, and Nike, and his business interests, which include stakes in Beats by Dre and the Blaze Pizza franchise, have scored James a staggering $75 million.

3rd: Kylian Mbappé, $120 million

The youngest person in our round-up is French soccer star Kylian Mbappé, who's earned an impressive $120 million during the last 12 months. 

While the 24-year-old Paris Saint-Germain player banked $100 million on the pitch, his endorsements with high-profile brands such as Nike, Hublot, and gaming company Electronic Arts have earned him a further $20 million.

The entrepreneurial Mbappé also published a graphic novel titled Je m'appelle Kylian in 2021.

2nd: Lionel Messi, $130 million

Narrowly missing out on the top spot is Argentinian soccer star Lionel Messi, who banked an eye-watering $130 million.

The Paris Saint-Germain player, who looks set to join Inter Miami, earned $65 million from the beautiful game and, incredibly, earned the same amount again off the pitch.

His lucrative endorsement portfolio includes a lifetime contract with Adidas and a deal with fan engagement app Socios that banks him $20 million a year. Meanwhile, his business pursuits include his own eponymous clothing line, which has a bricks-and-mortar store in Barcelona. 

1st: Cristiano Ronaldo, $136 million

The highest-earning sports star of the last 12 months is Cristiano Ronaldo, who banked a whopping $136 million.

The soccer legend, who joined Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr club last year, earned $46 million on the pitch and an unbelievable $90 million away from the sport. 

His juicy endorsement portfolio includes a lifetime deal with Nike, and he also profits from business ventures such as his CR7 clothing and accessories line, as well as the hotels and gyms he owns.

Now find out which millionaire sports stars have gone bankrupt