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Alla Zakarian

11-06-2019 | 18:57 Football
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FORBES: TOP 10 highest-paid athletes in the world

Photos/Forbes Football has gradually evolved into a colossal money business that generates incredible revenue all over the world. Forbes Magazine have released the annual top 100 list, which features 10 athletes from 25 different countries. The magazine takes money, salaries and endorsements from athletes between June 2018 and June 2019 to break down its list. The three highest-paid athletes in the world are all football players. Here is the list of TOP 10 highest-paid athletes. Lionel Messi
  • $127m
Barcelona legend Messi leads the way with $127 million, including $35 million off the pitch from partners Adidas, MasterCard, PepsiCo and more. Messi is only the fourth different athlete to rank as the highest-paid over the past 19 years. He joins Tiger Woods (12 times), Floyd Mayweather (4) and Cristiano Ronaldo (2). Cristiano Ronaldo
  • $109m
Messi followed by Cristiano Ronaldo who earns $109 million. Ronaldo joined Juventus in 2018 after nine years with Real Madrid. He took a pay cut with his four-year deal worth $64 million annually. Within 24 hours of release, Juventus sold 520,000 Ronaldo jerseys worth over $60 million. In January, Ronaldo agreed to a $21 million fine for tax evasion between 2010 and 2014. Ronaldo is the most followed athlete on social media. Neymar JR
  • $105m
Neymar is on a five-year contract with PSG through June 2022 worth $350 million in salary. The Brazilian is the second most popular athlete on social media with more than 200 million followers. Neymar was found guilty of avoiding taxes between 2011 and 2013 and paid a $1.2 million fine in 2016. Canelo Alvarez
  • $94m
DAZN committed $365 million in 2018 to lock up the next 11 fights of Alvarez. The Mexican earned $50million combined for his first two fights on the streaming service but should earn at least $35 million per fight in the future. Roger Federer
  • $93.4m
Federer has won $124 million in prize money in his career, but the total is dwarfed by his off-court earnings from appearances and endorsements. His $86 million in off-court earnings from partners like Credit Suisse, Mercedes-Benz and Rolex are well ahead of any other athlete. Russel Wilson
  • $89.5m
Seahawks signed Wilson to a four-year, $140 million contract extension that made him the NFL's highest-paid player. Aaron Rodgers
  • $89.3m
Rodgers signed a then-record four-year contract worth $134 million; his base salary in 2019 will be $20 million. He launched a $50 million venture and growth stage fund with Roth Capital in 2019. Rodgers is a general partner along with Nate Raabe and Byron Roth. LeBron James
  • $89m
Four-time NBA MVP LeBron James joined the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018 under a four-year, $153 million contract. The LeBron James Family Foundation opened its first elementary school in 2018 and plans to spend $41 million to send kids to college. James and his partners own 14 Blaze Pizza franchises in Chicago and seven in South Florida. He is also an investor and paid endorser for the company. Stephen Curry
  • $79.8m
Curry signed the NBA’s first $200million contract in 2017. His production company, Unanimous Media, has a development deal with Sony Pictures. Kevin Durant
  • $65.4m
Durant signed three straight under-valued contracts with the Warriors and the most recent of which paid $30 million in 2018/19. The ten-time All-Star banks $35 million from sponsors, but he's also invested in more than 30 companies, including Postmates and investing app Acorns.

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