Cristiano Ronaldo leads as the highest-paid athlete in 2024, continuing his financial dominance in the sports world.
Each year, Forbes compiles a global list of the top-earning athletes, consistently placing Ronaldo at the pinnacle. Currently playing for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo’s earnings remain unmatched. Surprisingly, another athlete backed by Saudi investment ranks second, though not who many might expect.
Jon Rahm has secured the position of the world’s second-highest-paid athlete. The list for 2024 features a diverse group: five soccer players, three NBA stars, one golfer, and one NFL player occupying the top ten spots. Extending the list to the top fifteen introduces the first Major League Baseball (MLB) player, a boxer, and additional NFL and NBA players.
The top 10 highest-paid athletes in 2024:
| Rank | Athlete | Total Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cristiano Ronaldo | $260 million |
| 2 | Jon Rahm | $218 million |
| 3 | Lionel Messi | $135 million |
| 4 | LeBron James | $128.2 million |
| 5 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | $111 million |
| 6 | Kylian Mbappe | $110 million |
| 7 | Neymar | $108 million |
| 8 | Karim Benzema | $106 million |
| 9 | Stephen Curry | $102 million |
| 10 | Lamar Jackson | $100.5 million |
Once higher on this list, Patrick Mahomes has seen younger NFL quarterbacks surpass him due to significant contract extensions facilitated by an increased NFL salary cap. Under contract until 2032, Mahomes is anticipated to negotiate a substantial extension in the coming seasons.
