Top 50 highest-paid athletes of all time ranked by career earnings, inflation-adjusted and nominal, across basketball, golf, football and more.
Rank | Athlete | Sport | Inflation Adjusted Earnings (USD Millions) | Career Earnings (USD Millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Jordan | Basketball | 4500 | 3280 |
| 2 | Tiger Woods | Golf | 2880 | 1970 |
| 3 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Football | 2520 | 2090 |
| 4 | LeBron James | Basketball | 2030 | 1620 |
| 5 | Lionel Messi | Football | 1990 | 1620 |
| 6 | Arnold Palmer | Golf | 1850 | 885 |
| 7 | Jack Nicklaus | Golf | 1830 | 930 |
| 8 | David Beckham | Football | 1680 | 1260 |
| 9 | Roger Federer | Tennis | 1670 | 1290 |
| 10 | Floyd Mayweather | Boxing | 1570 | 1160 |
| 11 | Phil Mickelson | Golf | 1530 | 1100 |
| 12 | Michael Schumacher | Formula 1 | 1420 | 815 |
| 13 | Shaquille O'Neal | Basketball | 1320 | 865 |
| 14 | Neymar | Football | 1240 | 1050 |
| 15 | Greg Norman | Golf | 1210 | 765 |
| 16 | Kevin Durant | Basketball | 1180 | 985 |
| 17 | Kobe Bryant | Basketball | 1130 | 755 |
| 18 | Lewis Hamilton | Formula 1 | 1080 | 880 |
| 19 | Stephen Curry | Basketball | 1060 | 920 |
| 20 | Mike Tyson | Boxing | 1000 | 495 |
| 21 | Tom Brady | American Football | 890 | 700 |
| 22 | Canelo Alvarez | Boxing | 870 | 760 |
| 22 | Rory McIlroy | Golf | 870 | 730 |
| 24 | Manny Pacquiao | Boxing | 815 | 595 |
| 25 | Peyton Manning | American Football | 810 | 570 |
| 25 | Alex Rodriguez | Baseball | 810 | 540 |
| 27 | Rafael Nadal | Tennis | 755 | 570 |
| 28 | Jeff Gordon | Motorsports | 745 | 470 |
| 29 | George Foreman | Boxing | 740 | 360 |
| 29 | Valentino Rossi | MotoGP | 740 | 505 |
| 31 | Fernando Alonso | Motorsports | 730 | 545 |
| 32 | Novak Djokovic | Tennis | 725 | 575 |
| 33 | Oscar De La Hoya | Boxing | 720 | 415 |
| 34 | Derek Jeter | Baseball | 715 | 475 |
| 35 | Ernie Els | Golf | 705 | 460 |
| 36 | Magic Johnson | Basketball | 700 | 440 |
| 37 | James Harden | Basketball | 695 | 585 |
| 37 | Russell Westbrook | Basketball | 695 | 575 |
| 39 | Gary Player | Golf | 685 | 380 |
| 40 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Motorsports | 680 | 470 |
| 40 | Serena Williams | Tennis | 680 | 500 |
| 42 | Evander Holyfield | Boxing | 675 | 320 |
| 43 | Kevin Garnett | Basketball | 665 | 425 |
| 43 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Basketball | 665 | 595 |
| 45 | Andre Agassi | Tennis | 650 | 360 |
| 45 | Aaron Rodgers | American Football | 650 | 520 |
| 47 | Chris Paul | Basketball | 640 | 505 |
| 48 | Dwyane Wade | Basketball | 600 | 435 |
| 48 | Drew Brees | American Football | 600 | 450 |
| 50 | Kimi Raikkonen | Motorsports | 595 | 410 |