If it is true that modern sport is also a business, athletes can be compared to companies. The figures for the highest-earning athletes of 2023, published by Forbes as always, are impressive.
Highest paid athlete ranking: CR7 at the top in 2023
The highest-earning athletes of 2023
Forbes ranking every year world’s highest-paid athletes It is expected to be a great classic. The prestigious magazine, which deals with finance and business, publishes the top 50 of athletes who, in theory, are athletes but have endorsements from large companies. The ranking takes into account both earnings from sports performances and earnings from other activities.
After years dominated by American professional sports, the popularity of football has been confirmed to be back in fashion. The entire podium consists of football Cristiano Ronaldo is in first placeLionel Messi came second and Kylian Mbappé came third. CR7 takes home a “nut” of $136 million, 90 of which is earned off the field. Its eternal rival follows closely behind, with 130 million evenly divided.
French star Mbappé is third with 120 million, “only” 20 of which are from sponsors and other businesses. If it is true that he already earns more in this field than his older colleagues, the future belongs to him. First non-football player to enter the top 10 A legend like LeBron James75 of the 119.5 million earned in 2023 comes from activities other than basketball.
Federer and other richest athletes
Perhaps the most surprising name in Forbes’ top 10 is Roger Federer. Yes, because the Swiss champion is the first tennis player to win billion dollars earnedHe retired in 2022. This is explained precisely by his talent as a businessman and those around him, which allowed him to: he also raised $95 million in the year following his retirement.
Truth be told, there are two other sports legends already “retired” in the rankings, but towards the bottom of the top 50: Serena Williams and Tom Brady. However, the rest of the top 10 consists of active champions. fifth boxer Canelo Alvarez Golfers Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson, with 110 million, are sixth and seventh with 107 and 106 million, respectively.
Moreover, golf is a sport with less popular influence, but one that allows for significantly longer competitive activity: Consider that Mickelson is 53 but has been in the game for almost 30 years! There The 10 highest-earning athletes It ends with two basketball players who are considerably older than the basketball average (36 years old): Stephen Curry, who is eighth with 100.4 million, and Kevin Durant, who is 10th with 89.1 million.
