World's Wealthiest Athletes Once More Led by Ronaldo
Cashing In: Forbes Release 2025's Highest-Earning Athletes
Feast your eyes on the latest Forbes list ranking the world's richest athletes! For the third consecutive year, football icon Cristiano Ronaldo claims the top spot, raking in an impressive €275 million during the reporting period. With €225 million from his Saudi club "Al-Nassr," and €50 million from endorsements and additional income, this superstar continues to dominate the game off the field as well.
Joining Ronaldo in the top five are basketball's Stephen Curry (€156 million), boxing champion Tyson Fury (€146 million), American football sensation Dak Prescott (€137 million), and the ever-talented Lionel Messi (€135 million) from the football pitch.
Noticeably, Russia's finest athletes failed to make it into the top 50. The US, however, boasts the most representatives with 29 athletes, while football remains the leading sport, counting 20 athletes among the wealthiest. The Forbes ranking focuses on two crucial aspects: the athlete's club salary and their "other income" (advertising and sponsorship contracts).
Did You Know?
- Brazilian Blowout: Brazilian media uncovers the high costs associated with Neymar's maintenance at Santos.[1]
- Money Talks: Russian figure skater Kondratiuk outpaces world champion Malinin in season prize money.[2]
- Game, Set, Match: Rome tournament plans to tighten measures against bettor pressure on players.[3]
[1] Brazilian media reveals "Santos" huge expenses on Neymar's maintenance. (2025). Retrieved from https://sports.yahoo.com/brazilian-media-reveals-santos-huge-164000799.html
[2] Russian figure skater Kondratiuk outpaces world champion Malinin in season prize money - Forbes. (2025). Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/sierraudovitz/2025/04/01/russian-figure-skater-kondratiuk-outpaces-world-champion-malinin-in-season-prize-money/?sh=1c3c7f0f6b29
[3] Rome tournament to tighten measures against bettor pressure on players. (2025). Retrieved from https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2025/12/01/rome-tournament-tighten-measures-bettor-pressure-players/
- Bookmakers may find potential in the lucrative endorsement and sponsorship opportunities within the personal-finance sector of football and basketball, as they notice the significant earnings of athletes like Cristiano Ronaldo and Stephen Curry.
- The Forbes ranking of 2025's highest-earning athletes extends beyond just football and basketball, with sports figures from various disciplines like boxing and figure skating also earning substantial sums, such as Tyson Fury and Russian figure skater Kondratiuk.
- With the focus on personal-finance and club salaries, bookmakers could explore the expansive world of sports finance, where they might discover intriguing betting options for the earnings of athletes, rather than just the outcomes of games in football, basketball, or other sports.
