The World’s 15 Highest-Paid Athletes 2024 [With Net Worth and Earning]

Nowadays, athletes are celebrated not only for their extraordinary skills and achievements but also for their impressive earnings. The world’s highest-paid athletes of 2024 exemplify the perfect blend of talent, dedication, and marketability, commanding staggering salaries and lucrative endorsement deals that catapult them into the realm of global icons.

From the high-octane arenas of basketball and soccer to the glamour of tennis and the gritty world of combat sports, these athletes represent the pinnacle of financial success in their respective disciplines.

World’s 15 highest-paid athletes 

As we delve into the list of the top 15 highest-paid athletes of 2024, we explore the incredible journeys and business acumen that have propelled them to the zenith of sporting wealth.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo is a world-renowned football player known for his exceptional skills, impressive physicality, and numerous accolades. Cristiano Ronaldo is undoubtedly one of the biggest superstars in the world of sports.

The Portuguese soccer legend has cemented his status as one of the highest-paid athletes globally, topping Forbes’ list of the world’s highest-paid athletes for 2024 with an estimated total earnings of $260 million.

Ronaldo spent six seasons with Manchester United, during which he became a key player and won numerous titles, including three Premier League titles, one FA Cup, one UEFA Champions League title, and one FIFA Club World Cup. He also won his first Ballon d’Or in 2008 while still playing for Manchester United.

In 2009, Ronaldo joined Spanish giants Real Madrid for a then-world-record transfer fee of £80 million. He became the club’s all-time top scorer with 451 goals in just 438 appearances.

During his nine seasons with Real Madrid, he won four UEFA Champions League titles, two La Liga titles, and two Copa del Rey titles. He also won four more Ballon d’Or awards, bringing his total to five.

2. Jon Rahm

Jon Rahm is one of the top golfers in the world, having won the 2023 Masters Tournament

and numerous other PGA tours and international events over the past several years.

Rahm is known for his powerful driving and impressive ball-striking abilities, which have helped him reach the pinnacle of the sport.

Rahm has also made headlines for his controversial decision to join the LIV Golf tour, which has drawn criticism from some in the golf world.

While Rahm has acknowledged the significant financial incentives behind his move, he has also tried to frame it as being motivated by his love of team golf and his desire for innovation in the sport.

Rahm remains one of the most dominant players in the game today. He continues to hone his skills using advanced golf technology like the Full Swing simulator and launch monitor, which he credits for helping him practice smarter and play better.

Rahm’s combination of power, precision, and dedication to improvement make him a force to be reckoned with on the course

3. Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi is one of the greatest football players of all time. Born in Rosario, Argentina, exceptional skills soon caught the attention of prestigious clubs.

At age 13, he and his family relocated to Barcelona, where he began playing for FC Barcelona’s youth academy.

Messi made his official debut for Barcelona’s senior team in the 2004-05 season, becoming the youngest player and goal scorer in the Spanish La Liga at just 17 years old. At the international level, Messi has represented Argentina with distinction.

He won a gold medal with the Argentine national team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and has led his country to three major finals – the 2014 World Cup, the 2015 Copa América, and the 2016 Copa.

4. LeBron James

LeBron James is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players ever. Born on December 30, 1984, in Akron, Ohio, he has had a remarkable career spanning over two decades.

James was drafted first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2003 NBA draft. He quickly became one of the league’s premier players, leading the Cavaliers to their first NBA Finals appearance in 2007.

He won the NBA MVP award in 2009 and 2010 and later left Cleveland to join the Miami Heat in 2010.

After four years with the Heat, he returned to the Cavaliers in 2014 and led them to their first NBA championship in 2016.

In 2018, he left Cleveland again to join the Los Angeles Lakers, where he won his fourth NBA championship in 2020.

LeBron James is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in NBA history, often compared to Michael Jordan.

His dominance on the court and his impact on the sport has made him a beloved figure in the basketball world. His commitment to philanthropy and community development has also left a lasting legacy beyond his playing career.

5. Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis Antetokounmpo is a Greek professional basketball player who has made a significant impact in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Giannis made his NBA debut in the 2013-2014 season, but it wasn’t until the 2016-2017 season that he truly broke out. He earned the league’s Most Improved Player award, showcasing his versatility and strong play on both offence and defence.

The Bucks made the playoffs that year but lost in the first round. During the 2017-2018 season, the team fired coach Jason Kidd and hired Mike Budenholzer, which led to significant improvement in the team’s performance.

Giannis continued to excel, and in the 2018-2019 season, he was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player (MVP). In the 2023-2024 season, Giannis has continued to dominate the league, averaging 30.4 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game.

He was a candidate for the Eastern Conference Player of the Month position in December. He has led the Bucks to several victories, including a triple-double against the San Antonio Spurs.

Giannis signed a five-year, $228 million contract extension with the Bucks in December 2020, which includes an opt-out clause after the fourth year. This contract makes him one of the highest-paid players in the league.

6. Kylian Mbappé 

Kylian Mbappé is a French professional soccer player who has taken the world by storm with his exceptional speed, goal-scoring prowess, and impressive language skills.

Born on December 20, 1998, in Paris, France, Mbappé grew up in Bondy, a suburb of Paris, with his parents, Wilfried and Fayza Lamari.

Mbappé began his football career young, joining AS Bondy’s youth teams at six. He was later selected to train at Clairefontaine, France’s national academy for elite football players. In 2013, at 14, he signed with AS Monaco, where he played for the youth and under-19 teams.

He made his professional debut with Monaco’s first team at 16, becoming the youngest first-team player in the club’s history. Mbappé’s exceptional performance at Monaco led to his transfer to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in 2017.

At PSG, he formed a formidable attacking trio with Neymar and Lionel Messi, leading the team to multiple Ligue 1 titles and the UEFA Champions League final in 2020. He has consistently been the top scorer in Ligue 1 and has won numerous individual awards, including the Ligue 1 Player of the Year award multiple times.

7. Neymar

Neymar is a Brazilian professional soccer player who has made a significant impact in the sport with his exceptional skills and flair.

He debuted with Santos at 17 and quickly became a key player, leading the team to several domestic and international titles. In 2013, Neymar transferred to Barcelona, where he formed a formidable attacking trio with Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez.

He won several titles with Barcelona, including four La Liga titles and a UEFA Champions League title. In 2017, Neymar transferred to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) for a world-record transfer fee.

At PSG, he formed a formidable attacking trio with Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi, leading the team to multiple Ligue 1 titles and the UEFA Champions League final in 2020.

Neymar has consistently been one of the top players in the world, earning numerous individual awards and accolades. He has also been a key player for the Brazilian national team, winning several titles, including the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2019 Copa América.

8. Karim Benzema

Karim Benzema is a French professional soccer player who has had a successful career with both club and country.

In 2009, Benzema transferred to Real Madrid, where he formed a formidable attacking trio with Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuaín. He won several titles with Real Madrid, including four La Liga titles and two UEFA Champions League titles.

In 2022, Benzema transferred to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) for a significant transfer fee. At PSG, he formed a formidable attacking trio with Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi, leading the team to multiple Ligue 1 titles and the UEFA Champions League final in 2020.

Benzema has consistently been one of the top players in the world, earning numerous individual awards and accolades. He has also been a key player for the French national team, winning several titles, including the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the UEFA Nations League.

9. Stephen Curry

Stephen Curry made his professional debut with the Warriors in 2009 and quickly became a key player, leading the team to several NBA titles, including three NBA championships.

Curry has consistently been among the top players in the NBA, earning numerous individual awards and accolades.

He has also been a key player for the United States national team, winning several titles, including two Olympic gold medals.

Curry is known for his exceptional shooting ability and his ability to score from anywhere on the court. He has also been a key figure in the Warriors’ success, leading the team to several playoff appearances and earning numerous accolades.

10. Lamar Jackson

He made his professional debut with the Ravens in 2018 and quickly became a key player, leading the team to several playoff appearances.

Jackson has consistently been one of the top players in the NFL, earning numerous individual awards and accolades.

He has also been a key player for the United States national team, winning several titles, including the 2018 NFL MVP Award.

Jackson is known for his exceptional speed and agility, as well as his ability to score from anywhere on the field. He has also been a key figure in the Ravens’ success, leading the team to several playoff appearances and earning numerous accolades.

11. Joe Burrow

Joe Burrow is an American professional football player who has had a highly successful career with the Cincinnati Bengals. Born on December 10, 1996, in Ames, Iowa, Burrow began playing football at a young age and joined the youth teams of Athens High School.

He made his professional debut with the Bengals in 2020 and quickly became a key player, leading the team to several playoff appearances. Burrow has consistently been one of the top players in the NFL, earning numerous individual awards and accolades.

He has also been a key player for the United States national team, winning several titles, including the 2020 NFL Rookie of the Year Award.

Burrow is known for his exceptional passing ability and his ability to score from anywhere on the field. He has also been a key figure in the Bengals’ success, leading the team to several playoff appearances and earning numerous accolades.

12. Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant is an American professional basketball player with a highly successful career with several teams.

He made his professional debut with the Seattle SuperSonics in 2007 and quickly became a key player, leading the team to several playoff appearances.

Durant has consistently been among the top players in the NBA, earning numerous individual awards and accolades. He has also been a key player for the United States national team, winning several titles, including two Olympic gold medals.

Durant is known for his exceptional shooting ability and his ability to score from anywhere on the court. He has also been a key figure in several teams’ success, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to several playoff appearances and earning numerous accolades.

13. Shohei Ohtani

He made his professional debut with the Angels in 2018 and quickly became a key player, leading the team to several playoff appearances.

Ohtani has consistently been one of the top players in Major League Baseball, earning numerous individual awards and accolades. He has also been a key player for the Japanese national team, winning several titles, including the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

Ohtani is known for his exceptional pitching and hitting abilities, as well as his ability to score from anywhere on the field. He has also been a key figure in the Angels’ success, leading the team to several playoff appearances and earning numerous accolades.

14. Canelo Alvarez

Canelo Alvarez is a Mexican professional boxer with several titles and a highly successful career.

He made his professional debut in 2005 and quickly became a key player, winning several titles, including the WBC Middleweight Championship. Alvarez has consistently been one of the top boxers in the world, earning numerous individual awards and accolades.

He has also been a key player for the Mexican national team, winning several titles, including the 2012 Olympic gold medal.

Alvarez is known for his exceptional boxing skills and his ability to score from anywhere in the ring. He has also been a key figure in several title defences, earning numerous accolades and setting records for his achievements.

15. Patrick Mahomes

He made his professional debut with the Chiefs in 2017 and quickly became a key player, leading the team to several playoff appearances. Mahomes has consistently been one of the top players in the NFL, earning numerous individual awards and accolades.

He has also been a key player for the United States national team, winning several titles, including the 2020 NFL MVP Award. Mahomes is known for his exceptional passing ability and his ability to score from anywhere on the field.

He has also been a key figure in the Chiefs’ success, leading the team to several playoff appearances and earning numerous accolades.

Takeaways

The world of professional sports in 2024 showcases a diverse array of athletes who have not only excelled in their respective fields but also leveraged their talents into impressive financial success.

These top 15 highest-paid athletes exemplify the heights that can be reached through dedication, hard work, and strategic brand management.

From the unparalleled dominance of Cristiano Ronaldo in soccer to the revolutionary impact of Shohei Ohtani in baseball, these athletes are not just players but global icons whose influence extends far beyond the sports arena.

Their stories of triumph and their business acumen continue to inspire fans worldwide, proving that in the realm of sports, the sky is the limit.