

Neymar was sidelined with an injury for weeks in 2021 but continues to be a valued player for Paris-St. Neymar, another powerhouse on the soccer field, brought in $95 million in 2021. With twenty seasons under his belt, James’ career earnings recently topped $1billion (before taxes, so he is not quite a billionaire), making it a first for an NBA player. James, a Los Angeles Laker and 2020 NBA champion, had earnings coming in at $96.5 million, making James the highest paid athlete in the NBA. Thanks to a big signing bonus at his deal, Prescott makes more than football’s Superbowl champ quarterback superstars Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes. Prescott, who has been with the Dallas Cowboys for five years, earned $107.5 million, making him the highest-paid athlete football player of the year. With a goal of outshining Messi and achieving GOAT (greatest of all time) status, Cristiano will continue to be a sought-after player and one of the highest paid athletes globally. 2021 was also a year of transition for Cristiano after leaving Italian soccer giant Juventus after three years for his former team, Manchester United. With forty-seven goals across all competitions in 2021, this soccer sensation will bring home $120 million.
#Highest paid athletes 2021 plus#
With a salary worth 25 million Euros after-tax per year plus bonuses, we can expect Messi to be a mainstay on the list of highest paid athletes for years to come. The soccer icon ended the year with $130 million in earnings. Lionel Messi (Soccer)Īfter seventeen seasons with FC Barcelona, Messi made a tearful departure when management could not meet his salary demands. He raked in a cool $180 million, helping top up his salary by selling his majority stake in an Irish whiskey distiller Proper No. McGregor is a two-time UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) featherweight and lightweight double-champion. Conor McGregor (UFC Fighter)įrom a plumber to the king of combat sports, McGregor, a mixed martial arts fighter since 2008, is at the top of the highest paid athletes list for 2021.

Here are the top 25 highest paid athletes of 2021. The National Football League (NFL) has the most number of athletes with large paychecks, followed by basketball players with the NBA and soccer players making up the top 3 sports with the highest paid athletes.
#Highest paid athletes 2021 drivers#
UFC, basketball, football, soccer, golf, tennis players, and race car drivers had take-home pay coming from a blend of income streams such as business ventures, endorsements, and salaries, allowing the highest paid athletes to turn in a record-setting year. The top 25 of the world’s highest paid athletes, determined by Forbes, make a combined income of $2.8 billion.

Earnings for sports athletes have never been stronger.
