The highest-paid athletes — and the money lessons we can learn

Earning millions as a professional athlete is an incredible feat, but sustaining and growing that wealth is an entirely different challenge. Some of the world’s top-paid athletes have mastered financial management, while others have struggled with money mistakes. By looking beyond the paychecks, we can uncover the smart money moves (and pitfalls) that aspiring athletes — and anyone looking to build wealth — can learn from.

Top 25 highest-paid athletes of 2024

Based on data from Sportico, here are the biggest earners in the sports world this year, along with their salary and endorsement earnings:

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Soccer) - $260M ($215M salary, $45M endorsements)

2. Stephen Curry (Basketball) - $153.8M ($53.8M salary, $100M endorsements)

3. Tyson Fury (Boxing) - $147M ($140M salary, $7M endorsements)

4. Lionel Messi (Soccer) - $135M ($60M salary, $75M endorsements)

5. LeBron James (Basketball) - $133.2M ($48.2M salary, $85M endorsements)

6. Neymar (Soccer) - $133M ($108M salary, $25M endorsements)

7. Oleksandr Usyk (Boxing) - $122M ($120M salary, $2M endorsements)

8. Karim Benzema (Soccer) - $116M ($108M salary, $8M endorsements)

9. Kylian Mbappé (Soccer) - $110M ($85M salary, $25M endorsements)

10. Jon Rahm (Golf) - $105.8M ($85.8M salary, $20M endorsements)

11. Scottie Scheffler (Golf) - $104.3M ($76.3M salary, $28M endorsements)

12. Dak Prescott (Football) - $100.4M ($86.4M salary, $14M endorsements)

13. Giannis Antetokounmpo (Basketball) - $97.8M ($47.8M salary, $50M endorsements)

14. Kevin Durant (Basketball) - $93.1M ($48.1M salary, $45M endorsements)

15. Jared Goff (Football) - $85.8M ($80.8M salary, $5M endorsements)

16. Jordan Love (Football) - $81.6M ($79.1M salary, $2.5M endorsements)

17. Rory McIlroy (Golf) - $79.8M ($34.8M salary, $45M endorsements)

18. Max Verstappen (Formula 1) - $76M ($70M salary, $6M endorsements)

19. Patrick Mahomes (Football) - $73.1M ($46.1M salary, $27M endorsements)

20. Canelo Álvarez (Boxing) - $73M ($65M salary, $8M endorsements)

21. Shohei Ohtani (Baseball) - $72.5M ($2.5M salary, $70M endorsements)

22. Lewis Hamilton (Formula 1) - $60.1M ($41.1M salary, $19M endorsements)

23. Joe Burrow (Football) - $70.7M ($65.7M salary, $5M endorsements)

24. Erling Haaland (Soccer) - $70M ($45M salary, $25M endorsements)

25. Justin Herbert (Football) - $67.6M ($56.6M salary, $11M endorsements)

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Financial lessons from the world's highest-paid athletes

1. Diversify your income streams

Athletes don’t rely solely on their playing contracts. They make money through:

• Endorsements: Deals with brands like Nike, Adidas, and Rolex often pay more than athlete salaries themselves. For example, Cristiano Ronaldo’s annual endorsement earnings include his lifetime deal with Nike, which is reportedly worth over $1 billion.

• Investments: Many athletes invest in startups, real estate, and franchises. LeBron James has turned his $1 million investment in Blaze Pizza into an ownership stake now worth an estimated $30 million. Additionally, he has equity in Fenway Sports Group, which owns teams like the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool FC.

• Social media and branding: Athletes like Serena Williams have leveraged their personal brands into business empires. Williams has invested in over 60 startups through Serena Ventures, which has a portfolio valued at over $100 million. Ronaldo, the most-followed athlete on Instagram, earns an estimated $3.23 million per sponsored post.

• Product lines: Roger Federer was an early investor and brand ambassador for On Running, a shoe company that went public in 2021, significantly boosting his net worth with his investment estimated to be worth $360 million, almost three times as much as he earned during his tennis playing career. Similarly, Stephen Curry launched his own Curry Brand with Under Armour, giving him a stake in the company’s performance.

• Media and production companies: LeBron James’ SpringHill Company produces films and TV shows, increasing his financial reach beyond basketball. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, though no longer an athlete, followed a similar path with Seven Bucks Productions, turning his wrestling fame into a Hollywood empire worth hundreds of millions.

2. Avoid financial pitfalls

Many high-earning athletes have gone bankrupt due to poor financial planning. Avoid these common mistakes:

• Overspending: Lavish lifestyles with unchecked spending can drain fortunes quickly. Mike Tyson, who earned over $400 million during his career, filed for bankruptcy in 2003 after spending millions on mansions, cars, and even pet tigers.

• Bad investments: Risky business ventures or trusting the wrong financial advisors can lead to losses. NFL player Vince Young reportedly lost nearly all of the $35 million he earned during his career after investing in businesses that failed and making extravagant purchases.

• Lack of planning: Without a long-term financial plan, earnings can disappear post-retirement. NBA legend Allen Iverson, who made over $200 million, faced financial struggles after retiring due to poor money management. Fortunately, a well-structured trust fund from his Reebok endorsement deal helped him regain financial stability later in life.

3. Invest wisely for long-term security

The smartest athletes use their wealth to build financial security:

• Real estate: Investing in property provides steady passive income. David Beckham, for example, has built a real estate empire estimated to be worth over $175 million, including luxury apartments and commercial properties in London and Miami.

• Stock market and business ventures: Owning equity in successful companies can create long-term wealth. Shaquille O’Neal has invested in companies like Google, Ring, and Papa John’s, turning his post-NBA career into a business empire worth over $400 million.

• Retirement planning: The average sports career is short, so athletes need to think beyond their playing days. Magic Johnson transitioned from a Hall of Fame basketball career to becoming a business mogul, with investments in Starbucks, movie theaters, and a net worth estimated at $1.5 billion.

4. Learn from financial experts

Top athletes work with financial advisors to:

• Plan for generational wealth: Investments and trust funds can set up their families for life. Michael Jordan, now worth about $3.5 billion, has built generational wealth by investing in the Charlotte Hornets (which he later sold for a massive profit) and other businesses, ensuring his family's financial security for decades.

• Create sustainable income: Ensuring they have steady income post-retirement is key. Peyton Manning, after retiring from the NFL, leveraged his brand to become a broadcaster, spokesperson for major brands, and co-owner of multiple Papa John’s franchises, creating a continuous income stream beyond football.

Setting up your family for financial success

The highest-paid athletes of 2025 are (mostly) smart financial planners in addition to being elite competitors. By studying their successes and mistakes, we can all learn valuable lessons about earning, saving, and investing wisely. Whether you're an aspiring athlete or just someone looking to make smarter financial decisions, these insights can help you get on the path to building a secure financial future.

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This blog post is provided "as is" and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional advice. Some content in this post may have been created using artificial intelligence; however, every blog post is reviewed by at least two human editors.

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