Ronaldo ($275M) World’s Highest Paid Athlete, NFL Has Five Among Top 20
Thursday, May 15, 2025 at 08:01PM By Barry Janoff
Photo: Al NassarMay 15, 2025: The world’s Top 50 Highest-Paid Athletes in 2025 earned $4.2 billion, with the Top 12 taking in more than $100 million each from salary and endorsements.
Global soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo was by far No. 1 on the list — his third consecutive time at the top — taking in $275 million, according to just-released numbers from Forbes.
Ronaldo, currently with Al Nassar in the Saudi Pro League — where he earns $200 million annually, according to industry analysts — has alliances that include Nike, Tag Heuer, Armani, Herbalife and Clear Shampoo.
He has more than 300 million followers across such social media platforms as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (X).
Forbes said Ronaldo’s figure is No. 3 all-time among athletes behind now-retired boxer Floyd Mayweather, who earned $300 million in 2015 and $275 million in 2018.
Lionel Messi of MLS Inter Miami was second among soccer players but “down” at No. 5 overall with $135 million in salary and endorsements.
No. 2 on the list is NBA Golden State Warriors All-Star Stephon Curry, with $156 million in salary and endorsements.
The NFL had a leading five players among the Top 20, with Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott at No. 4 with $137 million.
Soccer and the NBA each had four players among the Top 20.
MLB’s highest-paid player is Juan Soto at No. 7 with $114 million in earnings, having signed with the New York Mets as a free agent this past off-season.
Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani is second among MLB players at $102.5 million and No. 9 overall worldwide.
There were two boxers among the Top 20 — led by No. 3 Tyson Fury with $146 million — and two golfers.
World's 20 Highest-Paid Athletes 2025
1. Cristiano Ronaldo, soccer $275m
2. Stephen Curry, NBA: $156m
3. Tyson Fury, boxing: $146m
4. Dak Prescott, NFL: $137m
5. Lionel Messi, soccer: $135m
6. LeBron James, NBA: $133.8m
7. Juan Soto, MLB: $114m
8. Karim Benzema, soccer: $104m
9. Shohei Ohtani, MLB: $102.5m
10. Kevin Durant, NBA: $101.4m
11. Oleksandr Usyk, boxing: $101m
12. John Rahm, golf: $100m
13. Giannis Antetokounmpo, NBA: $94.4m
14. Scottie Scheffler, golf: $92.5m
15. Deshaun Watson, NFL: $91.8m
16. Kylian Mbappe, soccer: $90m
17. Rory McElroy, golf: $87.9m
18. Patrick Mahomes, NFL: $86.8m
19. Jordan Love, NFL: $83m
20. Jared Goff, NFL: $80.8m
Source: Forbes
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