The World's 10 Richest Athletes
When the world wants to know who grosses the most income among the rich and famous, all heads turn to Forbes, the media empire that has published lists of the wealthy since the early 1980s. The latest list for highest paid athletes was released in June 2012 and accounts for gross income, excluding taxes and agent commissions.
To compile the list, Forbes uses the athletes' salaries, endorsement fees, licensing income and prize monies to compile rankings. The list accounts for income earned between June 1, 2011 and May 30, 2012. The top 10 for 2012 includes two boxers, two basketball players, two golfers, two soccer players, one tennis players and one football player.
The list is USA-heavy, but extends to four other countries: the Philippines, the UK, Switzerland and Portugal. Although Russian tennis professional Maria Sharapova ranks at No. 26 with $ 27.9 million, there are no women in the top 10 on this athlete earnings list. Here are the top 10 listed in descending order.
Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
One of the most controversial figures in the world of sports tops the list of highest athlete earners. US boxer Floyd Mayweather, Jr., 35, pulled in $ 85 million last year with only two boxing matches. Some have noted Mayweather also keeps any promotion fees that would normally go to a third party because he promotes his fights through his own company, Mayweather Promotions. None of Mayweather's income for the past year has come from endorsements. There is usually no middle ground with fans on Mayweather: Most people really love him or they don't care for! him at all. Since June 1, 2012, he has been serving an 87-day sentence for a domestic violence charge.
Manny Pacquiao
Filipino Manny Pacquiao trails his boxing adversary Floyd Mayweather, Jr. by $ 23 million in earnings. Just a year ago, Pacquiao ranked 24 on the Forbes athletes list. He jumped from making $ 25 million in a year to $ 62 million. Outside the ring, Pacquiao stays active with acting, music and politics, and he is featured in video boxing games. For two years, the 33-year-old has served as a congressman in the Philippines for the Sarangani province. For years, fans have pushed for a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight, but management for the two men have not been able to agree on terms.
Tiger Woods
If there is any proof that public scandal minimizes income, it can be uncovered in the rise and fall of golf's top ranking golden boy, Tiger Woods. Starting in 2002, Tiger Woods topped the Forbes top-earning athletes list. He held that position through 2011. However, since a 2009 infidelity scandal erupted that ended in his divorce from former Swedish model Elin Nordegren in August 2010, Woods has lost both endorsements and golfing tournaments that have taken his earnings from $ 75 million to $ 59.4 million. This slip to third place does not alter the fact that Woods has earned more than $ 99 million on the PGA Tour. This has! not bee n achieved by any other golfer in history. Most have not yet reached $ 70 million.
LeBron James
With $ 40 million in Coca-Cola endorsements alone, 27-year-old Miami Heat basketball star LeBron James' $ 53 million annual earnings should only continue to climb with the Heat's recent championship win against the Oklahoma City Thunder on June 21, 2012. It was James' first championship win. Off the court, James has tried his hand in the entertainment business, which could bring even more earning power. He has appeared on HBO's "Entourage" and a Nike commercial series called "The LeBrons."
Roger Federer
Roger Federer is no stranger to setting records. He has appeared in 23 finals for the Grand Slam and 18 of the last 19 tennis finals like Wimbledon from 2005 to 2010. He's won 16 finals. The star tennis player from Switzerland rounds out the top five on the Forbes list, coming in just under LeBron James at $ 52.7 million. Federer was No. 4 among top-earning athletes in 2011. Federer's career earnings are at $ 70 million, so far. with nine endorsement deals, he rakes in about $ 30 million per year from sponsors, including Nike and Rolex. Federer is also a charitable powerhouse. He has given time and money to support the disadvantaged and aspiring sports youth and is known for helping to bring relief to survivors of tsunamis! , Haitia n earthquake, Queensland flood and Hurricane Katrina survivors.
Other athletes rounding out the top 10 include, in order:
Although many who top the Forbes list earn more than most of the world will see in a lifetime, they are also very faithful philanthropists. Since he arrived in Indiana to play with the Indianapolis Colts, for example, NFL football player Peyton Manning and his wife Ashley have given to the children's wing at St. Vincent Hospital there.
Likewise, Portuguese soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo donated money to a Madeira hospital that helped his mother win her battle against cancer. UK soccer play David Beckham is known for his charitable work against malaria and AIDS. Phil Mickelson and his wife Amy have dedicated a significant amount of resources to aid injured war veterans. All of these charitable acts by high-earning athletes show that the better part of earning is being able to give back to others.
Sources:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2012/06/18/mayweather-tops-list-of-the-worlds-100-highest-paid-athletes/
http://www.topendsports.com/world/lists/earnings/athletes-paid-2012.htm
http://www.ocregister.com/sports/pacquiao-362052-mayweather-fight.html
http://espn.go.com/golf/blog/_/name/golf/! id/81246 66/tiger-woods-first-99-million-golfer
http://www.policymic.com/articles/9906/manny-pacquiao-floyd-mayweather-and-lebron-james-are-the-3-highest-paid-athletes-in-sports/152196
http://www.forbes.com/profile/roger-federer/
http://www.forbes.com/profile/kobe-bryant/
http://www.philmickelson.com/content.aspx?id=318
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To compile the list, Forbes uses the athletes' salaries, endorsement fees, licensing income and prize monies to compile rankings. The list accounts for income earned between June 1, 2011 and May 30, 2012. The top 10 for 2012 includes two boxers, two basketball players, two golfers, two soccer players, one tennis players and one football player.
The list is USA-heavy, but extends to four other countries: the Philippines, the UK, Switzerland and Portugal. Although Russian tennis professional Maria Sharapova ranks at No. 26 with $ 27.9 million, there are no women in the top 10 on this athlete earnings list. Here are the top 10 listed in descending order.
Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
Manny Pacquiao
Tiger Woods
LeBron James
Roger Federer
Other athletes rounding out the top 10 include, in order:
- Kobe Bryant (US), basketball, $ 52.3 million
- Phil Mickelson (US), golf, $ 47.8 million
- David Beckham (UK), soccer, $ 46 million
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), soccer, $ 42.5 million
- Peyton Manning (US), football, $ 42.4 million
Although many who top the Forbes list earn more than most of the world will see in a lifetime, they are also very faithful philanthropists. Since he arrived in Indiana to play with the Indianapolis Colts, for example, NFL football player Peyton Manning and his wife Ashley have given to the children's wing at St. Vincent Hospital there.
Likewise, Portuguese soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo donated money to a Madeira hospital that helped his mother win her battle against cancer. UK soccer play David Beckham is known for his charitable work against malaria and AIDS. Phil Mickelson and his wife Amy have dedicated a significant amount of resources to aid injured war veterans. All of these charitable acts by high-earning athletes show that the better part of earning is being able to give back to others.
Sources:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2012/06/18/mayweather-tops-list-of-the-worlds-100-highest-paid-athletes/
http://www.topendsports.com/world/lists/earnings/athletes-paid-2012.htm
http://www.ocregister.com/sports/pacquiao-362052-mayweather-fight.html
http://espn.go.com/golf/blog/_/name/golf/! id/81246 66/tiger-woods-first-99-million-golfer
http://www.policymic.com/articles/9906/manny-pacquiao-floyd-mayweather-and-lebron-james-are-the-3-highest-paid-athletes-in-sports/152196
http://www.forbes.com/profile/roger-federer/
http://www.forbes.com/profile/kobe-bryant/
http://www.philmickelson.com/content.aspx?id=318
This article was provided by Kanetix Canada - The #1 Online Insurance Quotes comparison service. Partnered with the best insurance providers in Canada, Kanetix can help you find the best insurance quote for your particular driver profile in just a matter of minutes. You can also use Kanetix's Life Insurance Needs Calculator to help you find out roughly how much life insurance you'll need to have in order to ensure that your family is covered in the event of your death.
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