For most of 2020, the world's top athletes will be marginalized, working for low wages, competing with empty seats, or isolated in a competitive bubble aimed at preventing epidemics, which will lead to the loss of billions of dollars in professional sports.
However, at the best, things couldn't be better-at least in terms of their financial strength.
In the past 12 months, the total pre-tax income of 10 athletes with the highest income in the world was10.5 billion US dollars, which was 28% higher than that of athletes with the highest income last year. This total income is only a few million dollars short of the record of 65.438+0.6 billion dollars set in 2065.438+08. In the 65,438+02 months of 2065,438+08, boxer Floyd Mayweather earned 285 million dollars, almost all of which came from his paid watch with Conor McGregor in 2065,438+07.
This year, McGregor won, using his unparalleled popularity in comprehensive martial arts to establish a lucrative market outside UFC's Bajiao Stadium. Arrogant McGregor raised a total of10.8 billion USD in the past two months; Most of the reason is that he recently sold his majority stake in the whisky brand PropernNo. Twelve kinds of Proximo spirits, priced at $6543.8+$500 million. This is the first time that the 32-year-old McGregor has won the highest-paid athlete in the world, and it is also the second time that he has entered the top 10 of the list (20 18, after Mayweather, he ranked fourth with an income of 99 million US dollars). Mcgregor obviously wants to spend money on something other than drinking: he recently put forward the far-fetched idea of buying Manchester United, the most valuable team in the Premier League.
With his endorsement, McGregor earned $65.438+58 billion outside his boxing career in the past 654.38+02 months, becoming the third athlete who earned more than $70 million off-court after roger federer and Tiger Woods.
The other three superstars also earned more than $65,438 billion this year. They are soccer stars Lionel Messi and cristiano ronaldo, and NFL quarterback Duck Prescott. After Messi's dramatic incident with Barcelona Football Club outside the stadium last summer, the media reported the club's poor financial situation and disclosed his contract value of $674 million. Messi set a football player record of 202 1 with US$ 65438+300 million. Prescott broke the record of NFL players with an income of $654.38+$0.075 million, thanks to the signing bonus of $66 million provided by dallas cowboys. Except Federer, Mayweather, Neymar, Manny Pacquiao and Woods, the four athletes on this year's list earned more than $65,438 billion in just one year. Previously, the top three people who appeared on the list with income of 654.38 billion dollars were 2065.438+08, 2065.438+09 and 2020.
Lebron james has not reached the threshold of joining this elite group. The star of the Los Angeles Lakers earned $96.5 million, setting an NBA record. 202 1 set another record: the income of $75 million entered the top ten, breaking the previous record of $65.4 million set by 20 19. The top ten this year also earned * * * 5120,000 US dollars in off-site income, breaking the record of 407.5 million US dollars set in 2020.
This is not to say that the COVID-19 epidemic has not affected the income of athletes. Many club players, including Messi, reduced their salaries. Major League Baseball shortened the season from the usual 162 games to 60 games last year, and the salary was calculated in proportion. In the NBA, two shortened seasons and empty stadiums prompted the league to urgently change its agreement with players. The adjustment of the trusteeship system, coupled with the sharp drop in match-day income, means that players' salaries will almost certainly be reduced by 20% this season. This means that James and kevin durant both lost more than $7 million, and Kevin Durant ranked 10th with $75 million this year.
But with athletes earning more off-court than ever before, this decline is more annoying than disaster.
1. Conor McGregor 65438+800 million USD.
Nationality: Ireland
Age: 32 years old
Sports: mixed fighting
Connor Conor McGregor's appearance in the UFC 257 competition in May 438+10 June this year was not his expected triumphant return-Dustin poirier beat him in MacGregor's first UFC competition since May 438+10 June 2020-but he earned about $22 million in this competition. What really makes money is the whisky brand PropernNo. He sells 12 pieces. Supported endorsement combinations include DraftKings, video game dystopia: hero contest and lifestyle brand Roots of Fight.
Field revenue: $22 million
Off-site revenue: $654.38+$58 million.
2. Lionel Messi 65438+300 million dollars
Nationality: Argentina
Age: 33 years old
Sports: football
Lionel. Messi failed in his attempt to leave Barcelona last year, which kept the football world in a state of tension. Then, a leaked contract triggered another dramatic event. This contract shows that the cash-strapped club paid him a salary far higher than expected. He also has some sponsorship, including a lifetime contract with Adidas and a clothing line designed by tommy hilfiger's sister Ginny Hilfe. Last month, Messi gave the signed jerseys to Kexing Bio, a China pharmaceutical company, to help them get 50,000 COVID-19 vaccines before the Copa America football championship. When his contract expires in June, we can expect more.
Field revenue: $97 million
Off-site revenue: $33 million
3.c Ronaldo1.200 million USD.
Nationality: Portugal
Age: 36 years old
Sports: football
In February this year, Cristiano Ronaldo became the first person in the world to have 500 million fans on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. A month later, he surpassed the goal record of Brazilian legend Pele and scored a hat-trick in Juventus' victory over Cagliari, with a total of 770 goals. The 36-year-old player signed a life-long contract with Nike to run CR7 business of branded clothes, accessories, hotels and gyms. His four-year contract, with an average annual value of $64 million, will expire in 2022.
On-site revenue: $70 million
Off-site revenue: $50 million
4. Duck Prescott10.75 million USD.
Nationality: USA
Age: 27 years old
Sports: rugby
Prescott renewed his contract for $65.438+0.6 billion in four years, and the signing bonus of $66 million allowed the cowboy star to return to the club worth $65.438+0 billion after an ankle injury. For the quarterback of the world's most valuable sports team, the prospects are bright. His endorsements include Sleep Number, 7/ 1 1 and DirecTV. Prescott also recently announced that it will invest in four branches of the chain restaurant Walk-On's in Texas.
Field revenue: $97.5 million
Off-site revenue: $65,438+0,000,000.
5. lebron james $96.5 million
Nationality: USA
Age: 36 years old
Sports: basketball
It was a brilliant year for lebron james, whose NBA total income record was 65,438+10 month after his fourth championship in June last year. He didn't slow down either: the 36-year-old looks as dominant as ever on the court. He will make his Hollywood debut in the film "Space Jam: A New Legacy" released in July, and sign a new contract with Pepsi after leaving his long-term partner Coca-Cola. He also recently bought a small stake in Fenway Sports Group, which owns Boston Red Sox, Liverpool Football Club and Rush Fenway Team.
On-site income: USD 365,438+USD 500,000.
Off-site revenue: $65 million
6. Neymar $95 million
Nationality: Brazil
Age: 29 years old
Sports: football
Neymar's 282 million fans on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter make him the third most popular athlete on social media, after Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi, and also make him the main figure to attract brands. Last year, he announced his early withdrawal from the contract with Nike Jordan brand and became the brand ambassador of Puma, endorsing its iconic king shoes. Last month, Epic Games introduced a fanatical external gateway protocol in its popular game Fortress Night, which featured his skin and held a competition for him to win a pair of shoes.
On-site revenue: $76 million
Off-site income: 654.38+900,000 USD.
7. roger federer $90 million
Nationality: Switzerland
Age: 39 years old
Sports: tennis
Roger federer didn't work for most of last year because of a knee injury. Almost all of his $90 million was sponsored by Rolex, Credit Suisse and Uniqlo. The tennis legend's biggest profit may come from his shares in Swiss sportswear company On, which reportedly plans to go public in the autumn of 20021.
On-site revenue: $30,000
Off-site revenue: $90 million
8. lewis hamilton $82 million
Nationality: UK
Age: 36 years old
Sport: Formula One racing.
In 2020, he won the F 1 championship for the sixth time in seven seasons, and Mercedes driver lewis hamilton entered the top ten for the second time. In 20 17, he ranked tenth with $46 million. His victory in 1 1 last season brought him considerable prizes and endorsements, including tommy hilfiger, Monster Energy and Puma. He also formed a team on the extreme e racing series.
On-site revenue: $70 million
Off-site revenue: $65,438+$200,000.
9. Tom Brady $76 million
Nationality: USA
Age: 43 years old
Sports: rugby
Tom Brady, 43, has just spent the most profitable year of his legendary career. The tampa bay buccaneers quarterback signed endorsement contracts with glasses manufacturer Christopher Cloos and clothing giant Fanatics, and also made a lot of money as a spokesperson and commercial spokesperson in the virtual tour. There is certainly no harm in winning the Super Bowl for the seventh time. Brady got involved in business through his own health brand TB 12, and recently founded a film production company and NFT platform.
On-site revenue: $45 million
Off-site revenue: $365.438 billion+$0 million.
10. Kevin Durant is $75 million.
Nationality: USA
Age: 32 years old
Sports: basketball
Kevin durant, who missed the Brooklyn Nets due to achilles tendon injury in the 2019/20 season, became a mature media tycoon because of the talk show "Board Room" and his company Thirty Five Ventures. He is the executive producer of Two Distant Strangers, which won the Oscar for Best Live Short Film last month. Last summer, he bought shares in Major League Soccer in Philadelphia. When Uber bought Postus last year, Durant cashed in. In 20 16 years, he invested about 1 10,000 USD in this startup company at a discounted price.
On-site revenue: 365.438 billion USD+0 million.
Off-site revenue: $44 million
List making method:
Forbes live income data includes all bonuses, salaries and allowances from May 1 to May 1 in 2026. If the players are still paid after the end of the regular season in May, just like NBA and European football, we will pay the salary for the whole season. Last summer, we ignored the wages and bonuses that NBA players got from playing in the league bubble; The data on this year's list only reflect the NBA in 2020-2 1 season. Due to the adjustment of alliance trusteeship, the basic salary has been reduced by 20%.
Off-court income data is the estimation of sponsorship agreement, appearance fee and authorized income in May 1 year, plus the cash return of any enterprise run by athletes. These data are based on conversations with insiders. We don't deduct taxes or agency fees. We don't include investment income. Our list includes athletes who are active at any time in our time range.
Additional reporting: Justin birnbaum, David Dawkins, Christina Settimi, Ariel Shapiro and Madeleine Berg.
Li Yongqiang Stephen School