Top 25 Highest Paid Athletes in the World 2025-26 (Revealed)
Who earns the most money in sport? That’s the question every football fan, basketball lover, and sports fanatic wants answered.
Every year, Forbes releases its official list of the highest paid athletes in the world. It counts everything, salaries, prize money, bonuses, and all the money made from brand deals and sponsorships.
In 2026, the numbers are bigger than ever. The top 10 athletes alone earned a combined $1.4 billion, up from $1.38 billion the year before. Every athlete in the top 10 made at least $100 million on their own.
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Top 25 Highest Paid Athletes in the World 2026
| Athlete | Sport | Country | Total Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Football | Portugal | $275 million |
| Stephen Curry | Basketball | USA | $156 million |
| Tyson Fury | Boxing | UK | $146 million |
| Dak Prescott | American Football | USA | $137 million |
| Lionel Messi | Football | Argentina | $135 million |
| LeBron James | Basketball | USA | $133.8 million |
| Juan Soto | Baseball | Dominican Rep. | $114 million |
| Karim Benzema | Football | France | $104 million |
| Shohei Ohtani | Baseball | Japan | $102.5 million |
| Kevin Durant | Basketball | USA | $101.4 million |
| Oleksandr Usyk | Boxing | Ukraine | $101 million |
| Jon Rahm | Golf | Spain | $100 million |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Basketball | Greece | $94.4 million |
| Scottie Scheffler | Golf | USA | $92.5 million |
| Deshaun Watson | American Football | USA | $91.8 million |
| Kylian Mbappé | Football | France | $90 million |
| Rory McIlroy | Golf | N. Ireland | $87.9 million |
| Patrick Mahomes | American Football | USA | $86.8 million |
| Jordan Love | American Football | USA | $83 million |
| Jared Goff | American Football | USA | $80.8 million |
| Novak Djokovic | Tennis | Serbia | ~$76 million |
| Neymar Jr | Football | Brazil | ~$72 million |
| Russell Wilson | American Football | USA | ~$70 million |
| Tiger Woods | Golf | USA | ~$68 million |
| Rafael Nadal | Tennis | Spain | ~$65 million |
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Top 10 Athletes Detailed Breakdown
1. Cristiano Ronaldo – $275 Million
Sport: Football | Country: Portugal
Ronaldo is the highest paid athlete in the world for the third year in a row. It’s not even close.
Ronaldo earns $225 million from his mega deal with Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia and another $50 million from various other income streams, including his YouTube channel, paid brand partnerships on Instagram, and investments in companies like Whoop and Bioniq.
Despite turning 40, he became the first football player ever to score 900 goals in official matches. His age would normally mean a pay cut, but in Saudi Arabia, he is their biggest star, so quite the opposite has happened.
He earns over $4 million per week from his contract alone. There is truly no one like him in the business of sport.
2. Stephen Curry – $156 Million
Sport: Basketball | Country: USA
Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry earns $56 million on the court and a massive $100 million off it, from investments in sports tech, equity deals, and endorsements. That makes him the highest-paid NBA athlete of 2026.
Curry has held the top NBA playing salary for nine straight years. His biggest off-field backer is Under Armour.
3. Tyson Fury – $146 Million
Sport: Boxing | Country: United Kingdom
Tyson Fury is the only solo combat sports athlete in the top 3. He is also the only British athlete to make the top 10 in 2026.
Fury made the bulk of his money from two massive Saudi Arabia-backed fights. He has since announced a return to boxing after a brief retirement, so expect him to stay near the top of this list.
4. Dak Prescott – $137 Million
Sport: American Football | Country: USA
Prescott signed a four-year, $240 million contract extension in September 2024, which included an $80 million signing bonus. That enormous deal pushed him into the top 5 highest paid athletes in the world.
He also earns around $28 million from sponsorships and brand deals off the field.
5. Lionel Messi – $135 Million
Sport: Football | Country: Argentina
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is still one of the biggest earners in sport, even at Inter Miami in the USA.
Messi earned $60 million on the field and a massive $75 million from global brand endorsements, including Adidas, Apple, and Pepsi, reflecting his unmatched off-field appeal.
Interestingly, Messi actually earns more money off the pitch than on it. That shows just how powerful his global brand is.
6. LeBron James – $133.8 Million
Sport: Basketball | Country: USA
LeBron James is one of only two active athletes to have become a billionaire alongside Tiger Woods. He is in the final year of a two-year, $104 million contract with the LA Lakers, with a base salary of roughly $52.6 million for the 2025-26 season.
His $85 million in endorsements, media ventures, and business deals keep him among the world’s richest athletes. Nike remains its biggest backer. SalaryLeaks
7. Juan Soto – $114 Million
Sport: Baseball | Country: Dominican Republic
Soto is the newest face on this list. He signed a historic 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets in December 2024 the largest contract in professional sports history, featuring a $75 million signing bonus.
His yearly earnings of $114 million make him the highest paid baseball player on the planet.
8. Karim Benzema – $104 Million
Sport: Football | Country: France
Former Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema raked in $104 million following his move to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad. Like Ronaldo, Saudi Arabia has made him one of the highest paid footballers in history.
9. Shohei Ohtani – $102.5 Million
Sport: Baseball | Country: Japan
Ohtani is a unique case. Nearly $100 million of Ohtani’s total came from endorsements and off-field activities, making him one of the most marketable athletes on the planet. One note: $68 million of his salary has been deferred to 2035 to help his club manage costs.
10. Kevin Durant – $101.4 Million
Sport: Basketball | Country: USA
Kevin Durant’s NBA salary stands at $51.4 million, while his $50 million in off-field earnings comes from investments, media projects, and endorsement deals, anchored by a lifetime Nike contract.
Durant signed a two-year, $90 million contract extension with the Houston Rockets in October 2025, running through the 2027-28 season.
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Key Trends in 2026 Athlete Earnings
Saudi Arabia Is Changing Everything
Three of the top 10 highest paid athletes play in Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo, Messi (via Saudi-backed Inter Miami deals), and Benzema. The Saudi Pro League is spending money that no other league in the world can match right now.
Off-Field Money Matters More Than Ever
The 2026 rankings show that off-field earnings through sponsorships, social media, and business ventures are becoming just as important as the salary from playing. Stephen Curry made $100 million off the court alone.
Women Still Shut Out of the Top 25
Women were shut out of the top 100 Forbes list for the third straight year. Tennis star Coco Gauff was the highest-paid female athlete in 2025 at $31 million, well below the top 25 men’s figures.
American Football Is Rising Fast
In 2025, the NFL has four players in the top 20, Dak Prescott, Deshaun Watson, Patrick Mahomes, and Jordan Love. Big contracts and booming TV deals are making NFL players richer than ever.
How Things Have Changed Since 2015
Ten years ago, Floyd Mayweather topped this list with $300 million from two boxing fights. Back then, Ronaldo was at number 3 with $79.6 million, and Messi was at number 4 with $72.3 million.
In 2025, Ronaldo has completely left the pack, earning $275 million. Saudi Arabia’s investment in football has changed the earning power of top footballers forever. And the rise of NBA and NFL contracts means basketball and American football players are now serious challengers to footballers at the very top of these lists.
