The Top 10 Highest-Paid Athletes of All-Time: How Inflation Changes the Game
Published: 18 Jul 2024, 06:30 GMT+1
Summary: We take a look at the top 10 highest-paid athletes of all-time, with a twist – we adjust their earnings for inflation. How does the list change? And what can we learn from these sporting superstars?
The world of professional sports is a lucrative one, and when it comes to the highest-paid athletes of all-time, the figures are truly staggering. But what happens when we adjust these earnings for inflation? Sportico has revealed the top 50 highest-earning athletes of all-time, with their income adjusted to inflation through the end of 2023. So, let’s dive in and see who comes out on top.
The Top 10 Highest-Paid Athletes of All-Time (Adjusted for Inflation)
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Michael Jordan – $3.75 billion (up from $2.7 billion)
The basketball legend tops the list once again, with his long-standing partnership with Nike driving his earnings. Jordan is one of 12 basketball stars to make the top 50, with LeBron James being the only other NBA star to make the top 10. -
Cristiano Ronaldo – $1.92 billion (up from $1.57 billion)
The Portugal and Al-Nassr star was the highest-paid active athlete in the world in 2023, earning $275m. His endorsement deals and merchandise sales have contributed to his adjusted earnings of over $1.9 billion. -
Lionel Messi – $1.42 billion
The Argentine football legend has continued to dominate the sport, with his on-field success translating to massive endorsement deals and merchandise sales. Messi is one of three football stars in the top 10, along with David Beckham. - Roger Federer – $1.38 billion
The tennis superstar has enjoyed a long and illustrious career, with his endorsement deals and sponsorship partnerships driving his earnings. Federer is one of the most marketable athletes in the world, with his status as a global icon contributing to his adjusted earnings of over $1.3 billion.
The Rest of the Top 10
- Floyd Mayweather Jr. – $1.23 billion
- Tiger Woods – $1.19 billion
- LeBron James – $1.15 billion
- Usain Bolt – $1.12 billion
- David Beckham – $1.08 billion
- Kobe Bryant (pre-tax) – $1.03 billion
What Does it All Mean?
The top 10 list is dominated by basketball and football stars, with tennis and boxing represented by Federer and Mayweather respectively. What’s clear is that these athletes have managed to build lucrative brands around their talents, with endorsement deals and merchandise sales driving their earnings.
According to TD Cowen managing director John Kernan, "Nike has a near monopoly on the global basketball business with no real competitors at scale, but there is a path to much higher revenue for the Jordan Brand."
So, what can we learn from these sporting superstars? It’s clear that building a strong brand and leveraging sponsorship partnerships is key to success in the world of professional sports. But it’s also important to recognize that inflation can have a significant impact on our perceptions of these athletes’ earnings. As we look to the future, it will be interesting to see how these figures continue to evolve.
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