# The world's highest-paid athletes in 2025 (Forbes)

Cristiano Ronaldo tops Forbes's annual list for the third year in a row, adding up salaries, prize money and endorsements over the last twelve months. These are the names in the 2025 ranking. Who deserves that much?

- 6 votes · 17 items
- Apr 14, 2026 · Rita Pereira
- https://even.best/en/l/2316/the-world-s-highest-paid-athletes-in-2025-forbes

## Top 17

1. **Cristiano Ronaldo** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — Football: about $275 million, thanks to Al-Nassr.
2. **Stephen Curry** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — Basketball: $156 million.
3. **LeBron James** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — Basketball: almost $134 million.
4. **Karim Benzema** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — Football: $104 million at Al-Ittihad.
5. **Rory McIlroy** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — Golf: 17th, in the year he won the Masters.
6. **Max Verstappen** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — Formula 1: 24th.
7. **Tyson Fury** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Boxing: $146 million.
8. **Dak Prescott** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — American football: $137 million with the Dallas Cowboys.
9. **Lionel Messi** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Football: $135 million at Inter Miami.
10. **Juan Soto** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Baseball: $114 million after his record deal with the Mets.
11. **Shohei Ohtani** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Baseball: $102.5 million, mostly from endorsements.
12. **Kevin Durant** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Basketball: just over $101 million.
13. **Jon Rahm** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Golf: the Spaniard from LIV Golf, 12th on the list.
14. **Scottie Scheffler** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Golf: the world number 1, 14th.
15. **Patrick Mahomes** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — American football: the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback, 18th.
16. **Lewis Hamilton** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Formula 1: 23rd, in his first year at Ferrari.
17. **Tua Tagovailoa** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — American football: the Miami Dolphins quarterback, 27th.

How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.