Elite professional sports stars are some of the most handsomely rewarded athletes in the world, with their earnings reaching staggering levels.
Their endorsements, contracts and other entrepreneurial ventures help these top earners command jaw-dropping annual salary packages.
Read on as we delve into the finances of the sports industry to identify the top five highest-paid athletes in the world in 2024.
Cristiano Ronaldo – Football – Al-Nassr
Five-time Ballon d’Or winner and all-time great Cristiano Ronaldo tops the sports earnings list for the fourth year of his career.
The Portugal international forward joined the Saudi Pro League (SPL) in December 2022 in a move that kickstarted a wave of players leaving Europe for the Middle East.
The 39-year-old phenom raked in estimated total earnings of $260 million over the past year – the most a soccer player has ever earned.
His behemoth $200m a year contract with the Riyadh giants is the primary source of his record-breaking earnings.
However, Ronaldo remains arguably the most valuable sports brand in football and enjoys fantastic sponsorship deals from brands such as Binance and Erakulis.
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward has also accrued earnings from deals with Nike, Herbalife, Clear Haircare and Whoop.
Interestingly, Ronaldo’s arrival in the SPL has led to increased betting in the Middle East, with fans showing more interest in the beautiful game.
His star power and the subsequent influx of high-profile players to the SPL have captured the attention of bettors eager to punt on their games.
The sportsbooks featured on respected comparison platform arabswin.com/ have experienced a surge in wagers related to SPL games, particularly those involving Al-Nassr.
Ronaldo’s presence in Saudi Arabia undoubtedly elevates the league’s profile and drives unprecedented betting engagement in the region.
Jon Rahm, Golf – LIV Golf
Former number one ranked golfer Jon Rahm penned an eye-watering $350 million deal with LIV Golf in 2023, dwarfing his earnings on the PGA Tour.
Even though he has won only one LIV event, he has pulled in $6.6m from seven tournaments in 2024. He was also the captain of LIV’s 13th team, Legion XVIII, and reportedly received a 25% stake in the franchise.
Rahm earned around $218m over the past year, finishing as the highest-paid golfer in the world. He accrued more than double what his closest competitor earned.
There have been rumours that he wants to sever ties with LIV Golf to return to the PGA Tour less than a year after signing the incredible deal.
He has vehemently denied those suggestions, insisting he will remain in the Middle East despite a frustrating season.
Lionel Messi – Football – Inter Miami
Lionel Messi had the opportunity to head to the Middle East for the final chapter of his career.
However, the 2022 World Cup winner opted for a surprising move to the United States to join David Beckham-owned Inter Miami.
His arrival at the club was massive news. Fans clamour to see the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, and Miami registered record-breaking numbers during their global pre-season tour.
His presence has also brought some exciting sponsorship deals, including the shirt arrangement with Royal Caribbean, which is the most valuable in Major League Soccer (MLS) history.
They are now ranked as the second-most valuable franchise in the MLS at $1.03 billion. Revenues are expected to rise from $118m to over $200m.
The former Barcelona forward also added new sponsors over the year, signing with Lowe alongside his existing deals with adidas, Apple and Konami.
In total, Messi accrued around $135m in earnings over the year.
LeBron James – Basketball – Los Angeles Lakers
LeBron James has been taking home the big bucks since he stepped onto the court as a teenager.
The 39-year-old agreed to a two-year $101.35m deal with the Los Angeles Lakers with a no-trade clause.
If he plays out the contract, the deal will keep James on the Lakers’ roster until he turns 41.
James desperately wants to play alongside his son Bronny James, who has been drafted by the Lakers. He could see his wishes come to pass soon.
The four-time MVP earned around $80m from off-court ventures and another $48.2m as on-field payment over the year.
Giannis Antetokounmpo – Basketball – Milwaukee Bucks
Giannis Antetokounmpo has been dominating the court with incredible physical strength. He is also a prominent figure on the NBA pay list.
The 29-year-old struggled to stay fit for most of the season and consequently played a bit-part role as the Milwaukee Bucks were eliminated in the play-offs.
Despite this, the power forward pooled around $111m from his earnings over the year and launched his own production company in January.
He also partnered with Pepsi lemon-lime soft drink Starry while announcing his sixth signature sneaker with Nike, which arrives later this year.
