For their audience, the great athletes of this world have always been heroes. But the times when professional athletes lived solely on the fixed salary and the applause of the crowd are long gone. From a financial point of view, sport is often just the door opener. With advertising deals and clever investments, the salary can easily be doubled.
The business magazine “Forbes” published again this year what really comes together with the biggest icons from football, basketball, golf, boxing and tennis. There are three footballers among the top ten best-paid athletes – and quite a few surprises.
More than a billion euros for the top ten alone
The ten top earners alone are said to have earned the equivalent of more than one billion euros before taxes and agent fees in the past twelve months – an impressive twelve percent more than in the previous year’s ranking. So far, 2018 has been the record year, but mostly thanks to outliers like boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr., who raked in $285 million alone. The ranking this year is much more balanced.
Athletes’ salaries have skyrocketed in recent years anyway, thanks to media rights and advertising deals that have become increasingly expensive. However, the most productive vein of gold for the top athletes is the Middle East.