The world-famous professional athletes are admired for their skillset and great physique. Over the years they have focused on the uncompromising exercise, extensive physical training, and strict diet regime to remain fit. They are always in news for their performance and successfully acquired a long list of followers.
The sports persons are earning a huge purse at par with the businessmen. They have a multi-million dollar contract and it spreads across different sports. It includes soccer, tennis, golf, cricket, car racing, basketball, all major and non-major sports. The big brands are marketing the athletes and are reportedly spending a lot of money to endorse their brands. Last year, in 2019, the highest-paid sportsperson received $127 million.
Let’s focus on the top 50 richest athletes in the world until 2020:-
1. Michael Jeffrey Jordan
Net Worth: $2.1 billion
He was a professional basketball player famous for the initials MJ. Michael is the Owner of the Charlotte hornets, an American professional basketball team. It competes in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was famous for his basketball shoots slam dunks which he performed from the free-throw line in Slam Dunk Contests earned him the names Air Jordan.
Michael has established several accomplishments over the years. In the year 1998, he won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year. Michael was the first billionaire player in NBA history in 2014. His net worth is $2.1 billion and the fourth richest African American.
2. Vincent Kennedy McMahon
Net Worth: $1.7 billion
He was a professional wrestler and commentator of World Wide Entertainment (WWE). The Royal Rumble winner was famous with his ring name Mr. McMahon. His signature step was swinging his arms and bobbing his head from one side to another in a cocky manner. He won the WWF Championship in the year 1999 and ECW Championship in 2007. Currently, he is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of WWE.
He is the Founder and Owner of the Alpha Entertainment which operates as a holding company of an American Football League named XFL. In present times he is a successful billionaire businessman. Vincent’s net worth as of March 2020 is $1.7 billion. Although he is 70 years old he is hovering at 5% body fat and he weighs 240 pounds.
3. Floyd Joy Mayweather Junior
Net Worth: $1.67 billion
He is the former professional boxer. Throughout his career, he has won fifteen major world titles. Floyd reportedly won a bronze medal in the featherweight division at the Olympics in the year 1996. He was named as the Fighter of the Decade by Boxing Writers Association of America. Floyd remains BoxRec’ was the number one fighter of all time and greatest of his time. In the year 2020, he was ranked as number two on Ranker’s list as the best boxer of the 21st Century.
Over the years he was ranked in the Forbes and Sports Illustrated lists of 50 highest-paid athletes. He generated approximately 24 million PPV buys and generated $1.67 billion in revenue. As of 2020, his net worth is estimated to be around $565 million making him be the richest boxer.
4. Eldrick Tont Tiger Woods
Net Worth: $1.4 billion
Tiger is an American professional golfer. He will be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in the year 2021. He is one of the famous athletes of all time and regarded as the greatest golfers. Tiger holds numerous golf records and ranked second in the Men’ Championships. He was ranked number one in 1997 after winning the PGA Tour events.
To date, Tiger has won the approximately 18 World Golf Championships. He won the Byron Nelson Award for his record-breaking performance. In the year 2019, he was awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom. He has earned $1.4 billion from sponsors and his net worth estimated to be $800 million as of 2020.
5. Ion Tiriac
Net Worth: $1.2 billion
Ion is better known as Brasov Bulldozer. He was a Romanian tennis and ice hockey player. Currently, he is the president of the Romanian Tennis Federation. In the year 2019, he was ranked amongst the third richest and successful businessman in Romania. He was the winner of the French Open in men’s double category in 1970. Ion was victorious in several other matches as well.
He represented his country in the 1964 Winter Olympics as an ice hockey player. There he was nicknamed as Count Dracula. In the year 2018, he was listed in the Forbes World Billionaires list, and his wealth valued at $1.2 billion. He joined International Tennis Hall of fame as a successful promoter and tournament director in the year 2013. His net worth is 120 crores USD as of 2020.
6. Sir Tony O’Reilly
Net Worth: $1.2 billion
Sir Tony is an international rugby player. Sir Tony served as the Chief Executive Officer and Owner of H.J.Heinz Company. From 1973 to 2009 he was associated with Independent News & Media Group. Tony represented Ireland, the British and Irish Lions as a rugby player. He was inducted at the International Rugby Board’s Hall of Fame.
His wealth was around S1.2 billion and one of the richest men in Ireland. Sir Tony’s witty and charming personality attracted many people. He was a successful rugby player of his time. The O’Reilly Foundation which was founded by Sir Tony is into different types of charitable activities.
7. Michael Schumacher
Net Worth: $1 billion
Michael is a retired German racing driver who raced in Formula One for Benetton, Ferrari and Jordan Grand Prix. Michael is considered as one of the finest and greatest drivers. He has won the World Championship seven times. In the year 2019, as per Forbes, his net worth is $800 million. Over the years he appears in the list of richest players list by Forbes.
He is the second richest athlete in the world. He was one of the high paid athletes and his career earnings reached almost $1 billion. He was an ambassador of UNESCO and involved in humanitarian activities.
8. Earvin Magic Johnson Junior
Net Worth: $600 million
Magic was a famous professional basketball player. Magic was the former president of the Los Angeles Lakers, which competed in the National Basketball Association. Currently, he is one of the richest athletes and his net worth is approximately $600 million as of 2020. He was honoured with NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award.
In the year 2009, he was named as one of America’s most influential black businessmen. He was inducted twice at the Basketball Hall of Fame. His powerful arms and speed helped him to become a formidable player during the 1980s. In the year 2019, Magic received NBA Lifetime Achievement Award at the NBA Awards.
9. Roger Staubach
Net Worth: $600 million
He is a former National Football League player and his estimated net worth is $600 million. Roger was nicknamed Captain Comeback, Roger the Dodger, and Captain America. He has won several matches throughout his career. He was named as the Super Bowl VI’s Most Valuable Player.
Roger was first amongst four players to win the Super Bowl MVP and Heisman Trophy. In his final year of playing career, he earned $160,000. He co-owned the NASCAR Cup series team named Hall of Fame Racing. Currently, he is the executive chairman of Jones Lang LaSalle. In the year 2009, he was honoured with the Lombardi Award of Excellence for his humanitarian work.
10. Ulysses Lee Junior Bridgeman
Net Worth: $600 million
Lee is a retired American professional basketball player. Junior has a net worth $600 million. Currently, he is a successful fast-food entrepreneur and one of the admired business leaders of the world. During his professional career as a basketball player, he earned a salary of $350,000 million from team Clippers.
He played around 849 basketball matches throughout his career. In the year 1999, he was inducted into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame, in 2009 at Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame and in 2014, at the Kentucky Entrepreneur Hall of Fame. He received the Gold Cup Award for his contribution towards business in 2019.
