7 highest paid athletes in 2024

• The annual income that these athletes earn comes from their on-field and off-field income
• Some make more off-field while others make so much on-field
• Endorsements play a huge role in these earnings

Imagine making $136 million a year. Stunning it is, and that opens the floor for the highest paid athletes in 2024. The annual income that these athletes earn comes from their on-field and off-field income. But, the big question is; which sporting discipline nets the most income?

SportsLeo looks at seven athletes in different sports and their highest pay.

Who are the Highest Paid Athletes in 2024

The highest paid athletes in 2024 are drawn from football, NBA, Formula 1, American football, boxing, golf and tennis.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo. Photo/ Fox Sports.

Al Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo tops the highest paid athletes in 2024 according to Voronoi which put together the data. He made $136 million between May 2022 and May 2022. His on-field earned him $46 million while off-field earnings were $90 million, nearly double his on-field earnings. Ronaldo’s enormous popularity and influence allow him to command a substantial amount from different sponsors.

Nike is his biggest sponsor with a $1 billion lifetime deal. Other sponsors in his circle include Armani, Binance, Converse, Therabody, Delivery Hero among others. Moreover, his contract with Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr is worth around $200 per year making him the best-paid footballer in the world.

LeBron James

LeBron James. Photo/SkySports

Los Angeles Lakers power forward LeBron James is the world’s second-highest-paid athlete. He earned $120 million in the 2022-23 NBA season and it only gets better for him. His off-court earnings were $75 million while his on-court earnings added up to $45 million.

James is the richest, active NBA player in 2024 with an estimated $1.2 billion net worth. When it comes to endorsement deals, James is king. The jewel in the crown? His $1 billion lifetime contract with Nike!  The Lakers player still earns from his minority ownership of Liverpool football club where he has a 2% stake which he acquired for $6.5 million.

Canelo Alvarez

Mexican boxer Canelo Alvarez is surprisingly among the highest paid athletes in 2024.  He earned $110 million last year alone. What’s interesting is that he made $100 million from his fights directly and only $10 million from endorsements. His major sponsorships are from LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton and Everlast – the latter has sponsored him since 2014.

Dustin Johnson

Golf star Dustin Johnson made $102 million from the golf course and an additional $5 million from off-course dealings. Mainly endorsements by different brands such as TaylorMade, Hublot, and BodyArmor among others. His huge annual earnings mirror what

Roger Federer

Roger Federer Nike. Photo/We Love Tennis

The tennis legend retired in September 2022 but he stills enjoys a huge sum of off-court earnings. Federer made a cool $95 million between 2022 and 2023, yet he only played his last match – the Laver Cup – in 2022 and none in 2023.  Some of the brands he influences include Lindt, Wilson, Credit Suisse, Rolex, and Mercedes Benz among others. He has a net worth of an estimated $550 million.

Russel Wilson

American football star Russel Wilson earns a colossal amount of dollars from the field. He earned $72 million on-field in salary and bonus for the last season. He then earned another $13 million from various endorsements. Nike is among his biggest sponsors and Amazon. He has a net worth of $165 million.

Lewis Hamilton

British F1 driver Lewis Hamilton sits at the bottom of the highest paid athletes in 2024. Currently driving for Mercedes before moving on to Ferrari starting 2025, Hamilton has been the best-earning Formula One driver for the past seasons. His on-track earnings stand at $55 million and $10 million off-track. Having driven for Mercedes since 2013 and won seven F1 World Championship titles, he has caught the eye of different brands.

His biggest endorsements are from fashion brands such as Tommy Hilfiger and Sports firm Puma. Hamilton is a big lover of fashion and it will be one of the two things he will pursue after retiring from Formula One. Other brands that endorse him include Bose, IWC Schaffhausen and INEOS

Conclusion

Ronaldo’s influence goes beyond the field and this is what makes him the best-earning athlete outside the football pitch. Same case for LeBron James who earned double his on-court earnings outside the NBA court.