Cristiano Ronaldo tops the list of the world’s highest-paid athletes for the third consecutive year and the fifth time overall. At 40, the Portuguese football icon has reached new financial heights. Over the past year, he earned an estimated $275 million before taxes and agent fees—combining his playing salary at Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr and off-field ventures—marking the third-highest total ever recorded for an active athlete by Forbes.
Only boxer Floyd Mayweather surpasses Ronaldo on the all-time list, with earnings of $300 million in 2015 and $285 million in 2018. For 2025, Ronaldo outpaced second-place Stephen Curry by a striking $119 million.
Curry’s $156 million haul is especially notable as it sets a new NBA record, overtaking LeBron James’ previous high of $128.2 million from last year. Other athletes also posted historic earnings: LeBron James himself earned $133.8 million (ranked sixth), while Dak Prescott (No. 4, $137 million) and Juan Soto (No. 7, $114 million) set new records for the NFL and MLB, respectively.
Together, the top 10 athletes brought in $1.4 billion—slightly up from last year’s $1.38 billion—making it the highest combined total since Forbes began tracking athlete earnings in 1990. It also marks just the second time all ten athletes earned over $100 million, with even those outside the list, like Oleksandr Usyk ($101 million) and Jon Rahm ($100 million), reaching nine figures.
Two athletes—Stephen Curry and Shohei Ohtani (No. 9, $102.5 million)—each earned $100 million from off-field activities alone. Only three other active athletes have ever done so: Conor McGregor ($158 million in 2021), Tiger Woods ($105 million in 2009), and Roger Federer ($100 million in 2020).
Interestingly, neither Curry nor Ohtani has any known affiliation with Saudi Arabia, unlike four others in the top 10. Tyson Fury (No. 3, $146 million) fought twice in Riyadh; Lionel Messi (No. 5, $135 million) has a major Saudi sponsorship; and Karim Benzema (No. 8, $104 million) plays in the Saudi Pro League for Al-Ittihad.
Ronaldo remains the biggest name tied to the region, now in his third season with Al-Nassr, earning approximately $225 million annually on the pitch.
His current earnings dwarf his previous top marks. When he first led the rankings in 2016, he made $88 million, increasing to $93 million the next year—amounts that wouldn’t even place him in the top 10 today. In fact, the sum of those two years still falls $94 million short of what he earned this year alone.
And Ronaldo may not be done. While his contract with Al-Nassr reportedly expires this summer, rumors suggest a possible extension—or a new high-value deal elsewhere.
The World’s 10 Highest-Paid Athletes
#1 • $275M
Cristiano Ronaldo
Sport: Soccer | Age: 40 | Nationality: Portugal | On-Field: $225M | Off-Field: $50M
Ronaldo scored his 900th official goal last year and expanded his business footprint with investments in Whoop, Vista Alegre, and Bioniq. He also launched a film studio with filmmaker Matthew Vaughn and debuted a YouTube channel that now has 75 million subscribers. In February, he streamed a padel tournament from Riyadh, drawing over 600,000 viewers.
#2 • $156M
Stephen Curry
Sport: Basketball | Age: 37 | Nationality: U.S. | On-Field: $56M | Off-Field: $100M
Curry extended his deal with Under Armour and earned significant stock compensation. He also invested in several ventures, co-founded a sports drink with Michelle Obama, and took on a role at Davidson College. His media company produced projects for Peacock, and he signed a one-year, $62.6M extension with the Warriors.
#3 • $146M
Tyson Fury
Sport: Boxing | Age: 36 | Nationality: U.K. | On-Field: $140M | Off-Field: $6M
Despite losing both fights to Oleksandr Usyk in 2024, Fury earned massive purses. He partnered with Malta’s tourism board and starred in the Netflix series At Home With the Furys, which may return for a second season.
#4 • $137M
Dak Prescott
Sport: Football | Age: 31 | Nationality: U.S. | On-Field: $127M | Off-Field: $10M
Prescott signed a $240 million extension with the Cowboys, receiving $80 million upfront. He restructured his contract to speed up payments, effectively doubling his earnings for the 12-month window. Off the field, he endorses Nike’s Jordan Brand and others, and is expanding Crunch Fitness locations.
#5 • $135M
Lionel Messi
Sport: Soccer | Age: 37 | Nationality: Argentina | On-Field: $60M | Off-Field: $75M
Messi has transformed MLS with the “Messi Effect.” His contract with Inter Miami may soon be renewed. Off-field, he works with Adidas, launched a production company, and introduced a sports drink called Mas+ (currently in legal dispute with Prime).
#6 • $133.8M
LeBron James
Sport: Basketball | Age: 40 | Nationality: U.S. | On-Field: $48.8M | Off-Field: $85M
James hinted at retirement after the Lakers’ playoff exit. His media empire, SpringHill, merged with Fulwell 73. He also invests in Lobos 1707 tequila and partnered with Mattel to become the first athlete with a Ken doll.
#7 • $114M
Juan Soto
Sport: Baseball | Age: 26 | Nationality: Dominican Republic | On-Field: $109M | Off-Field: $5M
Soto signed a record-breaking $765 million deal with the Mets. Ticket sales soared afterward. His endorsements include Celsius, Call of Duty, and several Dominican companies.
#8 • $104M
Karim Benzema
Sport: Soccer | Age: 37 | Nationality: France | On-Field: $100M | Off-Field: $4M
After moving to Al-Ittihad, Benzema is now reportedly eyeing a transition to MLS. He prefers privacy, keeps a limited sponsor list, and expressed his fondness for Madrid’s quieter life compared to the football frenzy in Saudi Arabia.
#9 • $102.5M
Shohei Ohtani
Sport: Baseball | Age: 30 | Nationality: Japan | On-Field: $2.5M | Off-Field: $100M
Ohtani deferred most of his Dodgers contract but still cashed in through endorsements. He works with New Balance, Beats, Seiko, and Topps. A trading card from his record-setting season sold for $1.07 million.
#10 • $101.4M
Kevin Durant
Sport: Basketball | Age: 36 | Nationality: U.S. | On-Field: $51.4M | Off-Field: $50M
Durant hit the 30,000-point mark and earned Olympic gold. He invested in PSG and apparel brand Homage, while his media company, Boardroom, launched new athlete programs. He’s also set to appear in Netflix’s Starting 5 Season 2.
