Entertainment
The cash continues to roll in for the world’s highest-paid athletes, according to Forbes’ 2009 list. Knee injuries, retirement, and even global recession can’t do anything to stop these money-making machines from upping their millions.
10. Dale Earnhardt Jr
Worth: US$34 million
Dale Earnhardt Jr was chosen as Nascar’s most popular driver for a sixth straight year in 2008, despite winning only one race during the past two seasons.
His merchandise sales were twice the total of any other driver. Earnhardt’s biggest personal sponsorship deals are with Adidas, Chevrolet, Polaris, Wrangler and Nationwide Insurance, which he added this year.
9. Valentino Rossi
Worth: US$35 million
Valentino Rossi, aka “The Doctor”, won his eighth World Championship in 2008 after two straight years of falling short of the title.
Rossi, undoubtedly the biggest star in motorcycle racing, earns US$16 million annually from his contract to ride for Yamaha, and his earnings more than double when you count licensing income, bonuses and endorsement deals with the likes of energy drink Monster.
6. Manny Pacquiao (tie)
Worth: US$40 million
Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao stolethe boxing spotlight over the past year with victories in two blockbuster fights against Oscar De La Hoya in December and Ricky Hatton in March which, combined, generated more than US$100 million in pay-per-view revenue in the U.S.
A member of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People, Pacquiao plans to run for political office when his days in the ring are over.
6. Phil Mickelson (tie)
Worth: $US40 million
Taking a back seat to Tiger Woods on the golfing circuit buggy has proven profitable for the world’s second-ranked golf player, Phil Mickelson.
Mickelson’s most lucrative deal is with Callaway, which signed Mickelson to a five-year extension this year. His other sponsors include such big names as Barclay’s, Exxon, KPMG and Rolex.
Mickelson has won US$54 million in prize money during his career, ranking third all-time behind Woods and Vijay Singh.
6. LeBron James (tie)
Worth: $US40 million
The NBA’s Most Valuable Player (MVP), LeBron James led the Cleveland Cavaliers to the league’s best record and had a playoff performance for the ages this year, but his team was bounced from the playoffs by Orlando Magic in the Conference Finals.
His free agency next summer has teams tripping over themsleves to get a slice of the action and signKing James. The Cavs can offer the biggest contract under NBA salary rules, but James might go in search of a bigger market.
5. David Beckham
Worth: US$42 million
Becks is no longer the best player on the football pitch, but he is still the most famous, which is why companies like Adidas, Giorgio Armani and Motorola pay him millions for his endorsement.
Beckham spent five months on loan this year playing for AC Milan before returning to play for Los Angeles Galaxy.
2. Kimi Raikkonen (tie)
Worth: US$45 million
Kimi Raikkonen, Formula One’s highest-paid driver, finished a disappointing third in the World Championship standings last year after winning the title in 2007.
This year has brought even worse luck for the Iceman, who sits in 10th place in the current standings. Ferrari resigned Raikkonen in September to a one-year contract extension, keeping the Finn behind the wheel for Ferrari through 2010.
2. Michael Jordan (tie)
Worth: US$45 million
Michael Jordan retired as a basketball player for the third and presumably final time six years ago, but he is still the most famous athlete in the United States. The Jordan Brand is approaching US$1 billion in sales for Nike, which turned Jordan into a marketing phenomenon.
Jordan is also on the short list of potential buyers for the Charlotte Bobcats, where he is head of basketball operations and a minority owner.
2. Kobe Bryant (tie)
Worth: US$45 million
Kobe Bryant, known as “The Black Mamba”, secured his place among the NBA’s all-time greats when he won his fourth NBA title with the Los Angeles Lakers in June.
Bryant’s popularity reached its peak as his No. 24 jersey became the top seller in the U.S., Europe and China. Bryant’s huge US$21 million Lakers salary is complemented withendorsement deals with Nike, Upper Deck, Activision and VitaminWater.
1. Tiger Woods
Worth: US$110 million
Tiger Woods has earned almost US$900 million in prize money, endorsements and appearance fees during his 13-year professional golf career, and next year is poised to become the first athlete in history to earn US$1 billion during a career.
Woods racked up more than twice the earnings of any other athlete over the past 12 months, despite being sidelined for eight months after knee surgery, thanks to lucrative endorsement deals with the likes of Accenture, Gillette and Nike, as well as a thriving golf course design business.
by Alex Newman September 2, 2009
Tags: highest-paid athletes, top 10
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