Paul Pogba – Salary $25 Million & $4.5 Million Endorsement

Paul Pogba is one of the best soccer players in the world although his current form for club Manchester United is certainly inconsistent. When he’s on his game, he can do virtually anything with a ball at his feet as he showed while helping France with the 2018 World Cup. He did play for Manchester United in 2010 and 2011, before moving to Italian team Juventus practically for free. Manchester United then spent a staggering $120 million to have him return, which was a record fee at the time. Along with his generous income, Pogba also receives paychecks from endorsements with Adidas. 

Derrick Rose – Salary $21.3 Million & $13 Million Endorsement

Derrick Rose is a very talented NBA player who started his professional career with the Chicago Bulls back in 2008. He remained with them until 2016 when he moved on to the New York Knicks. As of 2018, the 2011 NBA Most Valuable Player has been playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves and his earnings have been pretty steady throughout. In 2017, he earned a very impressive $21.3 million from playing alone and then a further $13 million from endorsement deals. He has seen a decline in 2018, however, as he found himself dropping off the Forbes rankings of the Highest-paid Athletes in the World.

Russell Westbrook – Salary $28.6 Million & $19 Million Endorsement

Russell Westbrook is a point guard for the NBA team Oklahoma City Thunder, a team he has played for since 2008. He was awarded the NBA Most Valuable Player for 201 and he’s only improving as time goes on. His salary is in the region of $28.6 million and his finances are boosted further by the endorsement deals from companies such as Nike, Samsung, and Mountain Dew. These help him add an additional $19 million to his total income for the year, making him one of the highest paid athletes in the world.

Damian Lillard – Salary $26.2 Million & $13 Million Endorsement

NBA star Damian Lillard has been playing professionally since 2012 when he signed for the Portland Trail Blazers. He was voted as one of the best players in the league in 2018, earning him a place on the All-NBA First Team. With endorsements from Adidas and Foot Locker among others adding a healthy $14 million to his bank account, he’s financially set for a long time. Add to that the income he earns from his contract, which is estimated to be around $24.4 million, and Damian is bound to have financial freedom for life.

Floyd Mayweather – Salary $275 Million & $10 Million Endorsement

For Floyd Mayweather, there’s absolutely no need for him to agree to any endorsement deals or worry about his insurance premiums. That’s because his fortune has increased further to $275 million after his boxing match with MMA fighter Conor McGregor. Mayweather is a formidable opponent and his record speaks for itself. He’s one of the highest paid athletes in the world and it would be interesting to see a rematch (perhaps under UFC circumstances this time?) against Conor. Mayweather also started his own boxing promotion firm, Mayweather Promotions, which helps to further boost his earning potential without having to get inside the ring.

Anthony Joshua – Salary $32 Million & $7 Million Endorsement

Boxing champion Anthony Joshua is becoming a man to be reckoned with. He’s undefeated and out of the twenty-two fights he has won, twenty-one of them were by knock out. It’s almost unthinkable to believe this British champion only turned professional in 2013! He fought in the 2012 London Olympics where he won a gold medal and following that, he took his sport to the next level. Some think he’s rising too quickly, others think he’ll reach the top and stay there for years. One thing is for sure – his personal finance is well and truly secure following his huge winnings.

Kyrie Irving – Salary $19.1 Million & $17 Million Endorsement

NBA star Kyrie Irving started out his professional career in 2011 for the Cleveland Cavaliers before making a switch in 2017 to the Boston Celtics. Irving is a tremendous talent on the court and the Australian-born point guard certainly has a bright future ahead of him. The Nike shoes he wears during games are thought to be the second best-selling shoe of this season, losing out the top spot to LeBron James. Other endorsement deals that help keep his credit score healthy include those with Mountain Dew, ProCamps, and Foot Locker.

Von Miller – Salary $33.1 Million & $2 Million Endorsement

Outside linebacker Von Miller started his professional NFL career with the Denver Broncos in 2011 and still plays for them today. Von is in the middle of a six-year contract deal worth $114 million and is without question one of the highest performing NFL stars on the field. While his endorsement fee is rather low in comparison to some stars on this list, he does have some big names to represent, including Adidas, Best Buy, and Muzik headphones. His financial consultant has likely helped him achieve a state of financial security for life and we’re sure his income will only increase more in the future.

LeBron James – Salary $33.6 Million & $52 Million Endorsement

In 2018, NBA legend LeBron James made the move from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Los Angeles Lakers which has seen him raking in earnings in the region of $33.5 million. It doesn’t stop there for the basketball star though, who is also reportedly set to enjoy a further $52 million from endorsements. His achievements on the court are very impressive, with him earning the title of Most Valuable Player on four occasions, two Olympic gold medals, and an all-scoring title. In fact, LeBron is currently the holder of the all-time NBA playoffs scoring leader.

Lionel Messi – Salary $84 Million & $27 Million Endorsement

There’s a constant debate in the world about who is a better player in the world of soccer – Cristiano Ronaldo or his rival, Lionel Messi. Messi is, without any doubt, a wizard with a ball at his feet. He can weave through players and score as though he was the only person on the pitch. He’s regularly one of (if not the) highest-scoring player in Europe and has recently signed a new contract with Barcelona that sees him earning $84 million per year! There’s no questioning the health of his personal finance, especially when you add on his $27 million in endorsement deals.

Roger Federer – Salary $12.2 Million & $65 Million Endorsement

When it comes to legends of tennis, not many players could come close to competing with Swiss champion Roger Federer. Along with his incredible prize money netting him $12.2 million, on the court, there’s only a few who could ever match Federer due to his unrivaled talent. He’s won 20 Grand Slam titles and was ranked as the No.1 player in the world for 237 consecutive weeks – and for a total of 310 weeks altogether! Roger Federer benefits from being superbly versatile as a player which, coupled up with his nifty footwork and his ability to maneuver the ball, has made him one of the best the world has ever seen.

Kevin Durant – Salary $25.3 Million & $32 Million Endorsement

Kevin Durant is an NBA star who has amassed a fortune, thanks to his talents on the court. Durant is a basketball pro and he’s very deserving of the recognition and praise he’s found along the way. He started in 2007, first playing for the Seattle SuperSonics and the Oklahoma City Thunder until 2016 when he switched to the Golden State Warriors. His financial advisor is no doubt kept rather busy with a constant stream of cash coming in. Durant earns a reported $25.3 million from simply playing the sport and rakes in another $32 million with endorsement deals.

Rory McIlroy – Salary $3.7 Million & $34 Million Endorsement

Professional golfer Rory McIlroy is among the top golfers in the world. Born in Northern Ireland in 1989, Rory became the youngest player to reach earnings of $10 million on the PGA Tour following his performance in 2012. As of 2018, his pay has seemingly decreased somewhat to a lowly $3.7 million, but even then, the endorsement deals he has acquired have rocketed, with Nike as his biggest endorser. In 2017, he signed a contract with Nike worth $200 million over the course of ten years – in apparel only as Nike left the golf world behind. That left a huge window of opportunity for him to endorse other golfing products, too.

Stephen Curry – Salary $34.9 Million & $42 Million Endorsement

Stephen Curry first tasted professional NBA action in 2009 when he joined the Golden State Warriors and he became the first NBA player to garner a $200-million contract. His contract spans five years and guarantees him earnings of $201 million, and that’s before endorsements come into the picture. He also benefits from Sony, signing a deal with them for a multi-year production deal which should serve to only further his exposure and income. If he has a team of wealth experts behind him, then we imagine them to be very, very busy trying to juggle all the streams of revenue that Curry has.

James Harden – Salary $28.4 Million & $18 Million Endorsement

NBA star James Harden has managed to earn himself a lot of money, thanks to his talent with a basketball. He’s thought to be bringing home around $28.4 million through his contract with the Houston Rockets, for which he has played for since 2012. His financial story doesn’t end there though. He reportedly gets a further $18 million in endorsement deals, with some of the biggest brands all eager to snap him up. These include Adidas, Beats by Dre, and Electronic Arts. It’s no surprise either though as he bagged the NBA Most Valuable Player award in 2018.

Lewis Hamilton – Salary $42 Million & $9 Million Endorsement

British Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton is one of the greatest talents to sit in behinds the wheels. As of writing this, he has the second highest Formula 1 wins in the world, totaling 71. It goes without saying then that his financial planner has a lot to deal with. On top of his $42-million income from racing, he also rakes in a further $9 million in endorsement deals. While he might be less known in the U.S. due to Formula One racing being less prominent, in the sport, he’s one of the most marketable names you would find and in many countries, he’s a true star.

Novak Djokovic – Salary $1.5 Million & $22 Million Endorsement

Novak Djokovic is one of the greatest tennis players to grace the sport and it’s seen him earn an envious amount of cash. In 2017, he became an ambassador for Lacoste, giving him around $9 million a year. He’s one of the highest paid athletes and even though he’s aging now, he is still dominating the sport. He’s had some big rivalries against other top sportsmen, including Andy Murray and Roger Federer. His personal finance is definitely something to envy and along with his wealth, he has an incredible lifestyle that allows him to live in jet-setting Monte Carlo.

Neymar – Salary $73 Million & $17 Million Endorsement

Neymar once formed one of Barcelona FC’s most formidable front lines. Alongside him was Lionel Messi and the untamable Suarez. That was before 2017 of course, which was when he made a big financial move to French club Paris Saint-Germain. His contract with them was allegedly worth $600 million, $250 million of which would be sent to Barcelona to buy him out of his contract and the remaining split across a five-year period. He’s magic with a football at his feet and his financial consultant has a tough time advising him about his $73-million-income before the endorsements even come into play.

Dwyane Wade – Salary $17.8 Million & $14 Million Endorsement

Dwyane Wade is an NBA star with a lot of talent on the court. He currently plays for the Miami Heat, with whom he started his professional career back in 2003. He did leave them in 2016 to play for the Chicago Bulls and the Cleveland Cavaliers, but those brief stints led him back to the Heat in 2018. He’s their shooting guard and has become a formidable opponent on the court. Dwyane boasts a bulging bank account, thanks to an income of $17.8 million and a very healthy $13 million in endorsements. He works with Sandals Resorts, Li-Ning, and The Tie Bar, among several others. 

Jordan Spieth – Salary $11.2 Million & $30 Million Endorsement

Golf master Jordan Spieth was born in 1993, making him one of the youngest successful talents in the sport. He’s amassed a lot of money through his victories but with that has also signed deals with some major companies. His $30 million in endorsement payouts are thanks to companies such as Coca-Cola, Rolex, AT&T, and Under Armour. Spieth is definitely one of the hottest talents to keep an eye on and he’s made himself incredibly marketable and lucrative. He likely has a financial expert who helps him keep track of the vast sums of cash he’s been raking in.

Conor McGregor – Salary $85 Million & $14 Million Endorsement

Conor McGregor is one of the wealthiest athletes in the world. Not only is he immensely talented when it comes to fighting but he’s also lucratively marketable. His whole persona and ability to draw in a crowd only add to his appeal. In earnings, he’s estimated to have raked in $85 million with his fight to Floyd Mayweather, with an additional $14 million on top of that through different endorsement deals. These include giants such as Burger King, Beats by Dre, and Monster Energy. It’s safe to say that this mixed martial artist won’t be growing hungry any time soon. 

Canelo Alvarez – Salary $42 Million & $2.5 Million Endorsement

Canelo-Álvarez is a Mexican professional boxer who has found the highest levels of success in the sport. He is a multiple-time world champion and is ranked as the world’s second-best active boxer. That’s quite a feat! His wealth management adviser needs to be at his best after Canelo signed an eleven-fight deal with streaming service DAZN, thought to be worth around $365 million in total. Canelo clearly has marketing potential and the fact that he’s set to earn such high figures is a testament to his ability in the ring.

Sebastian Vettel – Salary $42 Million & $300K Endorsement

Sebastian Vettel is an incredibly talented Formula 1 driver who has enjoyed a very successful career on the track. Vettel was born in Germany and he ranks fourth for the most career wins of all time, with a record of 49 victories to his name. He’s also one of the highest paid drivers in the sport, with a contract deal with Ferrari worth an estimated $40 million. His savings account is benefited further, thanks to an additional $300K in endorsement deals, although this is the lowest income for endorsements on this list.

Rafael Nadal – Salary $14.4 Million & $27 Million Endorsement

Rafael Nadal is one of the greatest tennis players in the world. His career earnings rank him third in the world (for tennis at any rate) with a total of $98 million in winnings. Even if Nadal played for free, and didn’t accept any winnings from the tournaments he plays in, he’d still be absolutely minted. This is owing to his endorsement deals which currently net him $27 million annually. Rafael has ongoing deals with huge companies such as Nike, Telefonica, Kia Motors, and Babolat along with several others. Forbes ranks him as the 20th highest-earning athlete in the world for 2018.

Justin Verlander – Salary $28.4 Million & $1 Million Endorsement

Justin Verlander is a professional baseball player for the MLB, making his debut in 2005 for the Detroit Tigers. Justin remained loyal to them until 2017, when he moved to his current team, the Houston Astros. His personal finance is in great shape after he signed a seven-year deal back in 2013 worth $180 million, which at the time was the highest paying contract for a pitcher. His partner is the stunning supermodel Kate Upton, who sure helps him be more “marketable” from a sponsorship point of few. Some endorsement deals that he has include Under Armour and Majestic. 

Dwight Howard – Salary $23.5 Million & $3.5 Million Endorsement

Dwight Howard is an NBA star who currently plays for the Washington Wizards, a team he joined in 2018. He started in 2004 though, eight years, in fact, with the Orlando Magic. He had a pretty messy split with them, however, which did seem to hamper his marketability, although that hasn’t stopped him from raking in a lot of cash and boosting his account through big contract deals. His main endorser right now is Peak, a Chinese firm. Prior to that, Howard had big endorsement deals with McDonald’s, Adidas, Coca-Cola, and Gatorade.

Wayne Rooney – Salary $22 Millon & $5 Million Endorsement

Wayne Rooney was once one of the best strikers in the soccer world. He started out his career with the English team Everton before transferring to Manchester United. He dominated the strike force there for years, becoming one of the highest paid players in the world, before moving back to boyhood club Everton in 2017. He’s currently playing for the U.S. team DC United. His earnings over the years have been as prolific as the goals he’s scored, with his current income estimated to be in the region of $22 million.

Chris Paul – Salary $24.9 Million & $7 Million Endorsement

Chris Paul started his professional NBA career in 2005 with the New Orleans Hornets before making a switch to the Los Angeles Clippers in 2011. Chris now plays for the Houston Rockets, signing a contract extension with them until 2021 that would reward him a salary of $159 million, and that doesn’t take into account the endorsement deals he could get in the process. That currently includes deals with Nike, Muzik, Hook & Albert, Spalding, and State Farm. With his high marketability and a contract to last him a few more years, Chris Paul is going to be a wealthy man for quite a while.

Paul George – Salary $19.6 Million & $7.5 Million Endorsement

Paul George currently plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder as their small forward,  although between 2010 and 2017, he played for the Indiana Pacers. Interestingly, Oklahoma City Thunder acquired him despite the fact he would have been a free agent the following year. He also implied the next team he’d like to play for would be the Los Angeles Lakers. That being said, he’s in good form playing for Thunder and his personal finance is definitely benefiting from the arrangement. It’s estimated that he earns an additional $5 million through his endorsement deal with Nike, too.

Cristiano Ronaldo – Salary $61 Million & $47 Million Endorsement

Soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is without question one of the best players in the sport to ever kick a ball. His talent was evident at Manchester United where he dominated the pitch and caught the attention of some of the biggest clubs in the world. This led to his eventual sale to Spanish behemoth Real Madrid. It’s there that he truly made a name for himself and spent the best years of his career. In 2018, he made his way to Juventus, with a reported salary of $61 million and an additional $47 million in endorsements to enjoy. It’s not bad for the Portuguese star!

Gareth Bale – Salary $28.6 Million & $6 Million Endorsement

Welsh soccer player Gareth Bale is one of the top talents in the game. He gained a lot of attention when he played for English side Tottenham Hotspurs before making a big move to Spanish giants Real Madrid. Since then, he’s really established his game and marketability, thanks to the talent at his feet. He apparently takes home $28.6 million, so any doubts of paying off the mortgage certainly won’t be arising in his mind. Bale also has over 35 million Instagram followers, allowing him to further his earning potential. Each sponsored post allegedly nets him around $185K!

Tiger Woods – Salary $1.3 Million & $42 Million Endorsement

Tiger Woods remains as one of the best golfers in the world, despite dropping off slightly in recent years. His salary is thought to be around $1.3 million, although this still doesn’t include any winnings from his September 2018 victory of the Tour Championship. It’s remarkable really that he has made such a comeback. As recently as a year ago, he was in severe pain from injuries and could barely bend down to pick up his ball. He looked like a transformed man when he won that championship and the golf world is abuzz once again. The endorsement deals heading his way are likely to be very numerous!

Usain Bolt – Salary $1 Million & $30 Million Endorsement

Usain Bolt is perhaps the quickest man on the planet. We’re not sure if anyone would ever get close to being on the same level as him purely because he’s unnaturally fast! Bolt retired from sprinting in 2017 but during his career, he won nine Olympic gold medals. Nine! Even though he’s retired, he isn’t sitting at home pondering with his financial planner on how to spend his fortune. Instead, he’s looking into ways to become a professional soccer player and is earning a substantial amount through endorsements. His major one has to be with Puma, which allegedly pays him $10 million a year!