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The top paid athletes in the world in 2021© GettyImages

10 of the world’s highest-paid athletes in 2021

Find out how much money the biggest names in sports get paid


Andrea Pérez
Deputy Editor Miami
MAY 13, 2021 1:24 PM EDT

Yesterday, May 12th, Forbes published its awaited list of the highest paid athletes around the world in 2021. The list revealed the top earners in all of the sports industry by looking at their based salaries and earnings derived from prizes, bonuses and endorsement contracts in the last year, from May 1st 2020 to May 1st 2021.

As Forbes mentioned, most of 2020 was a slow year for sports due to Covid-19, with many events cancelled. However, for these leading athletes, 2021 is already proving to be a profitable year. The list includes some of the biggest names in sports, the two most famous football players of today, Messi and Ronaldo, the toughest MMA fighter of all time, top football player Tom Brady, among others in basketball, football, tennis and formula 1 stars. Scroll down to see all of them and be shocked by their yearly earnings!

Conor McGregor© GettyImages

Conor McGregor

At 32 years old, MMA fighter, Conor McGregor, from Ireland, had a total earnings of $180 million dollars.

Lionel Messi© GettyImages

Lionel Messi

Famous 33 years old, Argentine soccer player, Lionel Messi had a total earnings of $130 million dollars

Cristiano Ronaldo© GettyImages

Cristiano Ronaldo

36 year old, Portuguese soccer player legend, Cristiano Ronaldo had a total earnings of $120 million dollars

Dak Prescott© GettyImages

Dak Prescott

Young 27 year old, American Football quarterback, Dak Prescott, had a total earnings of $107.5 million dollars

LeBron James© GettyImages

LeBron James

At 36 years of age, Basketball icon, LeBron James had a total earnings of $96.5 million dollars

Neymar da Silva Santos Junior© GettyImages

Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior

Brazilian, 29 year old leading soccer player, had a total earnings of $95 million dollars

Roger Federer© GettyImages

Roger Federer

Roger Federer, 39 year old tennis player from Switzerland had a total earnings of $90 million dollars

Lewis Hamilton© GettyImages

Lewis Hamilton

UK national race car driver, Lewis Hamilton who is 36 years old, had a total earnings of $82 million dollars

Tom Brady© GettyImages

Tom Brady

NFL American football quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tom Brady, had total earnings of $76 million dollars

Kevin Durant© GettyImages

Kevin Durant

32 year old, American basketball star, Kevin Durant, had total earnings of $75 million dollars