Who Is The Richest Athlete In The World?

Recently, fans from all over the world have craved the battle of the sports to see which is most entertaining. But, when it comes to the Richest athlete in the world, most athletes come from four sports football, golf, basketball, and American football. Legendary football player Cristiano Ronaldo has become the highest-paid athlete in the world after signing a record deal with the Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr in 2023 for $200 million. This deal represents a $75 million increase in his salary, keeping him at the top of the list. With his off-field earnings included, Ronaldo will earn $260 million this year, equivalent to $3,846,153.85 weekly or $22,831.05 every hour. The OneTurf News' 2024 list of the richest athlete in the world is based on the Forbes list and includes athletes from football and basketball. According to our list, legendary football player Cristiano Ronaldo is right at the top in the number one position. In this blog, we take a look at the richest athlete in the world.

Check Out OneTurf News' 2024 List Of The Richest Athlete In The World

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Football - $260M)

Nationality: Portugal | Sport: Football | Age: 39 | On-Field: $200 million | Off-Field: $60 million

Cristiano Ronaldo has achieved an all-time high for a soccer player, with estimated total earnings of $260 million, making him the world's richest athlete for the fourth time in his career. This is mainly due to his massive $200 million annual salary with Al Nassr, which has proven to be a worthy investment for the Saudi Pro League club. The face of the Saudi League was reportedly paid a signing-on bonus in the region of €100 million. Ronaldo has put the Saudi league on the global map. Regarding Cristiano Ronaldo football career, he will most likely extend his stay at Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr until 2027. Ronaldo, who is one of the best football players in the world, has shown no signs of slowing down. So far, CR7 has scored 47 goals in 46 appearances for Al Nassr FC in the Saudi Pro League. Overall, he scored 62 goals in 68 games for the Riyadh-based club. Ronaldo boasts 629 million Instagram followers and has endorsement deals with Nike, Herbalife, Clear Haircare, and Whoop.

2. Jon Rahm (Golf - $218M)

Nationality: Spain | Sport: Golf | Age: 29 | On-Field: $198 million | Off-Field: $20 million

Star Spain golf player Jon Rahm, who currently lives in the U.S., has had a successful career on two continents. As of March 2024, he has secured 11 career PGA Tour victories, including two majors and eight additional wins on the European tour. The Spanish golfer will be looking to make up for lost time at the 2024 Summer Olympics and fight for a first-ever golf medal for Spain at an Olympic Games. John Rahm made a highly profitable decision when he joined LIV Golf in December. In addition to the reported $350 million guarantee from the Saudi-backed tour, he has already earned $6.6 million from seven tournaments in 2024. This would have placed him sixth on the PGA Tour's official money list as of May 13. Rahm has yet to win a LIV event, but he was selected to captain LIV's 13th team, Legion XIII, a role that typically includes a 25% equity stake in the league's franchises.

3. Lionel Messi (Football - $135M)

Nationality: Argentina | Sport: Soccer | Age: 36 | On-Field: $65 million | Off-Field: $70 million

There is absolutely no doubt Lionel Messi is just one of those football greats of all time, and his brilliance is unstoppable. He keeps surprising his fans with his breathtaking skills. Every second passes by this year makes him a living god. Lionel Messi finally tasted World Cup glory at the FIFA World Cup 2022 for the first time in his career. Even though it is unclear whether Messi will continue playing, there is no doubt that he will go down as the greatest footballer in the history of the sport. Messi's arrival in Miami has been a game-changer for his new club, Inter Miami. Inter Miami was all over the Football news recently as they became the second-most valuable franchise in Major League Soccer, estimated at $1.03 billion. The club anticipates a revenue growth from $118 million in 2023 to over $200 million this year. Messi has added Lowe's to his list of sponsors off the field, joining the likes of Adidas, Apple, and Konami.

4. LeBron James (Basketball -  $128.2M)

Nationality: United States | Sport: Basketball | Age: 39 | On-Field: $48.2 million | Off-Field: $80 million

The NBA's all-time leading scorer, LeBron James, and reigning most valuable player, Joel Embiid, headline an all-star lineup named to the United States men’s basketball team for the 2024 Paris Olympics. LeBron James, who has won two Olympic gold medals and a bronze but sat out the last two Olympics, will be joined by his Los Angeles Lakers teammate Anthony Davis, three-time Olympic champion Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns, and Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors, as announced by USA Basketball. However, after another disappointing playoff exit, LeBron James' future with the Los Angeles Lakers is uncertain. According to Forbes, he has a $51.4 million player option with the team, but he has also expressed a desire to play with his eldest son, Bronny, who has declared for the NBA Draft while maintaining his college eligibility. Talking about Olympics news, James will likely make his final Olympic appearance as Team USA aims to win gold in the Paris Olympics 2024 and proudly lifts the Olympic torch. Recently, James partnered with DraftKings and joined a group of celebrities investing in PGA Tour Enterprises, a new commercial venture in the golf world.