List of Highest Paid Athletes in the World 2023

After a lackluster year and a half at Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo made a decisive move to Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, signing a monumental contract in January that nearly doubled his annual playing salary to a staggering $75 million.

Fueling this trend further, skyrocketing league media rights agreements and burgeoning off-field opportunities have already driven athletes' earnings to new heights in recent years, but the infusion of Middle Eastern money has taken it to a whole new level.

List of Highest-Paid Athletes 2023

The list of top earners for 2023 is nothing short of impressive, led by Ronaldo, who sits at the pinnacle with estimated earnings of $136 million. This sum includes a hefty $46 million from his playing salary and bonuses, while an impressive $90 million comes from endorsements, appearances, licensing deals, and various business ventures.

Joining Ronaldo in the top ten are exceptional talents like Mbappé, aged 24 and ranking third with $120 million, and Johnson, who makes an eye-catching debut in sixth place with an astounding $107 million.

Here is the full list of the highest paid sportsperson:

The world's top ten highest-paid athletes amassed a jaw-dropping $1.11 billion before taxes and agents' fees over the past 12 months, marking a 12% increase from last year's $990 million and a 5% rise from the previous record of $1.06 billion set in 2018.

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