Michael Jordan has officially solidified his place as not just the greatest basketball player of all time, but the most financially successful athlete in sports history.
According to a newly released list by Sportico, Jordan tops the Top 50 Highest-Paid Athletes of All-Time with a staggering $4.15 billion in adjusted earnings, more than any athlete has ever made when accounting for inflation.
1. Michael Jordan – $4.15 Billion
2. Tiger Woods – $2.79 Billion
3. Cristiano Ronaldo – $2.23 Billion
4. LeBron James – $1.88 Billion
5. Lionel Messi – $1.85 Billion
6. Arnold Palmer – $1.82 Billion
7. Jack Nicklaus – $1.75 Billion
8. David Beckham – $1.61 Billion
9. Roger Federer – $1.59 Billion
10. Floyd Mayweather – $1.52 Billion
11. Phil Mickelson – $1.49 Billion
12. Michael Schumacher – $1.39 Billion
13. Shaquille O’Neal – $1.27 Billion
14. Neymar – $1.17 Billion
15. Greg Norman – $1.14 Billion
16. Kobe Bryant – $1.11 Billion
17. Kevin Durant – $1.07 Billion
18. Lewis Hamilton – $970 Million
19. Mike Tyson – $965 Million
20. Stephen Curry – $950 Million
21. Tom Brady – $820 Million
22. Alex Rodriguez – $795 Million
23. Manny Pacquiao – $775 Million
24. Rory McIlroy – $770 Million
25. Peyton Manning – $750 Million
26. Rafael Nadal – $735 Million
27. Canelo Álvarez – $730 Million
28. George Foreman – $730 Million
29. Jeff Gordon – $730 Million
30. Valentino Rossi – $725 Million
31. Oscar De La Hoya – $705 Million
32. Derek Jeter – $695 Million
33. Novak Djokovic – $690 Million
34. Fernando Alonso – $690 Million
35. Ernie Els – $685 Million
36. Magic Johnson – $675 Million
37. Gary Player – $670 Million
38. Dale Earnhardt Jr. – $665 Million
39. Russell Westbrook – $665 Million
40. Serena Williams – $660 Million
41. Kevin Garnett – $655 Million
42. Evander Holyfield – $650 Million
43. James Harden – $640 Million
44. Andre Agassi – $635 Million
45. Aaron Rodgers – $620 Million
46. Chris Paul – $615 Million
47. Kimi Raikkonen – $590 Million
48. Dwyane Wade – $585 Million
49. Drew Brees – $585 Million
50. Carmelo Anthony – $570 Million
Jordan’s earnings have always defied athletic norms. Despite earning less than $100 million in NBA salary over his 15-year career, his long-term Nike partnership turned him into an empire.
The Air Jordan brand alone generates billions annually and has become a cultural phenomenon across generations, accounting for the majority of his income.
Throw in savvy investments, team ownership (notably in the Charlotte Hornets, which he sold in 2023 for a reported $3 billion valuation), and high-end endorsements from Gatorade, Hanes, and Upper Deck, and you get an empire unrivaled by any athlete in history.
The top five is filled with global icons from a variety of sports: Tiger Woods comes in second at $2.79 billion, thanks to his historic dominance of golf, endorsements with Nike and Rolex, and a new line of business ventures post-PGA Tour peak.
Cristiano Ronaldo ($2.23B) and Lionel Messi ($1.85B) rank third and fifth, respectively, driven by not just their immense football salaries but also their marketability across the globe.
LeBron James, fourth with $1.88B, is the highest-ranking active NBA player, with an impressive blend of on-court salaries, endorsements, and strategic business ventures, including SpringHill Company and part-ownership in sports franchises like Liverpool FC.
Golf legends Arnold Palmer ($1.82B) and Jack Nicklaus ($1.75B) prove that branding long after active competition can be just as lucrative as athletic performance.
Meanwhile, boxers like Floyd Mayweather ($1.52B), Manny Pacquiao ($775M), Mike Tyson ($965M), and Canelo Álvarez ($730M) continue to punch above their weight when it comes to earnings, thanks to massive pay-per-view fights and promotions.
NBA dominance in the rankings is clear. After Jordan and LeBron, Shaquille O’Neal ($1.27B), Kobe Bryant ($1.11B), Kevin Durant ($1.07B), Stephen Curry ($950M), and even Russell Westbrook ($665M) feature prominently. Westbrook’s inclusion may surprise some, but his massive NBA contracts and endorsement deals have quietly built him a massive net worth.
Tennis icons like Roger Federer ($1.59B), Rafael Nadal ($735M), Novak Djokovic ($690M), and Serena Williams ($660M) also represent the sport’s global appeal and branding power, especially off the court.
Perhaps the biggest takeaway is that modern athletes, regardless of sport, are no longer just competitors—they’re brands. Jordan pioneered the path, but today’s stars follow it more strategically than ever.
At $4.15 billion, Michael Jordan remains in a class of his own: both on the court and in the bank.
