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I’ve always believed ‘Wealth is the shadow of fame.’ And therefore it’s not surprising that a legend of sport that is humans’ primary indulgence, has enough to splurge. Here is a brief compilation of the top 10 Grossers for this year in sport, as obtained from the Forbes list.
#10 PEYTON MANNING
Total earnings: $42.4 million
Salary/winnings: $32.4 million
Endorsements: $10 million
NFL’s only representative on the list, beating the likes of its second highest paid performer Haloti Ngata, is Peyton Manning, our first man on the list on the tenth position. Despite not taking part in 2011 owing to a neck injury, the former MVP was sold for a staggering $96 million in a 5 year contract. Shows what the man is worth. After all, being the highest endorsement grosser in American football at $10 million, you could not have asked for more.
Total earnings: $42.5 million
Salary/winnings: $20.5 million
Endorsements: $22 million
Football has always been a sport associated with the talk of sky-rocketing money deals, and it doesn’t disappoint here. Talking of an overflowing purse in football, I could safely assume that you definitely had this particular idea of a flamboyant sport-star in your mind. Probably you did not expect to face him too soon, but let me introduce to you in the ninth position – Cristiano Ronaldo. He is one of the two players in the top bracket of this list whose earnings are equally divided between his fame and his feet.
#8 DAVID BECKHAM
Total earnings: $46 million
Salary/winnings: $9 million
Endorsements: $37 million
Now talking of football and wealth, if there’s got to be someone who can beat even the iconic Ronaldo, it’s got be our beloved messiah of fashion, David Beckham at No. 8. One look at the earning stats tells the tale of a handsome model additionally gifted to be a ball-bender. He has earned four times the money off field for his looks as earned for his stellar kicks on the pitch. He might have agonizingly missed a goal at times, but outside the game, he’s certainly raised the bar. The kicks have lost their fizz over time, but his smile isn’t dampening yet!
#7 PHIL MICKELSON
Total earnings: $47.8 million
Salary/winnings: $4.8 million
Endorsements: $43 million
From here on, it starts getting a bit dizzy. I wonder what it takes for beating the likes of the aforementioned stalwarts. Borrowing a phrase from myself, ‘Golf is a game played by the rich to test their fortunes.’ Besides, Golf is always mentioned in the same line during a conversation on the sport paying the highest prize money. And therefore, it wouldn’t be surprising to have a golfer of repute at No. 7. But the factor of surprise is that his putting skills have fetched him a paltry sum (relatively) of $4.8 million in career earnings, while he makes close to 10 times that amount in endorsements. The oldest star on the list, he for sure would be one among those legends cursing their timing of birth! If only he’d won all his titles now….
#6 KOBE BRYANT
Total earnings: $52.3 million
Salary/winnings: $20.3 million
Endorsements: $32 million
In the sixth position, we have the king of the ring who ruled for the last decade. Comparing him and Ronaldo, one could notice a common inconspicuous trait. While he easily is the highest paid player for his game, like Ronaldo, his collection from fame is relatively very less. Both are denied on the path of advertisement, probably for infamous tackles off court. He is also the first of the lot to hit the half-century mark at $52.3 million.
We now move on to the top 5 bracket.
Total earnings: $52.7 million
Salary/winnings: $7.7 million
Endorsements: $45 million
For once the Swiss Legend Roger Federer is seeded at No. 5, marginally overtaking Kobe. An eternal graceful demeanor, elegance personified, and being a darling of the media, have helped the Numero Uno Tennis GOAT, break into the Top 5. Just one fact suffices to show the worth of this man – He is the face of Rolex. Despite the mere $8 million he has won for his game this year, his timely career upsurge akin to the ‘rise of a phoenix from the ashes story’, has boosted his endorsements, netting him a phenomenal $45 million.
#4 LEBRON JAMES
Total earnings: $53 million
Salary/winnings: $13 million
Endorsements: $40 million
The latest phenomenon in Basketball, hailed as the next legend in the making, he has already established a fortune. Unlike Kobe who earns a lot from the game, James makes the major share of his money from endorsements. A commitment to the game seldom seen, and an inspirational performance that helped him win an Olympic medal for his country did a world of good to the perception of the crowd for their eagle on the court.
#3 TIGER WOODS
Total earnings: $59.4 million
Salary/winnings: $4.4 million
Endorsements: $55 million
Once the elite dream of sport with highest earnings, his dirty affairs and scandals have impacted his game and damaged his reputation. Like Federer before last year, he is displaced from the topmost position to the third now, but probably he shall rise again like the Swiss maestro. Interestingly, despite making the least amongst the top 10 from his game, he still retains his aura with endorsments worth $55 million. The tiger is out of the woods now, but at the end of the day, he is still a tiger!
#2 MANNY PACQUIAO
Total earnings: $62 million
Salary/winnings: $56 million
Endorsements: $6 million
The last two are a case in contrast. While all the above have made a large portion of their dime from endorsements, these two have stunning records on that front. Both of them belong to Professional boxing; the sport, best suited to the gladiatorial rush of human emotion. Check it out for yourself.
In the second position, we have the first eight division world champion ‘Filipino professional boxer’ Manny Pacquiao, who makes a record sum of $56 million for his punches alone while in contrast, managing a pale sum of just $6 million from endorsements.
#1 FLOYD MAYWEATHER
Total earnings: $85 million
Salary/winnings: $85 million
Endorsements: $0
He’s got an epic showdown set against Pacquiao soon but for now, he sits on top, at least on the money charts. The Numero Uno this year, it’s Floyd Mayweather. Once again, he is a five division world champion professional boxer. His earnings total a staggering sum of $85 million without a pie for endorsements. Beat it!
Well, not strange considering he is famous for his bludgeoning punches in the ring. Certainly, not the ideal face to do a brand any good, I agree.
OTHER FAMOUS ICONS’ STANDINGS…
1. It’s probably the only place where Ronaldo has pinned Messi comprehensively, who sits in the 11th place with $39 million.
2. Rafael Nadal, hampered for various reasons, finds himself in the 16th place with #33.2 million.
3. Interestingly, both the F1 and Moto GP legends Micheal Schumacher & Valentino Rossi respectively share a distant 20th position with $30 million while the Ferrari replacement Fernando Alonso is a nose breath ahead in the 19th place with $32 million.
4. The first woman on the list is the highly popular tennis blonde Maria Sharapova in the 26th place with $27.9 million.
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