Top 10 Wealthiest Athletes in the World

Jack Nicklaus, also known as 'The Golden Bear', is a legendary American professional golfer who dominated the sport from the 1960s to the 1980s. While attending Ohio State University, Nicklaus won the U.S. Amateur Championship in 1959 and 1961, and in 1961, he set an amateur record of 282 at the U.S. Open. Nicklaus's exceptional talent and incredible composure under pressure made him a formidable competitor on the course.

Turning professional in 1962, Nicklaus went on to win six Masters titles (1963, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975, 1986), four U.S. Open Championships (1962, 1967, 1972, 1980), five PGA Championships (1963, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1980), and three Open Championships (1966, 1970, 1978). He was part of six victorious U.S. teams in the World Cup (1963, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1973) and set a personal record by winning the World Cup three times (1963, 1964, 1971).

By 1986, Nicklaus had competed in 100 major championships and finished in the top 45 a remarkable 45 times. Nicklaus earned PGA Player of the Year honors multiple times (1967, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976) and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974. He also designed several iconic golf courses, including Muirfield Village in Ohio, where the Memorial Tournament, founded by Nicklaus, has been held since 1976. Nicklaus authored books such as *Golf My Way* (1974) and *Nicklaus by Design* (2002). His current net worth is $1.38 billion.

Arnold Palmer is widely regarded as one of the greatest golfers in history. Born in 1929, he was introduced to the sport by his father, a groundskeeper at golf courses. Palmer first attracted attention when he won his first professional title in Canada. In 1958, he claimed his first major championship. With his charming looks and humble demeanor, Palmer helped bring golf closer to the public's heart during the 1950s and 1960s.

Palmer was one of the most successful and beloved sports stars from the late 1950s through the mid-1960s. He was the first to win the prestigious Masters Tournament four times (1958, 1960, 1962, 1964) and the first to earn $1 million in tournament earnings in 1968. Throughout his career (1954–2006), Palmer won 92 tournaments, including 62 PGA Tour titles.

After retiring from professional golf, Palmer traveled the world, helping grow the sport globally. A skilled pilot, he logged over 20,000 flight hours. Known as the leader of “Arnie’s Army” of fans, Palmer was also a successful businessman, having served as the chairman of Arnold Palmer Enterprises and the national spokesperson for several companies. He founded a golf course design firm and authored books about golf and his career.

Tiger Woods is globally recognized as one of the wealthiest athletes of all time. From an early age, Tiger's natural golfing talent caught attention. He chose Stanford University on a golf scholarship and graduated with a degree in economics. After college, Tiger ascended to become the world’s top-ranked golfer. His endorsement deals with major brands like Nike, General Motors, and American Express made him a household name, and he played a pivotal role in popularizing golf worldwide. For years, mentioning golf was synonymous with Tiger Woods. Tiger also launched a golf video game franchise under his name.

In 1996, Woods played in eight PGA events as a professional, winning two titles and being named PGA Tour's Rookie of the Year. In 1997, he made history as the first African American and Asian American golfer to win the prestigious Masters Tournament. In 2001, Woods became the first player to win four consecutive major golf tournaments, claiming the Masters, U.S. Open, British Open, and PGA Championship.

In 2000, Tiger became the fifth player in golf history to complete a career Grand Slam by winning the British Open, and at the youngest age. Despite some injuries that have impacted his performance, Tiger Woods remains one of the richest athletes in the world. His estimated net worth currently stands at $2.1 billion, placing him among the wealthiest sports figures globally.

Ion Tiriac is a businessman and former professional tennis and ice hockey player. He began his sports career in ice hockey, representing Romania at the 1964 Winter Olympics at the age of 25. Later, Tiriac switched to tennis, competing in the French Open and playing for Romania's Davis Cup team. After retiring from sports, he became a coach and even served as president of the Romanian Olympic Association. However, most of his fortune comes from his business ventures. Since 1990, Tiriac has gained prominence for successful investments in Romania, including banking, airlines, and investment funds.

About a year ago, Ion Tiriac was known as the richest athlete in the world. But in the past two years, his wealth has dropped by nearly $2 billion, which allowed Michael Jordan to surpass him and claim the title of the richest athlete. Tiriac is one of the few athletes to represent Romania in two different sports at the Olympics: tennis in the Summer Games and ice hockey in the Winter Games.

You might be surprised to learn that less than 1% of Tiriac's income comes from his sports career. The majority of his wealth has been built from his business ventures. He owns seven homes across Europe, including one in his home country of Romania. Tiriac also boasts one of the largest collections of classic cars in the world, with an estimated 77 vintage cars in his garage.

Born in New York, Michael Jordan became one of the greatest NBA players of all time. He won six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls, starting his career with the team in 1984. Jordan quickly rose to prominence, securing numerous titles, including two separate three-peat championship streaks from 1991-1993 and 1995-1998. He retired in 2003. By March 2015, his net worth was estimated at $1 billion, and by March 2019, it had increased to $1.8 billion, according to Forbes. Jordan's wealth continued to climb, reaching an all-time high of $2.1 billion in April 2020. According to HoopsHype, Jordan earned $86.76 million over the course of his career, equivalent to $144.64 million today.

Jordan's earnings extend beyond his NBA salary. He owns the iconic “Air Jordan” brand, which remains one of the top-selling footwear brands worldwide. He is also a brand ambassador for major companies like Nike and Hanes. Jordan is currently the owner of the Charlotte Hornets NBA team. He is the highest-paid athlete of all time, having earned $2.62 billion in inflation-adjusted income, as reported by Sportivo. He tops the list, followed by tennis star Ion Tiriac and golfers Tiger Woods ($2.1 billion), Arnold Palmer ($1.5 billion), and Jack Nicklaus ($1.38 billion). NBA legend LeBron James ranks eighth on the list with $1.17 billion.

Jordan is projected to earn around $150 million in royalties from his partnership with Nike in 2021, nearly two decades after retiring from basketball in 2003. His “retro” Air Jordans from the 1990s continue to sell out, and the Jordan brand has been a key driver in Nike's resurgence in sales and stock performance in the fourth quarter of the year.

Michael Schumacher is a legendary Formula 1 driver. He was introduced to racing at a young age when his father bought him a go-kart at the age of four. Schumacher quickly made a name for himself in racing, winning numerous titles. He entered Formula 1 in the early 1990s and earned the nickname “Rain King” due to his remarkable skill in wet conditions. Schumacher became an F1 icon, winning multiple championships and remaining unbeaten for a long period with the Ferrari team.

In 1984 and 1985, Schumacher won the German kart racing championships, and by 1987, he had also won both the German and European titles. In 1988, at just 19 years old, he transitioned from kart racing to Formula 3 (F3). By 1990, he was the German F3 champion. The majority of Schumacher’s wealth came from endorsement deals. In 2004, after the tragic loss of his two sons and his bodyguard in the Indian Ocean tsunami, Schumacher donated over $10 million to aid the victims of the disaster.

Schumacher’s victory in 2000 marked the beginning of a record-breaking run of five consecutive World Championships (2000–2004). With a total of seven F1 World Championships, he surpassed the previous record of five titles held by Juan Manuel Fangio. In 2005 and 2006, Schumacher finished third and second in the F1 standings. He retired at the end of the 2006 season to become a consultant for Ferrari. In 2013, Schumacher suffered a severe brain injury in a skiing accident, and since then, he has not been able to return to racing. At the height of his career, his annual earnings were estimated at $100 million.

Lionel Messi is an Argentine footballer currently playing for Paris Saint-Germain and the Argentina national team. At the age of 13, Messi moved from Argentina to Spain after FC Barcelona agreed to cover his medical treatment. There, he became one of the greatest footballers in history, helping his club win over twenty championships and titles. In 2012, Messi set a record for the most goals scored in a calendar year, and in 2019, he was awarded his sixth European Golden Ball.

Messi led Barcelona to numerous victories, most notably in 2009, when the left-footed striker helped secure the Champions League, La Liga, and Spanish Super Cup titles. That year, after two consecutive second-place finishes, he earned his first FIFA “Player of the Year” award. He became the first player to score five goals in a single Champions League match and later surpassed the club’s all-time top scorer Cesar Rodriguez, setting a new record with over 230 goals. Messi also broke another record when he won his fourth FIFA Ballon d'Or in January 2013.

Off the field, Messi is one of the world’s biggest sports stars. In addition to his football salary, which ranks among the highest for any professional athlete alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi is an incredibly successful product endorser, particularly for sportswear giant Adidas. He is also widely recognized for his happy and loyal marriage to Antonella Roccuzzo and their three sons. Messi's net worth is currently estimated at $1.14 billion.

LeBron James is an American professional basketball player regarded by many as one of the greatest athletes of all time. Born on December 30, 1984, LeBron had a tough early life being raised by a single mother in Ohio. To improve his life, he focused on his athletic career and became a basketball phenomenon in high school. At the age of 19, he joined the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers, quickly establishing himself as one of the top basketball players in the world. By the end of the 2009–10 season, he was considered the most sought-after free agent in NBA history when his contract with the Cavaliers expired.

Currently, his annual salary is $42 million, making him the highest-paid player in the NBA. From the moment he entered the NBA, LeBron signed a $90 million endorsement deal with Nike, and he is also set to sign a lifetime deal worth potentially $1 billion with the brand. In addition to Nike, LeBron has endorsement deals with McDonald's, Coca-Cola, and State Farm. Outside of his NBA success, James has also been a member of the U.S. men’s basketball Olympic team, winning a bronze medal in 2004, a gold medal in 2008, and another gold in 2012. He also published a memoir reflecting on his standout years in high school. LeBron's current net worth stands at $1.17 billion, placing him among the wealthiest athletes globally.