From football to boxing: Here's a list of 2024's highest-paid athletes

Ronaldo tops highest-paid athletes list with $260m, followed by Stephen Curry in second place.

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Cristiano Ronaldo has once again claimed the top spot as the world’s highest-paid athlete in 2024, with a staggering total income of $260 million, according to sports industry news site Sportico.

This marks the second consecutive year Ronaldo has held the prestigious title, thanks in part to his lucrative contract with Saudi Arabian football club Al-Nassr, which he joined in December 2022.

Ronaldo, who recently celebrated his 40th birthday, earned a remarkable $215 million in wages and an additional $45 million in endorsements.

His earnings place him well ahead of his peers, with Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry, who ranks second on the list, trailing by over $100 million. Curry earned $153.8 million in 2024.

Rounding out the top five athletes are British boxer Tyson Fury, who earned $147 million, Inter Miami's Argentina captain Lionel Messi with $135 million, and Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James at $133.2 million. James, who is 40 years old, remains the only active NBA player in his forties.

The list of the top 100 athletes, which includes stars from football, the NBA, NFL, golf, and boxing, collectively earned an estimated $6.2 billion in 2024.

Of that sum, $4.8 billion came from salaries and prize money, while endorsements accounted for $1.4 billion. Notably, the list did not feature any women in the top 100, with tennis champion Coco Gauff being the highest-earning female athlete at $30.4 million.

The dominance of male athletes in the top 100 reflects broader trends in sports earnings, though young Gauff, who is only 20, could rise further on the list in the years to come. Historically, some female athletes have cracked the top ranks, but this year, none made it into the exclusive group.

In total, the top 100 athletes come from 27 countries and compete in eight different sports. While the list remains male-dominated, the growing success of female athletes like Gauff signals potential changes in the future.