Cristiano Ronaldo emerged as the highest-paid athlete of 2024, according to Sportico, earning an estimated $260 million. Despite the massive earnings in global sports, no female athletes made it to the top 100 list.
Ronaldo’s Record-Breaking Earnings
The Portuguese football star’s income included $215 million in salary and winnings from his time with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia and the Portugal national team, along with an additional $45 million from endorsements.
Since moving to Saudi Arabia, the 40-year-old has experienced a resurgence in his career, netting 82 goals in 90 matches and becoming the first player to reach 900 career goals in September 2023.
Ronaldo was one of three footballers in the top 10, joined by Neymar and Karim Benzema, both of whom also moved to Saudi Arabia for lucrative contracts, though Neymar has since returned to Santos, his boyhood club in Brazil.
Top-Earning Athletes of 2024
Ronaldo earned over $100 million more than the second-highest-paid athlete, NBA superstar Steph Curry, who took in $153.8 million—$53.8 million in salary and $100 million in endorsements. Although the Golden State Warriors had a disappointing season, Curry was instrumental in Team USA’s basketball gold medal win at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
British boxer Tyson Fury ranked third with $147 million, followed by Ronaldo’s long-time rival, Lionel Messi, who earned $135 million—$60 million from salary and $75 million from endorsements.
LeBron James rounded out the top five with $133.2 million in earnings—$48.2 million from salary and $85 million from endorsements.
In the NFL, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was the highest-paid player, ranking 12th with $100.4 million. Super Bowl-winning Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts earned $46.1 million, placing 65th on the list.
No Female Athletes in the Top 100
Despite huge paydays for male athletes, no female athletes featured in the top 100.
Coco Gauff was the highest-earning female athlete of 2024, bringing in an estimated $30.4 million. The 20-year-old tennis star won the French Open doubles title and the WTA Finals singles championship, cementing her place as one of the sport’s brightest stars.
For comparison, the lowest-ranked athlete on the Sportico top 100 list, NFL quarterback Daniel Jones, earned $37.5 million—more than Gauff.
Gauff also made history as the youngest Team USA flag bearer at the Olympics and the first tennis player to carry the flag for the U.S.
Sportico’s Global Breakdown of Earnings
The top 100 athletes on the list represented eight different sports and 27 countries, collectively earning $6.2 billion in 2024. This total includes $4.8 billion in salary and prize money and $1.4 billion from endorsements.
The rankings reflect the massive financial divide in sports, with male athletes dominating earnings while female athletes struggle to reach the same financial heights.
