Highest‑Paid Athletes in the World: Ranking History (1990–2019)
From Heavyweight Champs to Global Icons — A Financial Sports Timeline
The world’s richest athletes have come from boxing rings, golf courses, soccer stadiums, basketball courts and more. From the early days of Michael Jordan’s marketing dominance in the 1990s to the global megastars of soccer and boxing in the 2010s, the economics of sports have skyrocketed over three decades. This comprehensive ranking highlights the highest‑paid top 3 athletes for each decade (1990s, 2000s, 2010s), alongside a top‑10 list of the highest‑paid athletes overall (1990–2019). We’ll also include mini‑reviews, fun facts, and a Did You Know? section.
How Rankings Are Calculated
Annual Forbes lists of the world’s highest‑paid athletes include income from salaries, winnings, bonuses, prize money and endorsements, and do not deduct for taxes or agents’ fees.
🏆 Top 3 Highest‑Paid Athletes by Decade
1990s (1990–1999)
In the 1990s, heavyweight boxing and global basketball prominence drove massive athlete earnings:
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Michael Jordan (Basketball) – The Chicago Bulls legend dominated not only on the court but off it through Nike, Gatorade, and global marketing (top earner multiple years in the decade).
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Mike Tyson (Boxing) – Known as “Iron Mike,” Tyson’s massive purses and pay‑per‑view popularity made him one of the top earners of the early 1990s.
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Evander Holyfield (Boxing) – The “Real Deal” was another ring titan whose paydays in championship bouts propelled his earnings near the top.
Mini Review – Michael Jordan: The face of basketball worldwide, Jordan’s Top 10 rankings in earnings were fueled by historic NBA contracts and an era‑defining Nike partnership.
Sport: Basketball | Peak Earnings: Late 90s | Why Paid: Salary + global endorsements.
2000s (2000–2009)
Golf’s Tiger Woods and cross‑sport sensations reshaped athlete income in the 2000s:
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Tiger Woods (Golf) – He spent most of the decade as the world’s highest‑paid athlete, thanks to tournament winnings and off‑course endorsements.
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David Beckham (Soccer) – Global soccer superstar whose marketability in Europe and the U.S. brought major endorsement deals.
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Michael Jordan / Other Big Names – Jordan’s continued influence and occasional returns kept his earnings strong in early 2000s rankings, while stars like Shaquille O’Neal frequently ranked in the upper echelons.
Mini Review – Tiger Woods: The most dominant golfer ever financially, Woods was the first professional athlete to surpass $1 billion in earnings when combining salary + endorsements.
Sport: Golf | Highest Ranked: Multiple years in 2000s.
2010s (2010–2019)
The athlete earning landscape exploded, merging global sports popularity with blockbuster media deals:
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Floyd Mayweather Jr. (Boxing) – The undefeated boxer tops the decade earning chart, notably from mega‑purse fights such as vs Pacquiao and McGregor.
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Cristiano Ronaldo (Soccer) – One of the biggest global icons, Ronaldo’s salary + sponsorships make him a perennial top earner.
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Lionel Messi (Soccer) – Messi narrowly edged out many with his combined pay and endorsements — including a record‑breaking 2019.
Mini Review – Floyd Mayweather Jr.: “Money” is no understatement — his biggest boxing paydays alone dwarfed typical earnings across sports, securing his place as the highest‑paid athlete of the decade.
Sport: Boxing | Total Decade Earnings: Over $900M.
📊 Top 10 Highest‑Paid Athletes (1990–2019)
| Rank | Athlete | Sport | Estimated Total Earnings (1990–2019) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Floyd Mayweather Jr. | Boxing | ~$915M |
| 2 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Soccer | ~$800M |
| 3 | Lionel Messi | Soccer | ~$750M |
| 4 | LeBron James | Basketball | ~$680M |
| 5 | Roger Federer | Tennis | ~$640M |
| 6 | Tiger Woods | Golf | ~$615M |
| 7 | Phil Mickelson | Golf | ~$480M |
| 8 | Manny Pacquiao | Boxing | ~$435M |
| 9 | Kevin Durant | Basketball | ~$425M |
| 10 | Lewis Hamilton | Motorsports | ~$400M |
(Era earnings include salaries, prize money, bonuses, endorsements, and licensing income)
⭐ Did You Know? Trivia and Highlights
🔹 Boxing pays big – Floyd Mayweather earned over $500 million from just two fights (Pacquiao, McGregor).
🔹 Soccer legends dominate recent earnings — 2019 saw Messi take the top spot with $127M and Ronaldo close behind with $109M.
🔹 Women in the rankings: Tennis stars like Serena Williams occasionally break into the top lists, but male athletes have dominated top earnings historically.
🔹 First tennis top earner: Roger Federer became the first tennis player to lead the annual earnings list in 2020.
🔹 Cross‑sport crossover: Some athletes like Beckham leveraged brand value globally beyond their sport earnings.
📌 Summary
Over three decades, athlete earnings have evolved from modest by today’s standards to near‑unthinkable figures. In the 1990s, boxing and basketball reigned; in the 2000s, Tiger Woods revolutionised golf’s earning potential; and by the 2010s, global icons in soccer and boxing set new financial records. Forbes’ historical data shows how sponsorships, media rights, and globalisation have reshaped sports economics.
From Mike Tyson and Michael Jordan to Floyd Mayweather, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi — the “highest‑paid athlete” title has passed through the hands of legends representing tenacity, marketability and cultural impact.
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