Here are the richest athletes of 2025. The leader has $275 million in his account

Which athletes earned the most in the last year? All the information is provided by the new Forbes magazine ranking. And there is something to write about, because the editorial team assures that 2025 is a record year.

Every year, Forbes magazine publishes a ranking of the highest-paid athletes in the world. That athletes can earn a lot is known to all of us. But how much do they actually earn? As reported by journalists, more than before.

The editorial team emphasizes that 2025 is a record year in terms of earnings in sports , and that business acumen , participation in advertising or media presence are as important today as sports successes themselves.

Sports stars who have been recognized by Forbes demonstrate an exceptional ability to monetize their popularity. Most of them have multi-million dollar sponsorship contracts , are active online , and often develop their own businesses .

Illustrative photo / photo: Unsplash, Izuddin Helmi Adnan

Okay, we won't keep you in suspense any longer. Which athletes have earned the most?

In first place – no surprise here – for the third time in a row was Cristiano Ronaldo . The Al-Nassr player's estimated earnings amounted to a whopping $275 million , of which $225 million comes from salaries and bonuses, and an additional $50 million from sponsorships and commercial activities.

The footballer maintains his leading position thanks to his impressive performances in Saudi Arabia and his global icon status.

In second place was American basketball player Stephen Curry with earnings of $156 million . The Golden State Warriors player made history in March as the first NBA player to reach 4,000 three-pointers. Curry is also beloved by advertisers. The athlete has earned $100 million off the court.

British boxer Tyson Fury rounds out the podium with $146 million, underlining the growing financial importance of boxing among elite sports.

As you can see, sports are not only about prestige and glory, but also money. And a lot of it. Below we present the entire list of the 10 highest paid athletes .

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (soccer): $275 million
2. Stephen Curry (basketball): $156 million
3. Tyson Fury (boxing): $146 million
4. Dak Prescott (American football): $137 million
5. Lionel Messi (soccer): $137 million
6. LeBron James (basketball): $133.8 million
7. Juan Soto (baseball): $114 million
8. Karim Benzema (soccer): $104 million
9. Shohei Ohtani (baseball): $102.5 million
10. Kevin Durant (basketball): $101.4 million