Cristiano Ronaldo has been named the world’s highest-paid athlete for the third consecutive year and the fifth time in his career, according to the latest list published by Forbes. The Portuguese forward’s estimated total earnings are approximately $275 million, largely driven by his move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr.
Ronaldo’s substantial income includes an increase of $15 million from off-field endorsements and lucrative sponsorship deals, bolstered by his extensive social media following, which stood at 939 million across all platforms as of May 2025.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry climbed to the second position in the rankings with earnings of $156 million. Curry notably became the first player in NBA history to reach 4,000 career three-pointers in March.
Boxer Tyson Fury secured third place with $135 million. Despite a loss to Oleksandr Usyk in December, which cost him his world heavyweight titles, Fury’s income has been augmented by partnerships promoting Maltese tourism and his Netflix reality series.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is listed fourth with earnings of $137 million, primarily due to record-breaking signing bonuses and a significant contract extension. Argentine football icon Lionel Messi, who moved to Major League Soccer side Inter Miami, dropped to fifth place with $135 million, matching his earnings from the previous year, and continues to benefit from high-profile endorsements with brands such as Adidas and Apple.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, nearing the twilight of his distinguished career, ranked sixth with $133.8 million. In a notable entry, MLB New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto placed seventh, earning $114 million. The 26-year-old Dominican recently signed a historic 15-year contract valued at $765 million, the largest in baseball history.
French striker Karim Benzema, who also plays in Saudi Arabia for Al Ittihad, is eighth on the list with $104 million in earnings. Japanese baseball sensation Shohei Ohtani of the MLB’s Los Angeles Dodgers secured ninth place with $102.5 million; his earnings were significantly boosted by the Dodgers’ World Series victory last year, despite deferring a large portion of his mega-contract.
Rounding out the top ten is NBA star Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns, with earnings of $101.4 million. The Forbes list highlights the diverse avenues through which top athletes accumulate wealth, including salaries, prize money, endorsements, and business ventures.
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