For the first time since 2017 (and the third time in general), Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo has topped Forbes' list of the world's highest-paid athletes. He made it into the Guinness Book of World Records for the highest annual earnings for an athlete in 2023.
Ronaldo is estimated to have earned $136 million in the 12 months to 1 May 2023 (the end date of most sports seasons). Ronaldo's record earnings consist of $46 million earned on the field and $90 million off the field.
Ronaldo took the top spot away from Lionel Messi, who was the highest paid athlete of 2022 with an estimated $130 million.
After a somewhat disappointing second stint at Man United, Ronaldo left to join Saudi Arabia's Al Nasr in January 2023. He received a lucrative contract that doubled his salary to around $75 million a year.
However, Cristiano's earnings on the pitch are negligible compared to his off-field earnings. In addition to his lifetime contract with Nike, Ronaldo also makes money from his CR7-branded merchandise.
The top 3 highest paid athletes of 2022/23 include two other footballers, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe.
Lionel Messi came in second place with $130 million, split equally between $65 million in on-field earnings and $65 million off-field earnings. Kylian Mbappe's on-field earnings of $100 million, on the other hand, pretty much make up his total of $120 million.
Basketball player LeBron James, who came in fourth with $119 million ($44.5 million on the court; $75 million off the playing field), set a record for the highest annual earnings for a basketball player in 2023.
Boxer Canelo Alvarez, ranked fifth, set the record for highest annual earnings for a boxer in 2023 at $110 million ($100 million in the ring; $10 million in other areas).
Despite ending their careers at the end of 2022, Roger Federer and Serena Williams had the highest annual earnings for a tennis player and tennis player in 2023, respectively. Roger Federer, ranked 9th on the overall list, earned a total of $95.1 million, although this amount was almost entirely made up of $95 million in off-court earnings, compared to $100,000 in on-court earnings.
Forbes calculates athletes' earnings based on data from industry insiders, news reports and salary databases. On-court earnings figures include salaries, prize money and bonuses, while off-court earnings represent estimates of sponsorship deals, performance fees, memorabilia sales, licence income, and cash income from any business in which the athlete has a significant interest. Interest payments or dividends from investment income are not included, but payments from stakes that athletes have sold are.