10 Highest-Earning Sportsmen In The World [2025]

With hefty paychecks among the motivations for people’s engagement in professional sports, it’s quite fascinating that some individuals have leveraged their athletic talent and influence to become the world’s highest-paid sportsmen.

Therefore, this post will walk you through a well-researched list of the top 10 highest-earning sportsmen in the world in 2025.

Cristiano Ronaldo [$275 million]

Cristiano Ronaldo is the world’s highest-earning sportsman in 2025, thanks to his mega contract with Al-Nassr, massive social media fan base, and mega endorsement deals, among others.

Ronaldo’s 2025 earnings stand at $275 million, and the bulk of the earnings stem from the sportsman’s playing contract. While his appeal as a globally recognized sportsman is worth reckoning, Ronaldo has also made significant fortune.

His move to Al-Nassr has especially elevated the appeal of the Saudi Pro League. The legendary footballer boasts a great deal of high-profile achievements including 900+ career goals, 5 Ballon d’Or awards, and 5 UCL titles, among others.

Stephen Curry [$156 million]

Stephen Curry is a basketball superstar, and his $156 million earnings make him the second-highest-earning sportsman in 2025. Besides his self-owned Curry Brand, Curry maintains a substantial number of financial streams, including major deals with JPMorgan Chase and Under Armour, among others.

Regarding his 2025 NBA earnings, Curry reportedly earned around $50 million. The basketball superstar holds an enviable record as the first NBA star to reach 4,000 career 3-pointers. NBA’s Stephen Curry is undeniably one of the high-profile sportsmen in the world, and it’s quite unsurprising to find him in the list of the world’s highest-earning athletes in 2025.

Tyson Fury [$146 million]

Tyson Fury is one of the top personalities in heavyweight boxing. While he appears to be the highest-earning boxer in 2025, he’s also the third highest-earning sportsman in the world.

The British sportsman has not only made a huge impact in boxing, but also amassed a lot of wealth. His income sources include Furocity (Fury’s self-owned protein and energy drink company), and his earnings have been estimated to be $146 million.

Dak Prescott [$137 million]

Dak Prescott plays as a quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, and his on-field effort has yielded him great financial success. Meanwhile, his huge annual earnings have been attributed to multiple investments and his deal with the Dallas Cowboys.

While the NFL superstar is said to hold investments in brands like GLOW Beverages and Real Truck, his mega deal with the Dallas Cowboys attracts incentives and front-loaded bonuses.

Based on the verifiable data at our disposal, Prescott is the fourth highest-earning sportsman in 2025, thanks to his earnings estimated at $137 million.

Lionel Messi [$135 million]

Lionel Messi is a high-profile footballer who comes behind only Cristiano Ronaldo as the second richest “world-recognized” footballer.

Through endorsement deals with top brands like Pepsi and Adidas, Messi significantly magnifies his earnings, and it’s unsurprising that his earnings of $135 million make him the world’s fifth highest-earning sportsman in 2025.

Lionel Messi is currently signed with MLS football club Inter Miami CF, and he helped the club win its first-ever trophy. Meanwhile, his legendary football achievements include 800+ career goals, record 8 Ballon d’Or awards, and four UCL titles, among others.

LeBron James [$133.8 million]

On and off the field of play, LeBron James is a great personality. While his off-the-court successes include endorsement deals with top brands like Samsung, Intel, and Nike, his on-the-court achievements make him one of the greatest basketball players.

Moreover, James holds investments in ventures like Fenway Sports Group, and Blaze Pizza. His mega endorsement deals have largely combined with his on-field paycheck to give him earnings of $133.8 million in 2025. With that said, it’s really noteworthy that LeBron James is the all-time leading scorer in the NBA.

Juan Soto [$114 million]

Thanks to his endorsement deals with multiple brands –including Under Armour, Glu Mobile, and Wilson Sporting Goods –Juan Soto earns significantly outside his playing contract with the Mets.

26-year-old Soto has received plaudits for his impressive play and spectacular skills as a baseball player. His current 15-year deal with the Mets –a deal worth over $700 million –has been described as the most expensive baseball contract. Earnings from the deal combine with Soto’s multiple endorsement deals, thereby making the baseball superstar one of the highest-earning sportsmen in the world.

Soto’s earnings have been estimated to be $114 million, making him the world’s seventh highest-earning athlete in 2025

Karim Benzema [$104 million]

Karim Benzema is a football superstar in endorsement deals with top brands like Adidas, Hyundai, and EA Sports. He is currently signed with Saudi Arabian football club Al-Ittihad where he rakes in hefty figures.

Benzema is one of the top 10 highest-earning sportsmen in 2025, as his earnings have been estimated to be $104 million. The Frenchman and former Real Madrid forward is currently among the highest-paid footballers, thanks to his mega deal with Al-Ittihad.

Shohei Ohtani [$102.5 million]

Shohei Ohtani is another baseball superstar in this list of the world’s highest-earning sportsmen in 2025. While he’s said to be in endorsement deals with multiple top brands, including Seiko Watch, New Balance, and Kose, the deals significantly combine with Ohtani’s on-field earnings.

Ohtani has, of course, earned plaudits as an exceptional hitter and pitcher, and his great talent appears to have attracted huge endorsement earnings in excess of $50 million. While his overall earnings stand at $102.5 million, the Japanese baseball player takes the ninth position among the world’s highest-earning sportsmen in 2025.

Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant is one of the highest-paid basketballers, and his reputation in the NBA appears to be the reason behind his endorsement deals with top brands including Nike, FanDuel, and Fanatics.

Durant’s off-the-court engagement also indicates that the NBA superstar holds investments in a great deal of companies including sports media and tech outfits. The American basketballer’s earnings of $101.4 million make him the world’s 10^th highest-earning sportsman in 2025.

Conclusion

At this juncture, we want to believe we’ve furnished you with a credible list of the world’s highest-earning sportsmen in 2025, with earnings of $275 million keeping Cristiano Ronaldo atop the list.

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