- Cristiano Ronaldo topped the 2024 highest-paid athletes list with $260 million, out-earning stars like Steph Curry and Lionel Messi
- Despite the massive earnings in professional sports, no female athlete made it into the top 100, which reflects the ongoing gender pay gap
- NBA star Steph Curry ranked second with $153.8 million, fueled by $100 million in endorsements, while Tyson Fury secured third place with $147 million
Al-Nassr star forward Cristiano Ronaldo has once again proved his financial dominance in sports, emerging as the highest-paid athlete of 2024 with an astonishing $260 million in earnings.
At 40 years old, the Portuguese legend has shown no signs of slowing down, securing his top spot through a massive $215 million from salary and winnings at Al-Nassr and the Portugal national team with his off-the-field endorsements contributing another $45 million.
Ronaldo’s transition to Saudi Arabia had been nothing short of extraordinary. Since joining Al-Nassr, he has scored 82 goals in 90 appearances, breaking records and inspiring a wave of high-profile moves to the Saudi Pro League. Notably, in September 2023, he became the first player to score 900 career goals and he is well on his way to a thousand goals.
While Ronaldo led the way, two other Saudi football stars also made it into the top 10; Neymar (now in Santos FC, Brazil) and Karim Benzema. Their lucrative Saudi contracts ensured that football maintained its dominance among the world’s wealthiest athletes.
Trailing behind Ronaldo, NBA superstar Steph Curry ranked second, earning an estimated $153.8 million.
Though the Golden State Warriors struggled in the NBA, Curry’s brand power remained strong, with $100 million of his earnings coming from endorsements. He also played a key role in Team USA’s gold medal win at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
British boxer Tyson Fury made third place with $147 million in earnings, while Lionel Messi followed in fourth with $135 million. The Argentine legend had boosted his financial portfolio after moving to Inter Miami, raking in $75 million through endorsements.
LeBron James rounded out the top five with $133.2 million, despite the Los Angeles Lakers' mixed fortunes.
Notably, no female athletes featured in the top 100, reflecting the persistent pay disparity in professional sports. The highest-earning woman in 2024, Coco Gauff, earned $30.4 million, far below the $37.5 million earned by Daniel Jones, the lowest-ranked male athlete on the list.
In total, the top 100 athletes amassed a staggering $6.2 billion, with $4.8 billion coming from salaries and prize money, and $1.4 billion from endorsements. Despite the staggering figures, the absence of female representation remains a glaring issue in sports finance.
Ronaldo to Europe? Mourinho plans to bring back Cristiano to stop Osimhen’s dominance in Turkey
Previously, TheRadar reported that Cristiano Ronaldo, one of football’s most celebrated icons, is reportedly being courted by José Mourinho for a newsbreaking reunion at Fenerbahçe.
According to Turkish outlet Fotomac, Mourinho, who currently manages the Turkish giants, has been in contact with Ronaldo to weigh the possibility of bringing the five-time Ballon d’Or winner back to European football.
