Overview

• In 2024, 62-year-old Michael Jordan amassed $300 million from a 5 percent Nike Air Jordan royalty, sale of the Charlotte Hornets and sponsorship deals.
• Cristiano Ronaldo remains the highest-paid active athlete with $275 million in 2024 earnings at Al-Nassr, according to Forbes.
• Lionel Messi earned $135 million in the same period through his Inter Miami salary and global endorsement agreements.
• Boxer Saúl ‘Canelo’ Álvarez secured $80 million between May 2024 and May 2025, placing him 22nd on Forbes’s list of top athlete earners.
• Kylian Mbappé’s €32 million gross salary at Real Madrid highlights the widening gap between legacy royalty models and on-field contracts.