Michael Jordan is the highest-paid athlete of all time, earning over $1 billion more than any other athlete in inflation-adjusted earnings during his career.
While Jordan only made $94 million from NBA contracts during his time playing for the Bulls and Wizards, Jordan has raked in the money with off-court endorsements and brand deals.
Jordan is just one of nine all-time athletes to earn more than $1 billion in non-inflation athlete earnings, with the basketball legend also topping the list for all-time non-inflation earnings with $2.7 billion.
The figures for each athlete were reported by Sporticowith Jordan benefiting largely from being retired for over twenty years and seeing his investments grow.
Last year alone, the Jordan brand, part of Nike, had sales of $6.6 billion. Nike had a total of $51 billion. Jordan has had a royalty-based partnership with Nike since he first joined the Bulls in 1984.
Jordan’s brand deal, like the one with Nike, has made him the highest-paid athlete ever
Woods is the highest-earning active athlete ever, earning almost $2 billion without inflation
Sportico provided both the earnings of the top 50 athletes and their earnings adjusted for the period’s inflation. The athlete with the first debut on the list is Gary Player in 1953, who narrowly defeated Arnold Palmer in 1954.
Palmer is one of the highest earners, including fourth-highest inflation overall, at $1.76 billion. Without inflated figures, he only made $885 million.
Tied between Jordan and Palmer are Tiger Woods and Cristiano Ronaldo, with Woods the only other athlete to cross the all-time $2 billion mark at $2.66 billion with inflation adjustments.
Ronaldo’s move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr helped the Portugal international reach third place with inflation-adjusted earnings of $1.92 billion.
There are only four active athletes in the top 10, with LeBron James at No. 5, with $1.7 billion earned. His total, not adjusted for inflation, is $1.36 billion.
There is a tie for sixth in inflation-adjusted earnings between Lionel Messi and Jack Nicklaus, although the current Inter Miami star has earned far more than ‘The Golden Bear’ of all time, not adjusted for inflation.
Messi has earned $1.36 billion all-time, compared to Nicklaus’ $890 million.
Messi’s Inter Miami boss David Beckham comes in at No. 8 after long spells at Real Madrid and Manchester United at $1.13 billion before the inflation adjustment.
The top 10 is completed by Roger Federer and Floyd Mayweather, who both earn a billion with the adjustments.
The top 16 have all earned more than a billion when adjusted for inflation, including Neymar at number 16 with $1.01 billion.
Only one woman cracked the top 50, Serena Williams tied at number 40 with former boxer Evander Holyfield, both of whom, adjusted, made $630 million all-time.
The most represented sport in the top 50 is basketball, with a dozen players earning $13 billion combined with inflation.
Golf, boxing and racing, which bring together athletes from NASCAR and Formula 1, all have more than five members in the top 50.
Ronaldo is number 3 overall and the highest paid football player in history, thanks in part to Al-Nassr
James is ranked No. 5 on the list and is a good bet to move up the rankings as his career progresses
Only two athletes on the list retired from the list before the year 2000: George Foreman, who is likely to get a boost to No. 26 overall due to his entrepreneurial career, and Magic Johnson, who is ranked third at number three.
Barely on the list at number 50 is Conor McGregor, the only mixed martial artist on the list, who has earned $555 million when adjusted for inflation.
McGregor is also the only athlete on the list who is the sole representative of his or her sport.
Even with football being America’s most popular sport, Tom Brady is 23rd overall.