Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Nicholas Schwartz

Where LeBron James ranks among the world’s highest-paid athletes in 2023

LeBron James USA TODAY Sports Cristiano Ronaldo Yukihito Taguchi Lionel Messi

LeBron James has long been one of the most marketable athletes in sports, and he made the top five in Forbes latest list of the highest-paid athletes in the world.

James, however, doesn’t come close to the leading trio of soccer superstars, led by Cristiano Ronaldo.

Buy Lakers Tickets

Buoyed by an annual salary of $75 million from his new club Al-Nassr, Ronaldo’s on-field and off-field earnings reached a Forbes estimate of $136 million in 2023

Lionel Messi may have won the World Cup — and placed second on the Forbes 2023 list — but Ronaldo can at least celebrate another massive year of paydays.

Here is Forbes’ list of the highest-paid athletes in 2023:

1. Cristiano Ronaldo: $136 million

Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports

2. Lionel Messi: $130 million

Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports

3. Kylian Mbappé: $120 million

Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports

4. LeBron James: $119.5 million

Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

5. Canelo Álvarez: $110 million

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

6. Dustin Johnson: $107 million

Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports

7. Phil Mickelson: $106 million

Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports

8. Steph Curry: $100.4 million

Leon Bennett/Getty Images

9. Roger Federer: $95.1 million

Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

10. Kevin Durant: $89.1 million

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Did the Biden Administration Really Spend $8M on 'Transgender Mice'? Here's What You Need to Know
During his long speech, Trump claimed that former President Joe Biden's administration had spent a staggering $8 million on 'making mice transgender.'
International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
Influencers have trouble figuring out their tax obligations − and with good reason
The Internal Revenue Service hasn’t issued comprehensive guidance on how the estimated 27 million Americans earning income as influencers should report their income and expenses on their tax returns. That’s leaving people who either make a living or supplement their income by endorsing products and services on social media platforms…
The Conversation
The Conversation
Wooden spoons are making us sick? I thought that was fish slices
Another day, another health scare. I’m struggling to know which dangers I should take seriously, writes Arwa Mahdawi
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Magic in the air: how the slam dunk evolved alongside basketball
A new book charts the history and characters around one of the most thrilling and striking moves in all of sports
The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Ione Skye says she slept with Say Anything co-star John Cusack to ‘get it out of her system’
According to Skye, Cusack isn’t happy with her portrayal of the tryst
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Bill Murray finally denies ever dating Kelis: ‘Raised my cred a lot’
Rumours of a romance between the two first started in 2023
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play