Top Earners and Total Income in 2017
The 2017 highest paid athletes list, based on Forbes annual ranking, shows Cristiano Ronaldo as the top earner with an estimated $93 million in total income, combining salary and endorsements, ahead of Lionel Messi at $80 million and Cristiano Ronaldo's Real Madrid salary package, according to Forbes. LeBron James followed with $86 million, driven by a $33 million NBA salary with the Cleveland Cavaliers and a substantial off-court earnings mix of business ventures and deals, per Forbes.
The 2017 ranking highlights how endorsement income and team contracts shape the top positions, with Cristiano Ronaldo's deal with Nike and other sponsors adding roughly $60 million to his earnings, while Lionel Messi's Barcelona contract and endorsements from Adidas and Pepsi contributed to his $80 million total, as reported by Forbes. The list also shows how salary structures in major leagues and international transfers affect total income, with Cristiano Ronaldo's move to Juventus in 2018 signaling a shift in earnings potential for elite footballers.
Sport-by-Sport Breakdown and Income Sources
Soccer and Basketball Dominance
Soccer players occupied the top positions in the 2017 list, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Neymar earning the highest combined salaries and endorsement deals, reflecting the global revenue of leagues such as La Liga and Serie A, per Forbes. In the NBA, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Kobe Bryant, who retired in 2016 but remained on the 2017 list, earned significant income from player contracts with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors, plus deals with companies like Nike and Beats by Dre.
Endorsement Revenue and Brand Partnerships
Endorsements formed a large share of income for the highest paid athletes 2017, with Cristiano Ronaldo's long-term Nike contract and Lionel Messi's Adidas deal generating tens of millions annually, while LeBron James leveraged his brand through SpringHill Company and product lines, as noted by Forbes. Other athletes, such as Roger Federer and Tiger Woods, relied on endorsement income from Rolex, Mercedes-Benz, and Nike, with Federer's off-court earnings exceeding his tournament prize money in several years.
Team Contracts, Leagues, and Business Structures
Team salaries in the NBA, NFL, and European football leagues directly influenced the 2017 rankings, with LeBron James's $33 million Cavaliers contract and Cristiano Ronaldo's Real Madrid earnings of roughly $93 million total income driven by salary and image rights, as reported by Forbes. The NFL's highest paid players, such as Dak Prescott and Matt Ryan, earned multi-year contracts with the Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons, while the Premier League's top earners included Cristiano Ronaldo before his transfer and Lionel Messi at Barcelona.
Business structures such as image rights companies, trusts, and endorsements allow top athletes to optimize tax and income, with Cristiano Ronaldo's CR7 brand and LeBron James's SpringHill Company generating revenue beyond playing contracts, as detailed by Forbes. The 2017 data also reflects how media rights, sponsorship deals with global brands, and league revenue sharing contribute to the total income of the highest paid athletes, with the NBA's salary cap system and European football's FFP rules shaping earnings.