Top Earners on the 2019 Highest Paid Athletes List
The 2019 Forbes highest paid athletes ranking placed Cristiano Ronaldo first with total earnings of approximately $275 million, driven by a large salary and major endorsement deals. Lionel Messi ranked second with around $127 million, while Neymar followed in third with roughly $105 million, all figures sourced from the Forbes annual list of highest paid athletes.
Forbes reported that the top 100 athletes collectively earned a record $3.8 billion in 2019, with the average earnings for the top 10 exceeding $100 million. The list included a mix of soccer, basketball, and American football stars, with salary, bonuses, and off-field income calculated over a 12-month period ending in June 2019.
Breakdown of Earnings by Sport and Income Source
Soccer players dominated the top of the 2019 ranking, with Ronaldo, Messi, and Neymar occupying the first three spots and earning the majority of their income from salaries at clubs such as Juventus, Barcelona, and Paris Saint-Germain. Endorsement contracts with brands like Nike, Adidas, and Red Bull contributed significantly to their total income, as detailed in the Forbes methodology for athlete earnings.
NBA stars such as Stephen Curry, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant ranked high on the list, with Curry earning around $79 million and James close behind at roughly $89 million, combining salaries from the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers with off-court business ventures. The NFL also appeared strongly, with Dak Prescott and Aaron Rodgers among the top paid American football players, their earnings reflecting large contracts and performance bonuses.
How Forbes Calculates Total Income for the 2019 Athletes List
Forbes calculated total earnings by combining salary and winnings with estimated pretax income from endorsements, using public contracts, team filings, and interviews with agents and managers. The methodology excluded investment income and focuses on active earnings during the measurement period, a process explained in detail on the Forbes highest paid athletes page.
The ranking highlights the growing role of off-field income, with athletes like Conor McGregor and Lionel Messi earning substantial sums from sponsorships, appearances, and business ventures outside their sport. Data for the list is cross-checked against sources such as team salary caps, SEC filings for publicly traded sports organizations, and brand partnership announcements reported by Forbes.