The world?s highest-paid athletes

[HopJokey]

http://sports.yahoo.com/top/ne...09&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

No surprise who is number 1. It looks like Kobe has fully recovered from his CO incident (both on and off the court).

NFL players get paid the least due to their CBA and "weak" Union. They have the shortest careers, their league brings in the most revenues but they get paid the least.


Here's the list for those who want to avoid the slideshow [June 2008 - June 2009]:

1) Tiger Woods - $110 million (Golf)

2t) Kobe Bryant - $45 million (Basketball)

Michael Jordan - $45 million (Basketball)

Kimi Raikkonen - $45 million (Race Car, F1)

5) David Beckham - $42 million (Soccer)

6t) Lebron James - $40 million (Basektball)

Phil Mickelson - $40 million (Golf)

Manny Pacquiao - $40 million (Boxing)

9) Valentino Rossi - $35 million (Motorcycle, MotoGP)

10) Dale Earnhardt Jr. - $34 million (Race Car, NASCAR)

11t) Roger Federer - $33 million (Tennis)

Shaquille O'Neal - $33 million (Basketball)

13t) Oscar De La Hoya - $32 million (Boxing)

Lewis Hamilton - $32 million (Race Car, F1)

Alex Rodriguez - $32 million (Baseball)

16) Vijay Singh - $31 million (Golf)

17t) Kevin Garnett - $30 million (Basketball)

Jeff Gordon - $30 million (Race Car, NASCAR)

Derek Jeter - $30 million (Baseball)

Ronaldinho - $30 million (Soccer)

 

[SonnyDaze]

Tiger Woods?

 

[xanis]

Originally posted by: SonnyDaze
Tiger Woods?

You sound surprised. The dude is a fucking beast on the golf course, pretty much unstoppable. Not to mention that he rakes in the cash from all those Nike endorsement deals.

 

[rocadelpunk]

I see Hanes underwear is rewarding MJ handsomely

 

[Train]

of course theres going to be less standouts in football, the teams are what 7 times bigger than the other team sports? Also much larger coaching staffs. Theres a lot more people to spread the money around to.

Comparing individuals such as Paqioa and Woods to team sports isnt fair either.

 

[HopJokey]

I am pretty surprised that Phil Mickelson is number 6 with 40 million earned last year.

 

[zinfamous]

lulz, Michael Jordan still number 3, and hasn't played in ....5 years?

pimp.

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: Train
of course theres going to be less standouts in football, the teams are what 7 times bigger than the other team sports? Also much larger coaching staffs. Theres a lot more people to spread the money around to.

Comparing individuals such as Paqioa and Woods to team sports isnt fair either.

Football is one of the lowest paid US professional leagues.

few people realize that only a handful (at best) per team make $1 million+ per year. The average NFL career lasts some 2 years. So, so many "never-heard-ofs" have gone through the NFL. And many of those short careers end with permanent injuries.

 

[jonks]

How much did you make in the last 9 years?

TW: About a billion dollars.

Holy crap, what the hell do you do?

TW: I hit a ball with a stick.

That's it?

TW: Of course not. I can hit it really really far.

 

[Pepsei]

no surprise here. i'm surprised about kobe thou...

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: SonnyDaze
Tiger Woods?

That was my guess before reading the article.

Can't believe Kimi Raikkonen makes $45 million either...he hasn't exactly been performing lately.

 

[ric1287]

Originally posted by: Xanis

Originally posted by: SonnyDaze
Tiger Woods?

You sound surprised. The dude is a fucking beast on the golf course, pretty much unstoppable. Not to mention that he rakes in the cash from all those Nike endorsement deals.

he was guessing

 

[AstroManLuca]

Hmm, Ronaldinho is only 17th? I guess professional diving doesn't pay as well as some sports out there, though.

 

[Syringer]

Not too long ago Michael Schumacher was high on this list..where is he now? I don't want to click through to see.

 

[OCGuy]

KB24MVP

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

tiger is lucky he's good at golf cuz he is one ugly mofo.

 

[RagingBITCH]

Originally posted by: zinfamous

Originally posted by: Train
of course theres going to be less standouts in football, the teams are what 7 times bigger than the other team sports? Also much larger coaching staffs. Theres a lot more people to spread the money around to.

Comparing individuals such as Paqioa and Woods to team sports isnt fair either.

Football is one of the lowest paid US professional leagues.

few people realize that only a handful (at best) per team make $1 million+ per year. The average NFL career lasts some 2 years. So, so many "never-heard-ofs" have gone through the NFL. And many of those short careers end with permanent injuries.

Again, you're not taking into account the fact that each team has what, 82 players, huge coaching staff, etc? Your per player average salary gets dragged down when you have 50%+ of the roster making minimum wage. If football players had to carry smaller amounts of players like the NBA or MLB, then their salaries would be significantly larger. To the extents of NBA/MLB? Perhaps, perhaps not.

Football, as stated in the ARTICLE, also has a salary cap of $128M. Spread that out amongst a larger number of players, vs the NBA's of $59M, amongst a much smaller number of players. I'm pulling these numbers out of my arse, but if you spread out $128M amongst 82 football players (I'm assuming 82 as the league standard) that equates to $1.56M per player. Spread out $59M over the assumption of 12 players evenly, and that equates to $4.9M per player.

And even then - fvck, minimum wage in the NFL is around what, $275K a year? Oh god, poor NFL players for making so "little" warming the bench. In regards to injuries - professional athletes put themselves at risk/danger just by playing. It's part of the job.

 

[Deeko]

I'm a little surprised Kobe is #2

 

[InflatableBuddha]

Originally posted by: Syringer
Not too long ago Michael Schumacher was high on this list..where is he now? I don't want to click through to see.

He used to be #1 actually.

 

[Train]

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH

Originally posted by: zinfamous

Originally posted by: Train
of course theres going to be less standouts in football, the teams are what 7 times bigger than the other team sports? Also much larger coaching staffs. Theres a lot more people to spread the money around to.

Comparing individuals such as Paqioa and Woods to team sports isnt fair either.

Football is one of the lowest paid US professional leagues.

few people realize that only a handful (at best) per team make $1 million+ per year. The average NFL career lasts some 2 years. So, so many "never-heard-ofs" have gone through the NFL. And many of those short careers end with permanent injuries.

Again, you're not taking into account the fact that each team has what, 82 players, huge coaching staff, etc? Your per player average salary gets dragged down when you have 50%+ of the roster making minimum wage. If football players had to carry smaller amounts of players like the NBA or MLB, then their salaries would be significantly larger. To the extents of NBA/MLB? Perhaps, perhaps not.

And even then - fvck, minimum wage in the NFL is around what, $275K a year? Oh god, poor NFL players for making so "little" warming the bench. In regards to injuries - professional athletes put themselves at risk/danger just by playing. It's part of the job.

Ya I think Zin kinda missed the point. Some people dont read, they just respond.

 

[KeithTalent]

Why the hell does Forbes have to do everything as a god damned slideshow? So obnoxious.

KT

 

[JaYp146]

No. 2 Kimi Raikkonen

...Who?

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: JaYp146
No. 2 Kimi Raikkonen

...Who?

I'm assuming an F1 driver.

KT

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Originally posted by: zinfamous

Originally posted by: Train
of course theres going to be less standouts in football, the teams are what 7 times bigger than the other team sports? Also much larger coaching staffs. Theres a lot more people to spread the money around to.

Comparing individuals such as Paqioa and Woods to team sports isnt fair either.

Football is one of the lowest paid US professional leagues.

few people realize that only a handful (at best) per team make $1 million+ per year. The average NFL career lasts some 2 years. So, so many "never-heard-ofs" have gone through the NFL. And many of those short careers end with permanent injuries.

Football also has the least endorsement potential. Other than a few star QBs and a couple of WRs/RBs most of the players can't make a dime off the field. Golfers make a huge portion of their money through endorsement deals because golf fans spend a fortune on the sport. A guy like Tiger might make 10% of his money on the course and 90% off. Most football players make nearly 100% of their money on the field. Only guys like Manning and Brady make more off than on.

 

[StinkyPinky]

Reading these lists just depresses me. These guys earn more in a week than I will in a lifetime. Ouch.