Top 10 Richest Athletes in the World
The ten wealthiest athletes in the world, ranked by CelebrityNetWorth and republished here with the business behind each fortune and the date of the figure. Athletes move up this list through equity, not salaries.
Last reviewed: Read our methodology
The ranking at a glance
The top three in this ranking, based on our dated estimates.
The richest athletes in the world
- 1
Michael JordanNike royalties, Charlotte Hornets sale · Nov 3, 2026$3.6B - 2
Vince McMahonWWE sale to Endeavor, TKO shares · Nov 3, 2026$3.2B - 3
Ion ȚiriacBanking, insurance, car dealerships, tennis · Nov 3, 2026$2.4B - 4
Magic JohnsonEquity stakes, insurance, sports ownership · Nov 3, 2026$1.6B - 5
Junior BridgemanWendy’s franchises, Coca-Cola bottling, Bucks stake · Nov 3, 2026$1.5B - 6
Tiger WoodsPrize money, endorsements, course design · Nov 3, 2026$1.3B - 7
Cristiano RonaldoAl Nassr contract, CR7 brand, endorsements · Nov 3, 2026$1.2B - 8
Lionel MessiInter Miami deal, Adidas, Apple revenue share · Nov 3, 2026$1B - 9
Anna KasprzakECCO shoe fortune · Nov 3, 2026$1B - 10
LeBron JamesNBA salary, Nike lifetime deal, SpringHill · Nov 3, 2026$850M
| Rank | Person | Estimated net worth | Main wealth source | Estimate date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.6B | Nike royalties, Charlotte Hornets sale | ||
| 2 | $3.2B | WWE sale to Endeavor, TKO shares | ||
| 3 | $2.4B | Banking, insurance, car dealerships, tennis | ||
| 4 | $1.6B | Equity stakes, insurance, sports ownership | ||
| 5 | $1.5B | Wendy’s franchises, Coca-Cola bottling, Bucks stake | ||
| 6 | $1.3B | Prize money, endorsements, course design | ||
| 7 | $1.2B | Al Nassr contract, CR7 brand, endorsements | ||
| 8 | $1B | Inter Miami deal, Adidas, Apple revenue share | ||
| 9 | $1B | ECCO shoe fortune | ||
| 10 | $850M | NBA salary, Nike lifetime deal, SpringHill |
Behind the fortunes
A closer look at each name on this list: how the money was made and where it sits today.
1. Michael Jordan
$3.6BMichael Jordan won six championships with the Chicago Bulls and then turned that fame into an unusually durable business career. His Nike royalties and the sale of the Charlotte Hornets did most of the work.
View Michael Jordan's profile2. Vince McMahon
$3.2BVince McMahon took over his father’s regional wrestling territory and spent four decades turning it into a global entertainment company. The 2023 sale to Endeavor converted most of his holding into TKO Group shares.
View Vince McMahon's profile3. Ion Țiriac
$2.4BIon Țiriac played Davis Cup tennis for Romania, coached Ilie Năstase and then built a business group spanning banking, insurance, car retail and the Madrid tennis tournament.
View Ion Țiriac's profile4. Magic Johnson
$1.6BMagic Johnson won five championships with the Los Angeles Lakers and then built Magic Johnson Enterprises, a group with interests in insurance, food service and sports ownership.
View Magic Johnson's profile5. Junior Bridgeman
$1.5BJunior Bridgeman played twelve NBA seasons without ever making an All-Star team, then built a fast-food and bottling business that outgrew his playing income many times over.
View Junior Bridgeman's profile6. Tiger Woods
$1.3BTiger Woods won fifteen major championships and reshaped the economics of golf. Endorsements, appearance fees and prize money made him the sport’s first billionaire.
View Tiger Woods's profile7. Cristiano Ronaldo
$1.2BCristiano Ronaldo has scored more competitive goals than any player in history and turned that record into a business empire of hotels, clothing and endorsements.
View Cristiano Ronaldo's profile8. Lionel Messi
$1BLionel Messi won eight Ballon d’Or awards and the 2022 World Cup, then joined Inter Miami in a deal that included equity-like participation in the league’s streaming revenue.
View Lionel Messi's profile9. Anna Kasprzak
$1BAnna Kasprzak competed for Denmark at two Olympic Games while her personal wealth came from the ECCO shoe business founded by her grandfather Karl Toosbuy.
View Anna Kasprzak's profile10. LeBron James
$850MLeBron James became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer in 2023 and has spent his career converting endorsement income into equity, media production and sports ownership.
View LeBron James's profile
How this list is compiled
Every entry is pulled from our shared profile dataset and sorted by estimated net worth in US dollars. Each estimate adds up documented assets, such as reported contracts, endorsement income, company stakes and property, and subtracts known debts. These are editorial estimates, not financial advice.
Read our methodology