MUMBAI: India cricket captain Virat Kohli is the only Indian on Forbes’ Top 100 list of the world’s highest-paid athletes, ranked 83rd with earnings of $24 million.
The Forbes ranking is topped by professional boxer Floyd Mayweather, who has earned bragging rights as the world’s highest-paid athlete for the fourth time in seven years, banking a massive $285 million over the last 12 months.
Mayweather heads the world’s highest-paid athletes thanks to a $275 million payday for his August boxing match against UFC star Conor McGregor. The Irish MMA fighter raked in the highest pay day of his career by a long mile, taking home $85 million for his efforts.
As for Kohli, the 29-year-old batting sensation’s earnings of $24 million comprise $4 million through salary and winnings and $20 million through brand endorsements.
Kohli, is not just cricket-crazy India’s biggest name but also one of the most popular athletes in the world, “boasting more Twitter followers (25 million-plus) than all but three active sports stars”, Forbes said.
No women on list
Forbes said tennis’ female sportspersons Li Na, Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams were list regulars but Li retired in 2014 and Sharapova is still dealing with the aftermath of a 15-month suspension for using a banned substance. Williams was the only woman to feature in the top 100 last year, but her prize money dropped from $8 million to $62,000 this year following the birth of her daughter, Olympia, last September.
This year 40 NBA players made the cut in Forbes’ annual look at the world’s 100 highest-paid athletes, breaking the record of 32 set last year.
NBA’s top earner LeBron James banked $85.5 million, including endorsements, over the last 12 months to rank sixth among the highest-paid athletes.
Argentine footballing great Lionel Messi is ranked second in the list, followed by long time Portuguese rival Cristiano Ronaldo. Messi’s annual salary and bonus exceeded $80 million, making him the highest-paid player on the pitch this year. He ranks second overall with $111 million, including $27 million through endorsement deals with Adidas, Gatorade, Pepsi and Huawei. Ronaldo’s $108 million haul over the past 12 months comes from $61 million in salary and bonuses and the remainder from endorsements.
Mayweather, Ronaldo and Tiger Woods are the only three athletes to top the best-paid list over the past 18 years. Woods ranks 16th this year with $43.3 million.
Brazilian soccer player Neymar is the third soccer star in the top five. He jumps 13 spots to fifth with an income of $90 million, including $19 million from endorsement partners. Other notable names on the list are Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer (7), his spanish rival Rafael Nadal (20) and golfer Rory McIlroy (26).
Forbes said it was harder than ever to qualify for the 100 highest-paid athletes, with the cutoff up $1.5 million to $22.9 million. The top 100 earned $3.8 billion, a 23% jump over last year.
Salaries and prize money are up significantly, but endorsement earnings fell for the second straight year to $877 million as companies watch their sports marketing budgets.
The top 100 has an international flavour with athletes from 22 countries, but Americans dominate the action with 66 making the cut thanks to sky-high salaries in baseball, basketball and American football. Those three sports had a combined 72 entries, Forbes noted.
