What are the highest paid athletes in the world »Cristiano Ronaldo dominates the top, name of WWE, Motogp and Formula 1 are on the list
Article by Cezar Titor – published on Saturday, August 23, 2025, 19:23 / Updated on Saturday, August 23, 2025 19:23
A recent ranking made by Made Visual Daily and quoted by profit.ro It brings to the fore the best paid athletes in the world, and the results are, at times, surprising. At the top of the top, without a rival, is Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese star receives no less than $ 234 million a year at Nastr, Saudi Arabia, which turns him not only in the leader of this ranking, but also in the only footballer on the list.
The second place is the Spanish Jon Rahm, the revelation of the last years in the Gulf, who has managed to reach the impressive $ 100 million annually. The podium is completed by the Mexican Canelo Álvarez, one of the largest boxes, with revenues of $ 73 million.
What the top of the best paid athletes in the world looks like
-
Cristiano Ronaldo (Fobtal) – 234 million
-
John Rahm (Golf) – 100 million
-
Canelo Alvarez (Box) – 73 million
-
Max Verstappen (Formula 1) – 72 million
-
Shai Gilgeous -Alexander (Basketball, NBA) – 71.2 million
-
Shohei Ohtani (Baseball, MLB) – 70 million
-
Dak Prescott (American football, NFL) – 60 million
-
Kyle Busch (Nascar) – 16.9 million
-
Roman Reigns (WWE) – 15 million
-
Fabio Quartararo (Motogp) – 14 million
-
Leon Draisaitl (Hockey, NHL) – 14 million
Infographic with the top of the highest paid athletes in the world // source: Madevisual
Formula 1 is not missing from the top, through Max Verstappen, a world champion and the basic pilot of the Red Bull, which earns $ 72 million. Although there is a salary ceiling imposed on the teams, a consistent part of the pilots' income comes from bonuses and commercial contracts.
Motor sports are also represented by American Kyle Busch, Star Nascar, with $ 16.9 million, but also by French Fabio Quartararo, World Motogp Champion in 2021, The first “rider” in Hexagon that has achieved this performancewhich receives $ 14 million annually.
The United States also brings four athletes from “Big Four”: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (NBA, 71 million), Shohei Ohtani (MLB, 70 million), Dak Prescott (NFL, 60 million) and Leon Draisaitl (NHL, 14 million).
Perhaps the most surprising presence in the ranking is Roman Reigns, the WWE superstarmultiple champion and the central figure of the company in recent years, proof that the sports show and entertainment can go hand in hand when it comes to huge amounts.
