By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday October 11, 2023
Roger Federer hasn’t been on the tennis court in a long while, but the 20-time major champion is still the ninth highest-paid athlete in the world, according to Forbes.
Federer made $95 million in off-court activities from the period from May 1, 2022 to May 1, 2023, to make Forbes list again.
Here are how the Top-10 earners stack up.
Cristiano Ronaldo - $136 million (46 on the field, 90 off)
Lionel Messi - $130 million (65 on the field, 65 off the field)
Kylian Mbappé - $120 million (100 on the field, 20 off)
LeBron James - $119.5 million (44.5 on the court, 75 off)
Canelo Alvarez - $110 million (100 in the ring, 10 off)
Dustin Johnson - $107 million (102 on the course, 5 off)
Phil Mickelson - $106 million (104 on the course, 4 off)
Steph Curry - $100.4 million (48.4 on the court, 52 off)
Roger Federer - $95.1 million (.1 on the court, 95 off)
Kevin Durant - $89.1 million (44.1 on the court, 45 off)
Here is an explanation of the methodology of Forbes Top-10 list:
Forbes’ on-field earnings figures include all prize money, salaries and bonuses earned between May 1, 2022, and May 1, 2023. Off-field earnings figures are an estimate of sponsorship deals, appearance fees and memorabilia and licensing income for the 12 months leading to May 1, 2023, plus cash returns from any businesses operated by the athlete, based on conversations with industry insiders. Forbes does not include investment income such as interest payments or dividends but does account for payouts from equity stakes athletes have sold. Forbes does not deduct for taxes or agents’ fees.
Serena Williams, the Only Woman in the Top 50
Serena Williams’ 12-month total of $45.3 million in earnings makes her the only woman to rank in the top 50.
According to Forbes, Williams has been a stalwart of the list, ranking in the top 50 six times in the last nine years and making more than $470 million in all since turning pro in 1995. But this will be her last year on the list, as well as Federer, only non-retired athletes are eligible.
Naomi Osaka could take her place next year. The Japanese megastar set an earnings record for female athletes with an estimated $60 million in the 12 months ending May 1, 2021 (12th on the list). The following year Osaka nearly matched that mark with $59.2 million, coming in at No. 19 on the earnings list.
Osaka, who has been off the court due to pregnancy, falls out of the ranks of the 50 highest-paid athletes this year for the first time since 2019.