Sports Pay Well
Most athletes get into professional sports for the love of the game; however, the money that they get paid is an added bonus. Many athletes sign multi-million contracts to play for their teams, which can set them up forever. Athletes get paid based on their skill and performance level. The better an athlete is, the more money they will make. Here are the wealthiest athletes of all time.
Ayrton Senna- $400 Million
Ayrton Senna was a race car driver. Before he died during a race in 1994, he had won three world titles and 41 races. When he died, he was worth $400 million.
Andre Agassi- $470 Million
Andre Agassi is a tennis player who has one multiple Grand Slam championships. He also won an Olympic Gold medal. Andre earned a lot of money playing tennis, but he also made a lot of money through endorsements. His contact with Nike alone paid out over $140 million over ten years. Currently, he has a net worth of $470 million.
Eddie Jordan- $475 Million
Eddie Jordan was a motorsport team boss in Dublin, Ireland. After retiring, he covered for Formula Races for BBC for many years. He also joined Top Gear as a presenter. He is currently worth $475 million.
Evander Holyfield- $475 Million
Evander Holyfield is one of the greatest boxers of all time. His highest paying fight was against Mike Tyson, where he earned $34 million. During this fight, Tyson bit off part of his ear. Regardless of his impressive earnings, he faced foreclosure on his Atlanta estate. He also faced lawsuits for unpaid child support.
Kevin Garnett- $480 Million
Kevin played in the NBA for 22 years. Today, he works on TNT’s Inside the NBA as a consultant for the Los Angeles Clippers. His basketball career and his projects after have earned him $480 million.
Peyton Manning- $480 Million
Peyton Manning is a Super Bowl-winning quarterback and is one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. Since he retired, he is still making a lot of money through endorsements. He has done commercials for DirectTV, Gatorade, Nationwide, Papa John’s, and many more. He is currently worth $480 million.
Derek Jeter- $490 Million
Derek Jeter played shortstop for the New York Yankees. He is also part-owner of the Miami Marlins. Over the years, he has had many product endorsements, which has helped his lifetime earnings reach $490 million.
Manny Pacquiao- $510 Million
Manny Pacquiao, the wealthiest athletes, has managed to make a lot of money as a boxer. His 2015 fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. earned him $125 million. Currently, he is worth about $510 million, and he is a senator in the Philippines.
Oscar De La Hoya- $520 Million
Oscar De La Hoya’s fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. was the biggest match in the history of pay-per-view for years, up until Manny Pacquiao fought Mayweather. He was an announcer during that fight, and he earned $52 million. His total career earnings are $520 million.
Jeff Gordon- $525 Million
Jeff Gordon is a retired NASCAR driver. During his career, he won 93 races, which is currently the world record. Today, he is an announcer for FOX. He has earned $525 million during his career, which is pretty amazing.
Alex Rodriguez- $575 Million
Alex Rodriguez, aka A-Rod, played for the MLB for 22 seasons and has earned a lot of money. Today, he works as a FOX Sports analyst. He is engaged to Jennifer Lopez and has earned $575 million during his career.
Michael Jordan- $1.85 Billion
Micheal Jordan, the wealthiest athletes, earned a lot of his money playing in the NBA. He also has endorsement deals with Nike, Gatorade, Hanes, and many others. What pushed his net worth over the $1 billion mark was his purchase of the Charlotte Bobcats, now called the Charlotte Hornets. He bought the team for $175 million in 2010, and this single investment earned him $780 million. His total career earnings are $1.85 billion.
Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss- $600 Million Each
These twins are Olympic rowers, but the bulk of their money came when they sued Mark Zuckerberg for their part in creating Facebook. They were also early investors in Bitcoin. Although the value rises and falls often, their investment earned them about $600 million each.
Magic Johnson- $600 Million
Magic Johnson is a legendary basketball player. In 1991, he announced that he had HIV, and has become an inspiration for others who are suffering from the disease. After retiring, he created Magic Johnson Enterprises and has partnered with Sony and Starbucks. He also owns the Los Angeles Dodgers. He has been very successful over the years and has earned $600 million.
Mike Tyson- $700 Million
Mike Tyson was the youngest heavyweight champion in boxing history, the wealthiest athletes. Sadly, he blew his entire fortune and had to file for bankruptcy in 2003. He may have been down, but not for good. He managed to bounce back with a career in acting, and some very lucrative business partnerships;
