1) Cristiano Ronaldo, Football, On-Field: $225 million | Off-Field: $50 million
The Portuguese international reportedly signed a two-year, nearly $700 million extension with Saudi club Al Nassr last June. Over the past year, Ronaldo has added investments in wearable tech company Whoop, porcelain manufacturer Vista Alegre, and supplement brand Bioniq.
2) Stephen Curry, Basketball, On-Field: $56 million | Off-Field: $100 million
Stephen Curry signed a one-year, $62.6 million extension with the Golden State Warriors in August 2024. The Golden State Warriors guard, who in March became the first NBA player to reach 4,000 career 3-pointers, extended his sneaker deal with snaker deal with Under Armour in 2023.
3) Tyson Fury, Boxing, On-Field: $140 million | Off-Field: $6 million
Former heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury is making $291,000-a-day in knock-out profits. "The Gypsy King" also has a partnership to promote tourism to Malta, and he has a Netflix reality show called At Home With the Furys.
4) Dak Prescott, American football, On-Field: $127 million | Off-Field: $10 million
Dak Prescott signed a four-year, $240 million contract extension with the Dallas Cowboys in September 2024, making him the NFL's highest-paid player at $60 million per year. Off the field, Prescott is enjoying sponsorships with several brands, including Nike’s Jordan Brand, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Lowe’s
5) Lionel Messi, Football, On-Field: $60 million | Off-Field: $75 million
As the highest-paid player in MLS history, the 38-year-old superstar earns $12 million per year, with the guaranteed compensation rising to about $20.5 million. Messi has a diverse portfolio of lucrative sponsorships, with key partners including a lifelong deal with Adidas, along with Apple, PepsiCo, Budweiser, Mastercard, Hard Rock International, and Gatorade.
6) LeBron James, Basketball, On-Field: $48.8 million | Off-Field: $85 million
LeBron James is in the final year of a two-year, $104 million maximum contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers, signed in July 2024, which pays him a base salary of roughly $52.6 million for the 2025-26 season. One of only two active athletes to have become billionaires, alongside Tiger Woods, James is the cofounder of the entertainment development and production company SpringHill.
7) Juan Soto, Baseball, On-Field: $109 million | Off-Field: $5 million
Juan Soto signed a historic 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets in December 2024, running from 2025 through 2039. The deal is the largest in professional sports history, featuring a $75 million signing bonus.
8) Karim Benzema, Football, On-Field: $100 million | Off-Field: $4 million
Karim Benzema's contract with Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad (signed in June 2023) is one of the most lucrative in football history, with reports indicating a total package worth around €200 million per season, including commercial deals. Off the field, Benzema largely stays out of the limelight, working with a select group of sponsors, including Adidas.
9) Shohei Ohtani, Baseball, On-Field: $2.5 million | Off-Field: $100 million
Shohei Ohtani’s 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers (signed Dec 2023) is unique due to massive deferrals, with $680 million paid between 2034–2043. He earns only $2 million annually from 2024 to 2033, allowing the team to maintain high payroll flexibility. He's built a robust sponsor portfolio that includes Celsius, Under Armour, Presidente, Banreservas Bank, and Wilson.
10) Kevin Durant, Basketball, On-Field: $51.4 million | Off-Field: $50 million
Kevin Durant signed a two-year, $90 million contract extension with the Houston Rockets in October 2025, which runs through the 2027-28 season. Kevin Durant has one of the NBA's most lucrative endorsement portfolios, anchored by a lifetime Nike contract and estimated annual off-court earnings of $50 million.
(The list is based on the information distributed by Forbes)
