Dustin Johnson – Golfer, $50 Million Net Worth

Famous golfer Dustin Johnson has enjoyed quite the past few years, so it should come as that he’s worth $50 million. After all, he recently shot to worldwide stardom after clinching the 2020 Masters. Meanwhile, in addition to earning the famed green jacket, Johnson also married model Paulina Gretzky, the daughter of hockey great Wyne Gretzky, in 2014. Today, the couple has two sons, Tatum and River. Talk about sports royalty!

Despite his young age – for golf at least – Johnson has already become the fifth highest-earning golfer of all time. The 35-year-old recently had one of his biggest earning yet: $20 million for winning the 2020 FedEx Cup title.

Rory McIlroy – Golfer, $122 Million Net Worth

Formerly the number one golfer globally, Rory McIlroy has won four major championships, one of the few to accomplish this before turning 25. How do you get that good, that fast? Well, McIlory started playing and practicing golf at a very young age. It clearly paid off – just take a look at his $122 million net worth! Most notably, he earned over $15 million from the FedEx Cup and the Tour Championship in 2019 alone.

In the past few years, McIlory has started investing that money into everything from health management programs to futuristic golf software. It seems that someone is setting themselves up for retirement early – McIlory’s only 32-years-old!

Novak Djokovic – Tennis Player, $220 Million Net Worth

Novak Djokovic is a high-performing tennis player from Serbia, that is currently regarded as the best player in the world by both fans and The Association of Tennis Professionals. Djokovic is also the only player ever to have won every one of the elite tournaments included in the APT Tour. It’s certainly paid off – Djokovic is worth just over $220 million these days!

During all his years playing, Djokovic has won altogether $145 million from his different tournaments. Meanwhile, he is also known for working with Lacoste doing various endorsements. The exact compensation is not known, but we are talking about a deal that gives Djokovic eight figures per year, at the very minimum. That’s right!

Lebron James – NBA Player, $500 Million Net Worth

Now a pro basketball player for nearly two decades, Lebron James has become one of the greatest basketball players of all time. A role model for fans and aspiring athletes alike, James has not only played for the likes of the Los Angeles Lakers, but also earned two Olympic gold medals. Off the court, he’s known for his years of philanthropic work in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. Along the way, his skills and goodwill have also made James one of the wealthiest athletes in the world, with a whopping net worth of $500 million.

Of course, with a current salary of roughly $40 million, expect James’ millions only to keep increasing over time. Meanwhile, it certainly does not hurt that the basketball legend also makes over $55 million from endorsements every year.

Patrick Mahomes – NFL Player, $40 Million Net Worth

Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

In case you didn’t know, star quarterback Patrick Mahomes actually started out playing baseball. That’s right! That’s because his father is none other than professional baseball player Pat Mahomes. However, Patrick later decided to focus entirely on his football career. Today, Mahomes has won countless awards and enjoys a net worth of $40 million.

But this really is just the tip of the iceberg for Patrick. After all, he signed a ten-year, $450,000,000 contract with the Kansas City Chiefs, which he’s currently in the middle of. Expected to dominate the NFL for the foreseeable future, certainly all eyes will remain on the player to see if his performance was worth all that cash!

Serena Williams – Tennis Player and Team Owner, $200 Million Net Worth

This professional tennis player hardly needs any introduction. Serena Williams has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, been ranked number one multiple times, and has been regularly recognized by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) as one of the greatest to ever play. Her skill has also earned Williams a $200 million net worth. A few years ago, the tennis goddess took her millions and spent a good chunk to become part-owner of the Miami Dolphins, an NFL team.

Like so many other rich sports stars, Williams has slowly been setting herself up for the day she does choose to retire. In addition to becoming part-owner of the Dolphins, she also started her own fashion empire, S by Serena.

Kevin Durant – NBA Player, $164 Million Net Worth

Better known simply by his initials, K.D., NBA star Kevin Durant has played a myriad of teams since starting in 2007, including Seattle Supersonics, Oklahoma City Thunder, the Golden State Warriors, and most recently the Brooklyn Nets. Over the past 13 years, he’s managed to attend two NBA championships, as well as earn an NBA Most Valuable Player award, two Olympic medals, and plenty of significant endorsements. As such, he’s now worth a massive $164 million!

Meanwhile, it seems that Durant has already started to think about the days after he retires from the game of basketball. Over the past few years, he has invested in many tech companies, including an early investment in Postmates. Well, that was undoubtedly smart!

Paul George – NBA Player, $80 Million Net Worth

Pro basketball star Paul George started his career at Fresno State before being drafted into the NBA by the Indiana Pacers in 2010. It was a slow start for George, culminating in his win of Most Improved Player in 2013. However, now, his accomplishments include an Olympic gold medal and a net worth of $80 million!

So what does a famous basketball star do with all that money? Pick up a celebrity mansion, of course! Recently, George spent a whopping $16 million to pick up fellow NBA superstar DeAndre Jordan’s Los Angeles home. The 10 square foot Cape Cod home comes with everything one could want: a pool, home theater, wine room, and even “disappearing glass” windows.

Drew Brees – NFL Player, $160 Million Net Worth

Tulane Public Relations/Wikimedia Commons

In case you don’t know, the iconic Drew Brees started his football career playing at Purdue University. Then, in 2001, he turned pro with the San Diego Chargers. Now, he’s become of the sports’ biggest stars. Most notably, he signed with the New Orleans Saints in 2006 and eventually brought the team to their first Super Bowl win in 2009. So, it’s really no wonder he’s worth a whopping $160 million these days, thanks to earning roughly $45 million a year.

Now that Brees has retired from the football field, expect his net worth to drop a tad. However, since he recently picked up a job on the show NBC Sunday Night Football, we don’t expect it to drop too much…

Dak Prescott – NFL Player, $12 Million Net Worth

During his college years, quarterback Dak Prescott played for the Mississippi State Bulldogs and was later drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 2016. Prescott was quickly awarded the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and has since attended the Pro Bowl twice. Not too shabby! So, it’s really no wonder that he’s earned nearly $12 million as of this writing.

Prescott recently signed a new contract with the Cowboys this year – an agreement which will give him a salary of $42 million per year. While plenty of football fans probably heard about the contract, fewer heard about his incredible signing bonus of $66 million. That’s right! Not too shabby just for signing a paper, eh?

Stefon Diggs – NFL Player, $12.5 Million Net Worth

Throughout his years in the NFL, Stefon Diggs has undoubtedly earned quite a name for himself. Not only has he played for the likes of the Vikings and Bills, but he’s also headed to the Pro Bowl and came in in 7th as a sprinter during the prelims of the Bill Carver T&F Classic in 2011. Meanwhile, Diggs seems to have also been setting up a future career in the male modeling world. He often posts professional-looking photos of himself wearing expensive brands like Fear of God, R12, and Ralph Lauren.

Currently, Diggs’ net worth sits at roughly $12.5 million. With that said, many football experts that, within a few years, the star will have a net worth closer to $75 million, or possibly even $100 million. We’ll have to wait and see!

Russell Wilson – NFL Player, $115 Million Net Worth

A star athlete at the University of Wisconsin, current NFL star Russel Wilson has played for the Seattle Seahawks since 2012. Of course, Wilson’s now most famous for the Super Bowl ring around his finger, which he earned in 2013. The win pushed Wilson to A-list celebrity status, earning him plenty of major endorsements from brands like Nike. Now, he’s worth an incredible $115 million!

However, unlike many of the other wealthiest sports stars in the world, Wilson is not too picky about what endorsements he takes on. For instance, between 2018 and 2019, he made $90 million from endorsements alone. That’s nearly double what most of his fellow players earn. Add onto that his “regular” NFL salary of $35 million a year, and it no surprise he’s one of the wealthiest sports stars in the world!

Naomi Osaka – Tennis Player, $29 Million Net Worth

It certainly seems hard to believe, but world-famous tennis player Naomi Osaka is only 23-years-old. That’s right! Still, she’s already managed to win the U.S. Open in 2018 and the Australian Open in 2019. Next, she will represent Japan at the 2021 Olympics, as long as they are not rescheduled once again.

Believe it or not, Osaka has managed to earn her nearly $30 million net worth with few endorsements, as she has previously said she’s pretty shy. However, she’s recently started coming out of her shell – which has caused her net worth to bloom. Most recently, in early 2021, Osaka launched her first fashion brand, a line of swimsuits. She also caused quite the stir online by posting in the bikinis! She must not be too shy anymore!

Kyrie Irving – NBA Player, $90 Million Net Worth

Like many other future NBA stars, Kyrie Irving his basketball career in college, playing for Duke’s Blue Devils. Then, in 2011, he turned pro, playing for the  Cleveland Cavaliers. Soon enough, Irving had earned the title of Rookie of the Year, and the rest, as they say, is history. Now, the basketball legend’s worth nearly $100 million!

While his $35 million a year salary might be where Irving earns the bulk of his cash, a large amount comes from his endorsements, like most basketball players. Of course, you’re probably familiar with one of his biggest earners: the viral Pepsi ads featuring the star as elderly basketball player Uncle Drew. The character even received its own feature film in 2018.

Maria Sharapova – $195 Million Net Worth

There are few female tennis players who have managed to achieve more than Russian star Maria Sharapova. But, when you discover she started training at only six-years-old, it all makes sense! Now, Sharapova’s the only Russian to earn a Grand Tournament Slam in tennis, winning the title five times, and has also achieved the silver medal in the Olympics. These days, the tennis star has retired and, like many female athletes, started a very successful modeling and endorsement career. Now, she enjoys a net worth of $195 million!

Even today, more than a year after her retirement, Sharapova remains the third highest-earning female tennis player of all time, behind the Williams sisters. That’s quite the accomplishment to hold on to!

Sloane Stephens – Tennis Player, $15 Million Net Worth

For those not in the know, Sloane Stephens has taken the tennis world by storm, winning her first Wimbledon in 2018. In the three years since, she’s also managed to earn six WTA singles, a U.S. Championship, and endorsements from brands like Nike and Mercedes-Benz. The tennis star even created her own version of Air Jordans. What an honor! Thanks to all those deals, Stephens now enjoys a fantastic net worth of $15 million.

As stated, tennis players tend to make most of their money from endorsements. While Stephens might earn as much as $4 million a year from tennis tournaments, she earns nearly double that from appearing in ads. It’s really no wonder so many female tennis stars become models after they retire!

Conor McGregor – Mixed Martial Artist, $200 Million Net Worth

Even those not a fan of mixed martial arts have heard of this notorious Irishman, given all the headlines he’s caused over the past few years. MMA fighter Conor McGregor is a former lightweight UFC champion, still best remembered for knocking out José Aldo within thirteen seconds, the fastest win in UFC history. Afterward, McGregor earned a slew of endorsements, earning him millions. Today, he’s managed to keep $200 million of all that.

After a disappointing re-entry into the MMA in 2021, McGregor nowadays tends to focus more on his side projects, which are earning him more than he ever did in the ring. For instance, he managed to sell his own whiskey brand, Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey, this year for a whopping $600 million! While he won’t get all of that, McGregor’s net worth is sure to jump soon.

Aaron Rodgers – NFL Player, $120 Million Net Worth

Football star Aaron Rodgers has undoubtedly worked hard for his $120 million fortune.  Named as the Associated Press Athlete of the Year in 2011, few know that Rodgers actually had a bit of a rough start during his college years. However, he eventually found his place within the football team, overcoming the obstacles in front of him. Now, many consider Rodgers one of the greatest quarterbacks in football’s history.

Over the years, thanks to high-profile relationships with the likes of actress Shailene Woodley, Rodgers has become something of a celebrity, even outside of the sporting world. So it should come as no surprise that he makes $90 million a year from endorsement alone. No wonder Rodgers donated his salary when he hosted Jeopardy!

Tom Brady – NFL Player, $250 Million Net Worth

At this point, even his detractors are starting to concede that Tom Brady just might be the greatest quarterback of all time. While he started playing in Michigan in college, he became a household name as a member of the Patriots, helping them win their first Super Bowl. Now, he’s managed to break nearly quarterback record, including most Super Bowl wins and appearances. Along with all that fame and skill has come quite the net worth – $180 million to be exact!

Now that Brandy also has a Super Bowl win with his new team, the Buccaneers, there’s little doubt he’s the best ever. In fact, Buccs General Manager Jason Licht recently said, “if he wants to play until he’s 50, and he still feels like he can play, he can still play until he’s 50.” That’s quite the commitment, as Brady is only 43!

Obi Toppin – NBA Player, $1 Million Net Worth

From the very beginning, it seemed inevitable that Obi Toppin would become one of the best basketball players ever. After all, he earned the Rookie of the Week title no less than seven times while playing in college! Plus, he’s the son of the former pro basketball with a name last year. Just last year, in 2020, Toppin started playing for the New York Knicks. Now, he’s already worth just over $1 million.

Toppin recently signed a two-year contract with the Knicks, from which he will earn $5 million per year. His salary seems somewhat higher than his actual net worth. One might wonder what this all-star athlete is spending his money on?

Kyle Lowry – NBA Player, $55 Million Net Worth

While Kyle Lowry started out in the NBA playing for the Memphis Grizzlies, he’s truly made a name for himself on the Raptors, who he continues to play for. Since he started playing professionally in 2006, he has been a six-time NBA All-Star and helped the Raptors win the NBA championship in 2019. While Lowry says he does not know when he’ll retire, he does know he’ll stay a Raptor forever. So expect his $55 million net worth to continue to climb!

Even more impressive, unlike most basketball stars, Lowry has managed to earn his millions without that many significant endorsements. Whatever he’s doing is clearly working!

Lewis Hamilton – Racing Driver, $285 Million Net Worth

It’s not very often that someone is one of the wealthiest sports stars and also an influence on the worldwide political conversation. However, Lewis Hamilton, a British race car driver, has not only been on TIME’s Top 100 Most Influential People list, but also been knighted. That’s quite a resume! Hamilton blow many American sports stars out of the water, with a massive net worth of $285 million!

As you can probably tell from his jacket, Hamilton also makes plenty from companies slapping their logo on his car. Just take a look at all those companies: Hewlett-Packard, Bose, Monster Energy Drinks, Epson, just to name a few. It’s really no surprise that Hamiltons has become one of the highest-paid drivers in the world.

Anna Kournikova – Tennis Player, $50 Million Net Worth

These days, Anna Kournikova has actually spent more time as a model than she ever did on the tennis court. However, all these years after retiring, Anna Kournikova remained one of the most well-known and beloved tennis players ever. While she never did exceptionally well on her own, she did manage to conquer the doubles game with partner Martina Hingis. Along the way, Kournikova also managed to make over $50 million!

In case you didn’t know, unlike most other professional athletes, most tennis players actually make more in endorsement deals than in salary or tournament winnings. That’s right! While Kournikova took in $4 million in winnings in her career, she earned over $8 million in endorsements in the same time period. Of course, now she makes more than ever as a professional model!

Carson Wentz – NFL Player, $45 Million Net Worth

While he rose to fame in college, as a quarterback for North Dakota State University, Carson Wentz became a household name after he started playing for the Philadelphia Eagles. He began in 2016 and has remained there since. Now, his feats include a Super Bowl championship as well as having the most pass completions in 24 games. Of course, along with those accomplishments come quite the paychecks, bringing Wentz’s net worth to $45 million.

As Wentz has no plans to retire anytime soon, expect his net worth only to continue to grow. In fact, he recently signed a 4-year contract for $128 million, of which Wentz is guaranteed $107 million, regardless of what happens.

Matt Ryan – NFL Player, $70 Million Net Worth

In case you don’t remember, in 2016, Matt Ryan earned the MVP title in the NFL. Then, just two years later, Ryan became the NFL’s highest-paid player ever. While this record was later broken by Aaron Rodgers, Ryan still enjoys a net worth of $70 million. He’s no stranger to victories on the field either, racking up plenty of wins for the Atlanta Falcons.

Unlike many other football stars, Ryan does not enjoy showing his face off too often. So it should come as no surprise that, in 2018, Ryan broke another record: he became the first NFL star to ever make more than $30 million in a year, without any endorsements. That’s quite the accomplishment.

DeAndre Hopkins – NFL Player, $25 Million Net Worth

Nicknamed “Nuk” and a five-time Pro Bowler, Deandre Hopkins first played at Clemson before being recruited into the NFL in 2013 by the Houston Texas. While he made his name there, just last year, Hopkins transferred to the Arizona Cardinals. Instead of signing endorsements with more prominent companies, the NFL star has signed with Therabody, a massage device manufacturer, and BioSteel, which creates delicious, but sugar-free, sports drinks. In total, its catapulted his net worth to $25 million.

Most recently, Hopkins signed a massive 2-year, $54.5 million contract, of which he’s guaranteed at least $43 million. The mentioned helped Hopkins smash a record: now he can officially call himself the highest-paid non-quarterback in the history of the NFL.

Blake Griffin – NBA Player, $110 Million Net Worth

NBA All-Star Blake Griffin made his debut in 2009 for the L.A. Clippers. Since then, Griffin has managed to make quite a name for himself, becoming one of the biggest stars in all of basketball. Thanks to his fantastic performance on the court, the power forward has managed to make the All-Star game a whopping six times. Meanwhile, off the court, Giffin has earned a fortune of $110 million.

$110 million is a staggering amount, no question. However, it’s a tad more understandable when you find out that the Clippers pay Griffin anywhere between $30 and $40 million a year. Add on to that the $6 to $10 million Griffin makes in endorsements every year, and suddenly it all makes sense!

Anthony Joshua – Professional Boxer, $55 Million Net Worth

In case you’re not a boxing fan, Antony Joshua is a British two-time heavyweight champion who has held various titles during his relatively short career. Still, his few fights did not stop him from representing the U.K. during the 2012 Olympics, where he achieved a gold medal. Meanwhile, although his fight list might not be the longest ever, he’s earned over $55 million in the ring!

Between 2018 and 2019, Joshua managed to bring in $54 million. Most of this money was due to his rematch against Ruiz, which made quite the headlines, all around the world. The last time he fought Ruiz he also made quite a lot of money even though he lost – $25 million.