Michael Jordan beats Tiger Woods and Cristiano Ronaldo to top spot on list of best paid athletes EVER – but how does LeBron James compare to soccer stars Lionel Messi and David Beckham?

Michael Jordan is the best-paid athlete of all-time, earning more than $1billion more than any other athlete in inflation-adjusted earnings over his career.

While Jordan only earned $94million during his time as a player with the Bulls and Wizards in NBA contracts, Jordan has raked in the cash in off-court endorsement and brand deals.

Jordan is only one of nine athletes all-time to earn more than $1billion in non-inflation earnings for athletes, with the basketball legend also topping the list for non-inflation paydays at $2.7billion all-time.

The numbers for every athlete were reported by Sportico, with Jordan largely benefitting from having been retired from sports for more than 20 years and watching his investments grow.

Last year alone, the Jordan Brand, part of Nike, had $6.6billion in revenue. Nike overall had $51billion. Jordan has had a royalty-based partnership with Nike since he joined the Bulls the first time in 1984.

Sportico provided both the top-50 athletes earnings, and their earnings adjusted for inflation of the time period. The athlete with the earliest debut on the list is Gary Player in 1953, barely beating Arnold Palmer in 1954.

Palmer is one of the highest earners with inflation included at No 4 overall at $1.76billion. He only earned $885million without inflated figures.
HIGHEST-PAID ATHLETES
INFLATION-ADJUSTED EARNINGS

1. Michael Jordan – $3.75B

2. Tiger Woods – $2.66B

3. Cristiano Ronaldo – $1.92B

4. Arnold Palmer – $1.76B

5. LeBron James – $1.7B

T6. Jack Nicklaus – $1.67B

T6. Lionel Messi – $1.67B

8. David Beckham – $1.5B

9. Roger Federer – $1.49B

10. Floyd Mayweather – $1.48B

Finishing in between Jordan and Palmer are Tiger Woods and Cristiano Ronaldo, with Woods being the only other athlete to cross $2billion all-time at $2.66B with inflation adjustments.

Ronaldo’s big-money transfer to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr helped the Portuguese international come in third at $1.92B in inflation-adjusted earnings.

There are only four active athletes in the top 10, with LeBron James coming in at No5, at $1.7billion earned. His total not adjusted for inflation is $1.36billion.

There is a tie for sixth in the inflation-adjusted earnings between Lionel Messi and Jack Nicklaus, although the current Inter Miami star has earned much more than ‘The Golden Bear’ all-time not fixed for inflation.

Messi has earned $1.36billion all-time, compared to Nicklaus’ $890million.

Messi’s Inter Miami boss, David Beckham, comes in at No 8 after long spells with Real Madrid and Manchester United at $1.13billion before the inflation adjustment.

Rounding out the top 10 are Roger Federer and Floyd Mayweather, who both clear a billion with the adjustments.

The top 16 have all earned more than a billion when inflation adjustments kick in, including Neymar at No 16 at $1,01billion.

Only one female made the top 50, in Serena Williams at a tie for No 40 with former boxer Evander Holyfield, both earning $630 million all-time when adjusted.

The most represented sport in the top 50 is basketball, with a dozen players earning a combined $13billion with inflation.

Golf, boxing, and racing, which combines the athletes in NASCAR and Formula 1, all have more than five members of the top 50.

Only two athletes on the list retired before the year 2000 on the list in George Foreman, who gets a likely boost to No 26 overall because of his entrepreneurial career, and Magic Johnson, who is in a three-way tie at No 34.

Barely making the list at No 50 is the only mixed martial artist on the list in Conor McGregor, who has made $555million all-time adjusted for inflation.

McGregor is also the only athlete on the list to be the lone representative from his or her sport.

Even with football being America’s most popular sport, the highest gridiron earner is Tom Brady, at No 23 overall.