As 2022 starts to take shape, we all have an opportunity to remember how interesting last year was in the world of sports. COVID-19 completely changed the world’s outlook and disrupted day-to-day life for all. Business-focused towards traveling and sports took a big hit, with athletes facing issues such as salary reductions. With the world slowly adapting to the new normal and spectators coming back to sports, the best-paid athletes from all over the world managed to keep their standing. Some athletes even broke records in 2021.
In this article, we will discuss the best-paid athletes of 2021 and how much they were paid in US$. Let’s get started!
Conor McGregor – Ireland
Conor McGregor, MMA star, is at the top of the list of best-paid sportspeople in 2021. He is a former UFC featherweight and lightweight double champion. Aside from a successful athletic career, he also earns from endorsement deals and business ventures. In 2021, his total earning was $180 million. He made $158 million outside of the octagon from the sales of his business, “Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey.”
Lionel Messi – Argentina
Lionel Messi is a professional footballer who plays for the Club Paris-Saint Germaine and is the captain of the Argentine National Team. He is considered one of the best and highest-paid footballers in the world. In 2021, Messi earned a total of $130 million, in which $33 million came from his off-field earnings. His endorsements include a lifetime deal with Adidas, and he also has his own clothing line.
Cristiano Ronaldo – Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo is another footballer on the list. He plays for the club Manchester United and is the captain of the Portuguese NationalTeam. He made his international debut at the age of 18 and has since scored more than 100 goals internationally. Ronaldo firmly holds his nation’s all-time top goal scorer crown.
In 2021, Ronaldo earned $120 million, of which $50 million was earned from his endorsements and business ventures. He is one of the world’s most marketable sportspeople.
Naomi Osaka – Japan
Naomi Osaka is a professional Japanese tennis player and has been ranked #1 by the Women’s Tennis Association. She is the first Asian player to reach No #1 in the rankings. In addition to professional accolades, she is one of the highest-paid Japanese athletes. Her earnings surpassed Serena Williams in 2020. She has had a successful career and won the 2020 U.S Open and 2021 Australia Open.
In 2021 Noami Osaka earned a total of $60 million, of which she only made $5 million on the court. The rest were earned through endorsement deals signed with Louis Vuitton, Workday, Airbnb, and more.
Dak Prescott – United States
Dak Prescott, the NFL player, is quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys and has the highest on-field earning by any player. In 2021, his total earnings were $107.5 million. A whopping $97.5 million of that was earned on-field. While his endorsements and sponsorship deals have pocketed the athlete millions more, almost 91% of his total income came from actual athletics. The NFL sports person also made investments in four Walk-On’s dining restaurants in Texas in 2021. Moreover, Dak Prescott also signed a $160M extension contract with the Cowboys.
Neymar – Brazil
Neymar, yet another famous footballer, plays for the Club Saint-Paris Germain with Messi. Like his teammate he is among the top 10 highest-paid athletes of 2021. He made his professional debut at the age of 17 and quickly became one of the most prominent and marketable athletes globally. Neymar has signed contracts with sportswear brands like Nike and Puma along with other sponsorships from Unilever, Volkswagen, Lupo, and more.
In 2021, Neymar’s total earnings were $95 million, of which $76 million were earned in on-field salary.
Roger Federer – Switzerland
Roger Federer is a Swiss professional tennis player who dominated men’s tennis during his era. He is ranked #16 by the Association of Tennis Professionals and is one of the best-paid athletes in the world.
In 2021, Federer earned $90 million in total, of which only $30,000 were on-court earnings. Yes, only .03% of his, sizable, earnings came from tennis directly and the rest were off-court. In terms of sponsorship and endorsements, Federer has an impressive profile. He is considered one of the most marketable athletes in the world. He made a $300 million deal in 2018 with the Japanese apparel brand Uniqlo. He is also sponsored by Rolex, Gillette, Mercedes-Benz, and many more brands.
Conclusion
As per the 2021 Forbes list, other best-paid athletes of the world include LeBron James, Lewis Hamilton, Tom Brady, and Kevin Durant. In 2020, the top 10 highest-paid athletes brought in a total of $819.2 million, and in 2021, this figure increased by nearly $200 million.
From the Top 50, only 2 female athletes entered the highest-paid list, Naomi Osaka at rank 12 and Serena Williams at 28. To conclude, off-field earnings account for a sizable portion of a sportsperson’s earnings, and with the adaptability of social media, these figures will continue to increase.
