The highest-earning female athlete, tennis star and former US Open champion Coco Gauff, earned $30.4 million in 2024 – a figure that fell far short of the $37.5m earned by Minnesota Vikings quarterback Daniel Jones, who was 100th on Sportico’s list.
The top five are rounded out by Inter Miami's Argentina captain Lionel Messi ($135 million) and Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James ($133.2 million) – the only 40-year-old currently playing in the NBA.
Business magazine Forbes said Japan's four-times Grand Slam tennis champion Naomi Osaka was the world's highest-paid female athlete in 2022 after she pulled in $57.3 million in prize money and endorsements.
Cristiano Ronaldo has been named the world's highest-paid athlete for the second year running, earning US$260 million (£207m) in 2024, according to Sportico.
The 40-year-old Portuguese forward earned $215 million in wages alone, supplemented by $45 million in endorsements.
