Ronaldo tops Curry, Fury on Forbes’ highest-paid list

• Posted on June 16, 2025June 16, 2025
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

Cristiano Ronaldo topped Forbes’ list of the world’s highest-paid athletes for the third consecutive year and the fifth time in his career.

Following his move to Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr, Ronaldo’s estimated total earnings are around $275 million.

The Portuguese forward increased his income by $15 million through off-field endorsements as well as lucrative sponsorship deals backed by his large social media followers: 939 million in total as of May.

Despite the financial windfall, Ronaldo’s move to the Saudi Pro League has yet to yield a major trophy of any kind to go along with the numerous titles he won while at Manchester United and Real Madrid.

Meanwhile, Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, who in March became the first NBA player to reach 4,000 career 3-pointers, jumped to second place in the rankings with $156 million.

Boxer Tyson Fury claimed third place with $146 million. Despite losing his world heavyweight titles to Oleksandr Usyk in December, Fury’s income has been boosted by partnerships promoting Maltese tourism and his Netflix reality show.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott reached fourth with $137 million, thanks to record-breaking signing bonuses and a lucrative contract extension.

Meanwhile, Argentine Lionel Messi dropped to fifth place with $135 million — the same as last year — having moved to MLS side Inter Miami CF, as well as continuing to receive high-profile endorsements from Adidas and Apple.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, nearing the end of his illustrious career, came in sixth with $133.8 million.

MLB New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto came in at seventh place, earning $114 million. The 26-year-old Dominican signed a $765 million, 15-year contract, the largest in baseball history.

France striker Karim Benzema, who plays for Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad, is eighth with earnings of $104 million.

Baseball star Shohei Ohtani is in ninth place with $102.5 million, having deferred most of his earnings from his mega-contract with the MLB team, the Los Angeles Dodgers. His earnings were boosted significantly by the Dodgers’ World Series victory last year.

NBA star Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns rounds out the top 10 with $101.4 million.

World’s 10 highest-paid athletes 2025
1. Cristiano Ronaldo, football: $275m (£206.6m)
2. Stephen Curry, basketball: $156m (£117.2m)
3. Tyson Fury, boxing: $146m (£109.7m)
4. Dak Prescott, American football: $137m (£103m)
5. Lionel Messi, football: $135m (£101.4m)
6. LeBron James, basketball: $133.8m (£105.5m)
7. Juan Soto, baseball: $114m (£85.7m)
8. Karim Benzema, football: $104m (£78.2m)
9. Shohei Ohtani, baseball: $102.5m (£77m)
10. Kevin Durant, basketball: $101.4m (£76.2m)

-ESPN