50 Richest Athletes in History
The wealthiest sportspeople in history ranked by net worth.
Advertisement
The wealthiest sportspeople in history ranked by net worth.
Michael Jordan
Six-time NBA champion and universally regarded as the greatest basketball player in history.
30.1 ppg career · NBA MVP 1988, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996
Tiger Woods
15-time major champion who transformed golf globally.
15 majors
Magic Johnson
Five-time NBA champion who revolutionised the point guard position and sparked the Showtime Lakers era.
19.5 ppg career · NBA MVP 1987, 1989, 1990
Cristiano Ronaldo
The most prolific goalscorer in football history — 900+ career goals across Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and now Al Nassr, with
900 career goals · UEFA Champions League 5x (2008, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018)
LeBron James
LeBron Raymone James was born in Akron, Ohio in 1984, the son of a single mother, and was christened The Chosen One by Sports Illustrated wh
27.1 ppg career · NBA MVP 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013
Haile Gebrselassie
The greatest runner of the 1990s and 2000s — 27 world records including multiple marathon and 10,000m records.
Olympic Gold 10000m 2x (1996,2000)
Jo Jo White
Two-time NBA champion and Finals MVP with the Boston Celtics — the most underrated point guard of the 1970s.
2× NBA champion · 17.2 ppg career
Tirunesh Dibaba
The Baby-Faced Destroyer — three Olympic gold medals in the 5,000m and 10,000m and the most dominant female distance runner of her generatio
Olympic Gold 5000m, 10000m Athens 2004 – wait: Beijing 2008 10000m
Sir Mo Farah
Britain's greatest ever distance runner — four Olympic golds in the 5000m and 10000m and one of sport's most remarkable personal journeys fr
Olympic Gold 5000m, 10000m London 2012
Kenenisa Bekele
Ethiopia's most decorated male athlete — world record holder at 5,000m and 10,000m and marathon runner of extraordinary longevity.
Olympic Gold 5000m, 10000m Athens 2004
Jayson Tatum
Boston's cornerstone — four-time All-Star and NBA champion who led the Celtics back to glory in 2024.
1× NBA champion · 23.2 ppg career
Jimmy Butler
The ultimate competitor — undrafted from high school, 30th pick from college, six-time All-Star and NBA Finals MVP.
0× NBA champion · 19.9 ppg career
Jaylen Brown
Boston's second star — 2024 NBA champion and Finals MVP who developed into an elite two-way player.
1× NBA champion · 19.7 ppg career
Andre Iguodala
The Finals MVP who stopped LeBron — the most important complementary player of the Warriors dynasty.
4× NBA champion · 12 ppg career
Tony Parker
Four-time NBA champion and the greatest European point guard in basketball history.
4× NBA champion · 15.5 ppg career
Chauncey Billups
Mr. Big Shot — NBA champion and Finals MVP who rebuilt his career from journeyman to legend.
1× NBA champion · 15.6 ppg career
Glen Rice
Three-time All-Star and 1997 All-Star Game MVP — the most prolific three-point shooter of his generation at Miami.
1× NBA champion · 18.3 ppg career
Isiah Thomas
The driving force of the Bad Boy Pistons — two-time NBA champion and the fiercest competitor at his position in his era.
2× NBA champion · 19.2 ppg career
Joe Dumars
The most respected defender of his era — two-time NBA champion and the award for sportsmanship bears his name.
2× NBA champion · 16.1 ppg career
James Worthy
Big Game James — three-time NBA champion and the 1988 Finals MVP who was Michael Jordan's toughest Finals opponent.
3× NBA champion · 17.6 ppg career
Moses Malone
The original one-and-done — went straight from high school to the ABA and became the greatest offensive rebounder of all time.
1× NBA champion · 20.3 ppg career
John Havlicek
Hondo — eight-time NBA champion and the greatest all-around Celtic of the dynasty era.
8× NBA champion · 20.8 ppg career
Rick Barry
One of the greatest pure scorers in basketball history — NBA and ABA champion whose underhand free throws were legendary.
2× NBA champion · 23.2 ppg career
Wes Unseld
One of only two players to win MVP and Rookie of the Year in the same season — the most physical center of his era.
1× NBA champion · 10.8 ppg career
Jerry West
The Logo — his silhouette is the NBA logo, and his performances in 14 seasons with the Lakers combined with his executive genius made him th
27 ppg career · Finals MVP (1969 — losing team)
Oscar Robertson
The Big O — averaged a triple-double for an entire season, a feat not matched for 55 years.
25.7 ppg career · NBA MVP (1964)
Leon Draisaitl
The greatest German player in NHL history — Art Ross winner and Hart Trophy recipient.
936 career points · Stanley Cup 2025
Neymar Jr.
Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior was born in Mogi das Cruzes, São Paulo in 1992 and became Brazil's record international goalscorer, surpassing
443 career goals · Champions League 2015 (Barcelona)
Nicklas Backstrom
The most unheralded elite player in the NHL — 1,100+ points as Ovechkin's playmaker.
1135 career points · Stanley Cup (2018)
Dan Boyle
Stanley Cup champion and undrafted blue-liner who became one of the NHL's finest offensive defencemen.
654 career points · Stanley Cup (2004)
Scott Niedermayer
Four Stanley Cups and the most complete defenceman of the modern era — Norris, Conn Smythe and Olympic gold.
936 career points · Stanley Cup 4x (1995,2000,2003,2007)
Teemu Selänne
The Finnish Flash — the greatest Finnish player in NHL history and the most beloved player in Ducks history.
1457 career points · Stanley Cup (2007)
Nwankwo Kanu
The gentle giant — Nwankwo Kanu's quiet dignity and extraordinary natural ability made him one of the most beloved figures of West African f
Champions League 1995 (Ajax)
Alexander Ovechkin
The greatest goal scorer of his generation — on pace to break Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record.
1566 career points · Stanley Cup (2018)
Mike Richter
The hero of the 1994 championship — the Rangers' Stanley Cup goaltender and a World Cup legend.
Stanley Cup (1994)
Bobby Orr
The greatest defenceman in NHL history — revolutionised the position and won two scoring titles from the blue line.
915 career points · Stanley Cup 2x (1970,1972)
Stan Mikita
Only player to win four major NHL awards in the same season — and did it twice. Czech immigrant who became a Blackhawks legend.
1467 career points · Stanley Cup (1961)
Bobby Hull
The Golden Jet — the first player to score more than 50 goals in a season, and the most physically imposing forward of his era.
1170 career points · Stanley Cup (1961)
Novak Djokovic
24-time Grand Slam champion and world No.1 for a record 428 weeks — the most statistically successful player in tennis history.
24 Grand Slams · 428 weeks at No.1
Serena Williams
23-time Grand Slam champion and the greatest female athlete of her generation — transformed tennis and redefined possibility.
23 Grand Slams · 319 weeks at No.1
Rafael Nadal
King of Clay — 14-time French Open champion and holder of a record 22 Grand Slams, one of the greatest athletes of any sport.
22 Grand Slams · 209 weeks at No.1
Roger Federer
Eight-time Wimbledon champion and 20-time Grand Slam winner — the most technically complete player in tennis history.
20 Grand Slams · 310 weeks at No.1
Steve Nash
Two-time MVP and the greatest Canadian player in NBA history — revolutionised the point guard position.
0× NBA champion · 14.3 ppg career
Akane Yamaguchi
The current world No.1 and Japan's most complete singles player — World Champion 2022 and 2023, Olympic gold medallist at Paris 2024 and the
World Champion 2022, 2023
Giannis Antetokounmpo
The Greek Freak — arrived in the NBA as a raw, skinny teenager from Athens and transformed into a two-time MVP, Defensive Player of the Year
24.5 ppg career · NBA MVP 2019, 2020
Remco Evenepoel
Belgium's next cycling superstar — World Champion, Olympic champion and Grand Tour winner at 23.
Vuelta a España 2022
Connor McDavid
The greatest player in the world — Connor McDavid redefined skating and playmaking, won the Hart Trophy four times and led Edmonton to their
921 career points · Stanley Cup 2025
Mark Cavendish
Record holder for most Tour de France stage wins (35), surpassing Eddy Merckx.
Tour de France Stages 35 (record)
Yaroslava Mahuchikh
The world record holder in women's high jump — and the Ukrainian athlete who competed through war.
Olympic Gold Paris 2024
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
SGA — two-time scoring champion and the engine of the Oklahoma City Thunder's rebuild into a championship contender.
0× NBA champion · 24.5 ppg career