20 Valentino Rossi

Valentino Rossi

Total earnings: $30 million
Salary/winnings: $17 million
Endorsements: $13 million

Rossi is arguably the most successful motorcycle racer in the history of the sport. He is certainly its best compensated. His contract to race for Ducati pays him $17 million annually.

19.Fernando Alonso

Fernando Alonso

 

Total earnings: $32 million

Salary/winnings: $29 million
Endorsements: $3 million

Alonso remains the highest-paid driver in F1, earning close to $30 million annually from his salary with Ferrari. The Spaniard sits near the top of the 2012 F1 standings and is gunning for his third World Championship.

18. Alex Rodriguez

Alex Rodriguez

Total earnings: $33 million
Salary/winnings: $31 million
Endorsements: $2 million

A-Rod signed the two biggest contracts in baseball history—$252 million with the Texas Rangers in 2000 and $275 million with the New York Yankees in 2007. The Yankee deal includes $30 million in additional compensation if he reaches certain home run targets. A-Rod earns $2 million annually off the field from sponsors Nike, Rawlings, Topps and Vita Coco.

17.Mario Williams

 Mario Williams

Total earnings: $33.2 million
Salary/winnings: $32.9 million
Endorsements: $250,000

Williams signed a $100 million, six-year free agent deal with the Buffalo Bills in March that includes $50 million in guaranteed money. The Houston Texans controversially chose Williams ahead of Reggie Bush with the number one overall draft pick in 2006, but Williams thrived in Texas with 53 sacks and two Pro Bowl appearances in six years.

16.Rafael Nadal

16 Rafael Nadal

 

Total earnings: $33.2 million
Salary/winnings: $8.2 million
Endorsements: $25 million

Nadal has established himself as one of the top tennis players of all-time. He has ranked among the top two in the ATP's year-end standings for seven straight years. His $50 million in career prize money ranks second only to Roger Federer. He became the first person to win the same tournament eight straight years when he clinched the title at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters in April. He won a record seventh French Open in June. Nadal has expanded his endorsement portfolio in recent years and counts Nike, Babolat, Kia Motors, Richard Mille and Bacardi among his sponsors.

15 Charles Johnson

Charles Johnson

 

Total earnings: $34.4 million

Salary/winnings: $34.3 million
Endorsements: $100,000

The Carolina Panthers went on a spending spree before the 2011 season. It included a six-year deal for Johnson that could be worth as much as $76 million. The deal included a $30 million signing bonus and a $4 million base salary in 2012.

14 Ndamukong Suh

Ndamukong Suh

Total earnings: $36 million
Salary/winnings: $35.5 million
Endorsements: $500,000

Suh was suspended for two games without pay at the end of the 2011 season after he stomped on the arm of a Packer during the Detroit Lions annual Thanksgiving Day game. But the suspension only cost Suh $165,000 as almost all of his Lions income over the past 12-months was in the form of bonuses paid outside the season. Suh announced plans to donate $2.6 million to his alma mater, the University of Nebraska, before he was chosen with the second overall pick in the 2010 draft.

13. Larry Fitzgerald

Larry Fitzgerald

Total earnings: $36.8 million
Salary/winnings: $35.3 million
Endorsements: $1.5 million

Fitzgerald signed an eight-year, $120 million contract in August. It is the third-largest ever in terms of total value for an NFL player. The Pro Bowl wide receiver earns more off the field than any other non-QB. His sponsors include Nike, EAS, University of Phoenix, AT&T and others.

12. Haloti Ngata

Haloti Ngata

 

Total earnings: $37.3 million

Salary/winnings: $37.1 million
Endorsements: $200,000


Ngata earned $37.1 million in salary and bonuses from the Baltimore Ravens over the last 12 months—more than any other athlete playing a team sport. The Ravens' star defensive lineman signed a five-year deal worth $61 million in September.

11 Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi

Total earnings: $39 million
Salary/winnings: $20 million
Endorsements: $19 million

Messi broke the 39-year record for most goals in a European club season in 2012 when he finished the season with 73. He also became the first player to score five goals in a Champions League match. The Barcelona forward is a three-time FIFA Player of the Year. His biggest endorsement deal is with Adidas, but Messi also has pacts with PepsiCo, Herbalife, EA Sports, Cherry, Audemars Piguet, Dolce & Gabanna and others.

10.Peyton Manning

Peyton Manning

 

Total earnings: $42.4 million

Salary/winnings: $32.4 million
Endorsements: $10 million

The Indianapolis Colts released Manning in March, 2012 after he missed the 2011 season recovering from neck surgery. The four-time NFL MVP landed in Denver with a five-year, $96 million contract that requires him to pass an annual physical in order to get paid. Manning is the NFL's top product endorser, earning $10 million annually off the field from companies like Reebok, Sony, Wheaties, DirecTV, Gatorade and Papa John's.

9 Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo

 

Total earnings: $42.5 million

Salary/winnings: $20.5 million
Endorsements: $22 million

Ronaldo has the highest soccer salary in any league at $20 million annually, including bonuses. But he earns even more off the pitch, thanks to deals with Nike, Castrol, Konami and others. He became the first player in La Liga history to score 40 goals in two different seasons in 2012. The Portuguese winger has more Facebook fans than any other athlete in the world.

8 David Beckham

David Beckham

 

Total earnings: $46 million
Salary/winnings: $9 million
Endorsements: $37 million

Beckham re-signed with the Los Angeles Galaxy of MLS in January for two years in what is likely to be the last player contract for the 37-year-old. But Beckham shows no sign of slowing down off the pitch. Recent additions to his endorsement portfolio include Burger King, Sainsbury's and Samsung. Sponsors are eager for a piece of Beckham, especially after he was named one of the ambassadors of the 2012 London Olympics. He also launched his Bodywear line in 2012 with H&M as a partner. Beckham plans to exercise his option to buy an MLS franchise at a discount when his playing career is finished.

7.Phil Mickelson

Phil Mickelson

Total earnings: $47.8 million

Salary/winnings: $4.8 million
Endorsements: $43 million

Mickelson was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in May, reflecting a stellar career that includes 40 PGA victories (ninth all-time), $66 million in career prize money (second all-time) and four major titles (second-most during the past 20 years). Mickelson earns more than $30 million annually from endorsement partners: Callaway, Barclay's, KPMG, Exxon, Rolex and Amgen/Pfizer. He picked up a deal to promote psoriatic arthritis drug Enbrel after he was diagnosed with the disease in 2010 and used the drug for his treatment.

6 Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant

Total earnings: $52.3 million
Salary/winnings: $20.3 million
Endorsements: $32 million

Bryant had the highest salary in the NBA for the second straight year during the 2011-12 season. His $25.2 million salary was shaved by almost $5 million as the NBA lockout reduced the number of games by 20%. Bryant's net worth took a hit when he and his wife, Vanessa, announced plans to divorce in December. Vanessa took possession of the couple's three mansions in Newport Beach, Calif. that are worth a combined $18.8 million, according to property records. Bryant's 14 All-Star game selections are the third most all-time among NBA players.

5 Roger Federer

Roger Federer

Total earnings: $52.7 million
Salary/winnings: $7.7 million
Endorsements: $45 million

Federer has the most impressive endorsement portfolio in sports, with nine sponsors that collectively pay him more than $30 million annually, including long-term deals with Nike, Rolex, Wilson and Credit Suisse. He also commands more than $1 million per exhibition event. Federer is widely perceived as the greatest tennis player ever. He holds the records for most singles Grand Slam wins (16) and career prize money ($71 million). He appeared in a staggering 18 out of 19 Grand Slam finals between 2005 and 2010.

4. LeBron James

LeBron James

 

Total earnings: $53 million
Salary/winnings: $13 million
Endorsements: $40 million

King James won the NBA's MVP award for the 2011-12 season and became just the eighth player to win at least three MVPs during his career. James is the NBA's biggest endorsement star, thanks to deals with Nike, McDonald's, Coca-Cola, State Farm and others. In March, he signed a deal to promote Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin Robbins in Asia. It was his first big endorsement deal since he partnered with Fenway Sports Management to oversee his marketing career in 2011.

3.Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods

 

Total earnings: $59.4 million

Salary/winnings: $4.4 million
Endorsements: $55 million

Tiger Woods broke a 30-month winless streak on the PGA Tour when he won the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March. His income is down, as sponsors like Tag Heuer and Gillette failed to renew their endorsement deals with Woods. His golf course-design business is also on the ropes. But Woods remains one of the world's highest-paid athletes, thanks to his Nike deal. He has won more than $100 million in prize money worldwide during his career.

2.Manny Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao

Total earnings: $62 million
Salary/winnings: $56 million
Endorsements: $6 million

Pacquiao was on the wrong end of a wildly controversial split decision in his June bout against Tim Bradley, his first loss in seven years. Pacquiao has become a pay-per-view stud, with five fights each generating at least one million PPV buys during the past four years. Pacman has expanded his endorsement reach by signing deals with Monster Energy and Hennessy. His longtime partners include Nike and Hewlett-Packard.

1.Floyd Mayweather

Floyd Mayweather

Total earnings: $85 million
Salary/winnings: $85 million
Endorsements: $0

There’s a reason they call “Money” Mayweather is the world’s highest-paid athlete, thanks to mega paydays for fights against Victor Ortiz ($40 million) and Miguel Cotto ($45 million). He has been a part of the four biggest non-heavyweight pay-per-view events in boxing's history. Mayweather maximizes his earnings by also acting as his own fight promoter through his company Mayweather Promotions.