Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz Among 2026’s Highest-Paid Athletes

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These athletes are earning far and above the baseline.

As a lifestyle expert, I’m always fascinated by who’s topping the charts, and Forbes just released their list of the 50 highest-paid athletes for 2026. It’s interesting to note that this year, the list is exclusively male. But what really caught my eye is the rising generation of stars – six athletes under 25 made the cut! Keep an eye on tennis, especially – the friendly rivalry between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner is definitely something to watch, and it’s already translating into major success for both of them.

Carlos Alcaraz, the 23-year-old Spanish tennis star with seven major championship titles, is ranked 32nd on the list with total earnings of $61.5 million in the past year. This includes $22.5 million from tournament winnings and $38 million from endorsements and other business ventures.

Despite being the world’s current number one player and having won five Grand Slam titles, Jannik Sinner ranks 50th on this list. The 24-year-old has earned an estimated $54.6 million in the past year, with $22.6 million from tournament winnings and $32 million from endorsements and other off-court activities.

Rounding out the list of top earners under 25 are soccer stars Erling Haaland ($80 million) and Vinicius Jr. ($60 million), along with basketball players Anthony Edwards ($69 million) and Cade Cunningham ($58.6 million).

From where I stand, looking at the world’s top ten highest-paid athletes, it’s amazing to see the diversity! It’s not just one sport dominating – we’re talking baseball, golf, boxing, basketball, soccer, and even motorsports all represented at the very top. It really shows how popular and lucrative these sports are globally.

Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo is far ahead of the competition, earning over $100 million more than the next highest-paid athlete. He brought in a massive $300 million in the last month, which likely covered the cost of the stunning engagement ring he gave to his fiancée, Georgina Rodríguez, in August.

Following Cristiano Ronaldo, the top earners include boxer Canelo Álvarez ($170 million), soccer player Lionel Messi ($140 million), basketball’s LeBron James ($137.8 million), and baseball star Shohei Otani ($127.6 million).

I’m seriously frustrated! It’s the third year in a row that Forbes’ highest-paid athletes list hasn’t included any women! Can you believe it? Coco Gauff topped the women’s list at $33 million, which is amazing for her, but it’s still so unfair that she’s making $21 million less than the lowest-ranked guy on the main list – Jannik Sinner! It just doesn’t seem right!

Serena Williams was the most recent woman to rank among the top 50 highest-paid athletes, achieving this in 2023 with earnings of $45.3 million. Since 2012, only three other women have made the list, all of whom are professional tennis players: Maria Sharapova, Li Na, and Naomi Osaka. It’s worth noting that tennis is unique in offering equal prize money to both men and women at all four major tournaments, a practice that began in 2007.

Tennis players dominated the top rankings for female athletes in December. Aryna Sabalenka came in second place with earnings of $30 million, closely followed by Iga Swiatek at $25.1 million. Skier Eileen Gu rounded out the top four with $23.1 million in earnings.

Want to know how much the world’s most famous people earn each year? Keep reading to find out.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s earnings are legendary in the world of sports. He consistently ranks as one of the highest-paid athletes, particularly as a soccer player.

In June 2025, Ronaldo extended his contract with Al-Nassr FC in Saudi Arabia for two years. Although the specific details weren’t made public, reports indicated he initially earned around $200 million per year when he joined the team in 2022, following his departure from Manchester United.

Lionel Messi started his career with Inter Miami CF with a substantial contract. According to the MLS Players Association, the Argentine star, who signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with David Beckham’s team in 2023 after playing for Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona, will earn an average of over $20.4 million per year, with a current base salary of $12 million.

Despite progress towards equal pay, a significant gap remains between the earnings of male and female athletes. For example, the 2025 list of the top 50 highest-paid athletes published by Forbes included no women.

Alex Morgan, who retired from professional soccer in 2024, ranked 16th on Forbes’ list of highest-paid female athletes last year. They estimated her 2024 earnings at $600,000 from playing and $7 million from endorsements.

Although steps have been taken to close the pay gap—like U.S. Soccer’s decision to equalize World Cup prize money for its men’s and women’s teams—achieving true pay equity will require continued effort.

Caitlin Clark, the first pick in the 2024 WNBA draft, signed a four-year contract with the Indiana Fever. Her rookie year salary will be $76,535, and the total contract is worth $338,056, according to The Athletic. Many people were surprised by these numbers, as starting salaries in the NBA are significantly higher. In addition to her WNBA contract, Clark has secured several endorsement deals, including a $28 million deal with Nike, as reported by The Athletic.

Stephen Curry was the highest-paid NBA player for the 2025-2026 season, earning $59.6 million, according to ESPN. The Golden State Warriors then secured his future with the team by signing him to a $62.6 million contract extension through 2027, as confirmed by his agent to CNBC in August 2024.

And leading the charge in earnings? LeBron James. ESPN reports the Los Angeles Lakers forward earned $52.6 million during the 2025-2026 season.

Coco Gauff is making waves both on and off the tennis court. In 2024, Forbes ranked her as the highest-paid female athlete, with total earnings of $34.4 million – $9.4 million from playing and $25 million from endorsements and other ventures.

Naomi Osaka is also doing very well with her sponsorships and endorsements. According to Forbes, she earned around $12.9 million in 2024, with $12 million of that coming from sources other than prize money from her tennis matches.

Simone Biles had a golden year both in and out of competition. Forbes estimates she earned $11.2 million in 2024, with most of that – around $11 million – coming from endorsements and other ventures outside of prize money.

Wondering how much Travis Kelce earns playing for the Kansas City Chiefs? He signed a three-year contract worth $57.7 million, as reported by several sources.

Patrick Mahomes, his teammate, received a substantial contract from the Chiefs in 2020. According to Equity Sports, his agency, the 10-year deal is worth $450 million.

The Buffalo Bills made sure to secure quarterback Josh Allen with a new contract. In March 2025, he signed a six-year deal worth $330 million, with $250 million guaranteed, according to Ian Rapoport.

Russell Wilson has joined the New York Giants. After playing for the Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos, and Pittsburgh Steelers, the quarterback signed a one-year, $10.5 million contract with the Giants in March 2025. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero, and Mike Garafolo reported that Wilson could earn up to $21 million with performance-based incentives.

Aaron Rodgers is now the Steelers’ quarterback, having previously played for the New York Jets and Green Bay Packers. He’ll be wearing number 8, but his contract is significantly larger than that. He signed a one-year deal in June 2025 worth $13.65 million, with $10 million guaranteed. He could potentially earn up to $19.5 million more through performance-based incentives, according to NFL Network’s Rapoport and Pelissero.

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2026-06-01 20:17