Young Money: The highest-paid athletes under 25

Youth and talent are a powerful combination in the world of sports, and the highest-paid athletes under 25 prove just that. These rising stars are not only dominating their respective fields but are also cashing in on massive contracts, endorsements, and sponsorship deals.

Let’s take a look at the top earners under 25 who are already making their mark—and millions—on the global stage, according to Forbes’ estimate of their earnings in 2023/2024.

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While Zion Williamson might not have added much value to the Pelicans during his injury-hampered 2022-2023 campaign, in 2024-2025 we’ve seen what a fit Williamson can do, and it looks like the 23-year-old is finally earning his keep. 

On-Field: $34.1 million (£26.9m, €31.8m)

Thanks to a big social media profile, Williamson is in demand from some big brands. Gatorade, Mountain Dew and Nike’s Jordan Brand, which just released the Zion 3 signature shoe in April, are among the biggest contributors to his estimated $12 million (£9.4m, €11.2m) offfield earnings. 

Off-Field: $12 million (£9.4m, €11.2m)

Already on good money, Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young is also in line for a supermax extension, which will see him start earning $49m (£38.6m, €45.7m) a season from 2025 onwards.

On-Field: $40.3M (£31.8m, €37.6m)

Off the court, Young keeps himself quite busy. Alongside his Adidas and Sprite endorsements, he launched his own podcast last summer and, in September 2023, bought a small stake of a Major League Pickleball team in anticipation of the reported pickleball boom. 

 Off-Field: $7M (£5.5m, €6.5m)

The Slovenian point guard is one of the NBA’s marquee players, and if rumours are to be believed, should he stay at the Dallas Mavericks in 2025 he’ll be looking at a supermax contract extension: a five-year deal worth more than $350 million (£276m, €326m).

On-Field: $40.1M (£31.6m, €37.4m)

His side hustles include his signature shoes with Nike’s Jordan Brand, sports card maker Panini, and an ambassador role with the Slovenian Tourism Board. 

Off-Field: $15M (£11.8m, €13.9m)

The Norwegian striker already made history in his first season at Manchester City, setting the goal-scoring record in a season where he helped them with a consecutive League title, FA Cup and Champions League. Expect to see more of him on lists like this.

On-Field: $46M (£36.3m, €42.9m)

His endorsement deals with the likes of Dolce & Gabbana, Prime Hydration and Beats By Dre bring in around $15 million a year (£11.8m, €13.9m)

Off-Field: $15M (£11.8m, €13.9m)

The French superstar footballer has been a fixture in the footballing world for years now, and with a new deal freshly inked with Real Madrid in June 2024– the best may be yet to come. His new deal amounts to $50 million (£39.4m, €46.6m) a year, as reported by the Morning Star, so quite a drop from his PSG days.

On-Field: $90M (£71m, €84m)

Outside of his on-field earnings, his deals with Nike, Oakley, watchmakers Hublot and high-end fashion and fragrance brand Dior keep his pockets lined in his downtime. 

Off-Field: $20M (£15.7m, €18.6m)

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