Ranked: The athletes to reach billion-dollar status

With the obscene amount of money in sports now, some of the greatest athletes have surpassed the billion-dollar threshold through various avenues based on their sporting popularity. Figures are from Forbes and Revolt.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James is the first active NBA player to become a billionaire, racking up his fortune from his $500 million NBA career earnings, endorsement deals, and business ventures. James has stakes in Liverpool FC, the Boston Red Sox, and an expansive real estate portfolio worth $900 million, according to Forbes.

Forbes estimates that James has around $500 million in cash and other assets, not including his brand partners like Nike, who pay him around $30 million a year.

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Floyd Mayweather is regarded as the greatest pound-for-pound fighter of all time. He had over 50 fights in 20 years and didn't lose once. Because of his personality and ability, he is a five-weight world champion and a serial money-maker.

Mayweather set up Mayweather Promotions during his career, which changed how he was paid and led him to earn millions of dollars on fight nights. Mayweather has a vast real estate portfolio, a gym franchise, and TMT clothing.

Roger Federer is the most naturally gifted tennis player of all time who dominated the sport for the best part of the 2000s and 2010s. He won 20 Grand Slam titles and over 100 ATP events.

During his years at the top of tennis, Federer has developed numerous lucrative sponsor deals, including one with Rolex, which he has had since 2001. Federer is also a part owner of Swiss shoe On. He has a 3% stake in the company that was worth $180 million in 2021.

Lionel Messi is the GOAT of football, who has won countless trophies with FC Barcelona and now stars in the USA for Inter Miami. The Argentine World Cup winner is an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, the most in history.

Messi has built an empire away from the football pitch, including 525 Rosario, a production company that produces TV, films, and sporting events. He owns a range of hotels across Spain (MiM Hotels), a wine company, and a holding company, creating a billion-dollar empire.

Magic Johnson made $40 million in his 13-year NBA career, and told Sports Illustrated in the early 90s that he wanted to make "$100 or 200 million" in his lifetime. He now has ownership stakes in several sports teams, including the Washington Commanders of the NFL, and many business ventures.

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Johnson has made most of his fortune from his 60% investment in life insurance company EquiTrust, with assets growing from $16 billion to $26 billion and revenue being around $2.6 billion.

Cristiano Ronaldo has dominated all over the world, winning trophies in England, Spain, and Italy, including five Ballon d'Or awards. The footballing icon is the greatest goalscorer the game has ever seen, firing over 900 career goals.

Ronaldo's 'CR7' brand owns hotels, gyms, and a clothing line, earning him millions from each. He also owns luxury real estate worldwide and lucrative sponsorships from Nike and Binance. He also owns multiple hair transplant studios.

15-time major champion and golfing GOAT Tiger Woods is the only player not to play basketball on this list, earning over a billion dollars in tournament earnings and sponsorships.

Between 1996 and 2008, tournament earnings tripled in golf as Woods grew the game exponentially. The GOAT has earned over $100 million at tournaments alone. Despite all the wins on tour, Woods has become a billionaire from his luxury endorsement deals, having partnerships with Rolex, Nike, TaylorMade, Monster Energy, and Gatorade.

Basketball GOAT Michael Jordan earned $94 million in career earnings while in the NBA, but it was his business off the court where he became a billionaire, earning $2.4 billion with McDonald's, Nike, Hanes, and Gatorade, according to Forbes.

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Jordan sold his majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets at a $3 billion valuation. The success of his Air Jordan Brand has put 'MJ' in the top 400 wealthiest people in America.