Michael Jordan is the GOAT, we all know that.
Here’s another list that proves it: MJ is No. 1 on the list of top 25 highest paid athletes of all-time.
According to a report on Sportico, Jordan has inflation adjusted earnings of $2.62 billion. Yes, that’s billion with a B. His salary as a rookie in 1984 was $550,000. This year, it’s estimated he’ll make $150 million just from his Nike royalties.
The next few names on the list are interesting because three golfers—Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus—are in the top four.
Woods leads the all-time PGA Tour money list with $120,851,706 in on-course earnings, the only golfer to surpass the $100 million mark.
There are five golfers in all on the top-25 list.
Here’s a closer look at them and their numbers:
- Tiger Woods – $2.1 billion
- Arnold Palmer – $1.5 billion
- Jack Nicklaus – $1.38 billion
- Phil Mickelson – $1.08 billion
- Greg Norman – $815 million
The common theme here, besides the gaudy amounts of cash, is most of the money these athletes make comes from endorsements, licensing and other off-course revenue streams.
Fourteen of the 25 are athletes from individual sports as golfers, tennis players, race car drivers and boxers all make the list. Five of the athletes are from the NBA, three play soccer, two are from MLB and just one from the NFL.
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