Michael Jordan, the basketball legend who hasn’t played a professional game in over two decades, is still the world’s highest-paid athlete, out-earning even current superstars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Stephen Curry.
In 2024, Jordan earned an estimated $300 million, according to Sportico’s list of the 50 Highest-Paid Athletes of All Time. This impressive amount places him far ahead of current athletes like Ronaldo ($260 million), Messi ($135 million), and Curry ($154 million), even though he retired from basketball more than 20 years ago.
Since 1984, Jordan’s career earnings have reached a staggering $3 billion, putting him at the top of the rankings of the highest-paid athletes of all time. He is followed by Tiger Woods ($2.79 billion), Cristiano Ronaldo ($2.23 billion), and LeBron James ($1.88 billion).
How Did Michael Jordan Achieve This Success?
Jordan’s earnings are primarily driven by his long-standing endorsement deals, particularly with Nike. After being drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 1984, Nike signed Jordan to a deal worth $500,000 per year. That deal, however, soon evolved into a lucrative partnership that changed the sports apparel industry.
In 2023, Nike reported $7 billion in sales from the Air Jordan brand alone, a 6% increase over the previous year. The brand’s expansion into women’s sportswear and international markets has contributed to its consistent growth.
In addition to Nike, Jordan’s other endorsement deals include brands like Gatorade, Five Star, Upper Deck, and 2K Sports. He is also a team owner of 23XI Racing, a NASCAR team, and holds investments in Axiomatic, Cincoro tequila, DraftKings, and Sportsradar. In 2024, Jordan invested in Courtside Ventures, a venture capital fund focusing on sports, lifestyle, and gaming.
Who Else is on the List of Top-Paid Athletes?
Jordan is not alone at the top of the earnings list. Tiger Woods follows closely behind, earning $2.79 billion, and Ronaldo ranks third with $2.23 billion in career earnings. Other notable athletes in the top ten include NFL’s Tom Brady, Roger Federer ($1.9 billion), Floyd Mayweather ($1.52 billion), Michael Schumacher ($1.39 billion), and Alex Rodriguez ($795 million).
American athletes dominate the top spots, with 32 out of the 50 top earners being from the United States. Serena Williams is the only woman to make the list, further highlighting the prominence of American athletes in the world of sports.