The cutoff for the top 50 this year is $45.2 million, up an astonishing 20% from the previous record of $37.6 million, set just last year. In all, the 50 athletes hauled in an estimated $3.44 billion over the last 12 months before taxes and agents’ fees, up 16% from last year’s record of $2.97 billion.

Of that new total, $2.36 billion came on the field in the form of salaries, bonuses and prize money—an all-time high, of course, smashing 2022’s $1.91 billion thanks in part to the Middle Eastern money pouring into sports. The off-field figure of $1.08 billion—from athletes’ endorsements, appearances, licensing and memorabilia income, and other business endeavors—is also a new high, edging 2022’s $1.06 billion.

#11 Giannis Antetokounmpo $87.6M
Athlete, NBA

- In December 2020, Antetokounmpo signed a five-year, $228 million supermax extension with the Bucks, with an opt-out after the fourth year.
- Antetokounmpo was named the NBA's MVP for 2018-19 and 2019-20 and was also defensive player of the year for the latter season.
- The first MVP nod triggered huge bonuses from sponsors like Nike, which extended its deal with the Greek Freak in 2017.
- Nike released the Zoom Freak 1 in 2019; it was the largest initial signature shoe launch in Nike basketball history.
- Disney secured a deal in 2020 to develop a movie around Antetokounmpo's life, along the lines of "The Blind Side." The film, titled "Rise," was released on Disney+ in June 2022.

Sponsors
Amazon, Breitling, Come Ready Foods LLC, Epic Games, Google, JBL, Meta, Nike, Unilever


#28 Anthony Joshua

$53M
Athlete, Boxing

- Joshua won his first 22 pro fights and was a world heavyweight champion from 2016 to 2019, until a stunning loss to Andy Ruiz Jr.
- The Brit avenged the loss later in 2019 with a unanimous decision. He lost twice to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and 2022 but got back on track with a win over Jermaine Franklin in April 2023.
- He has a massive social media following, with 26 million followers across Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Sponsors
Audemars Piguet, DAZN, Under Armour

Goalnaldo:
They are not nigerians!

DatIgalaDude:
Success has many relatives.
The first guy don even convert Adetokumbo to alien name. Still Una still wan claim am.

How does this change the condition of our country?

rigarmortis:



Antetokoumpo's mom is Igbo, he even speaks more Igbo than Yoruba. But now he is Omooluabi. When he tries to contest for Ogun LGA councilor you will remind him his name is chinedu

rigarmortis:



Antetokoumpo's mom is Igbo, he even speaks more Igbo than Yoruba. But now he is Omooluabi. When he tries to contest for Ogun LGA councilor you will remind him his name is chinedu

rigarmortis:



Antetokoumpo's mom is Igbo, he even speaks more Igbo than Yoruba. But now he is Omooluabi. When he tries to contest for Ogun LGA councilor you will remind him his name is chinedu

dominique:
These people don't identify themselves as Nigerians, why should we?

DatIgalaDude:
Success has many relatives.
The first guy don even convert Adetokumbo to alien name. Still Una still wan claim am.

How does this change the condition of our country?

Creeper:


Erm, just because people don’t represent Nigeria in sports, it doesn’t mean they don’t identify as Nigerians.

AJ has always identified as a Nigerian. Seyi Tinubu hangs out with AJ whenever he’s in London (he’s been linking up with AJ since 2015/16) and the Cuppy girl used to follow him around. And he didn’t link up with them because their parents are rich - he has his own money. He just splashed £25million on a office block on Bond Street last month while Nigerians were crying about the $10million house Seyi Tinubu bought via his company.

Giannis is one of the big reasons Afrobeats artists performed during the halftime show of the last NBA Allstar game - that’s his clout in the NBA. And he was at Afro Nations last summer - he attended all the events.

Creeper:


Erm, just because people don’t represent Nigeria in sports, it doesn’t mean they don’t identify as Nigerians.

AJ has always identified as a Nigerian. Seyi Tinubu hangs out with AJ whenever he’s in London (he’s been linking up with AJ since 2015/16) and the Cuppy girl used to follow him around. And he didn’t link up with them because their parents are rich - he has his own money. He just splashed £25million on a office block on Bond Street last month while Nigerians were crying about the $10million house Seyi Tinubu bought via his company.

Giannis is one of the big reasons Afrobeats artists performed during the halftime show of the last NBA Allstar game - that’s his clout in the NBA. And he was at Afro Nations last summer - he attended all the events.

Okoroawusa:

You are right about AJ but leave that Antewhatever own. He doesn't want anything to do with Nigeria.

Airlord2030:
may UGM claim your life suddenly..

Bastard

rigarmortis:


You mean the way herdsmen claimed the life of your mom, rayyyped your two sisters turn by turn and forced your father to participate before sending him across the border into Cotonou and keeping you fugly unransomeable sisters as segggsx slaves?

Okoroawusa:

Wait? Are you saying that that Antewhatever is actually Adetokumbo? Wonders shall never end! I have been racking my brain for years wondering what Nigerian tribe bear such name. So na change dem change am?

Op the two people are not Nigerians. They might have Nigerian heritage but they are not Nigerians.