Athletes' Salaries

Cristiano Ronaldo extended his contract with Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr FC for two years in June 2025, reportedly maintaining an annual salary around $200 million—consistent with his initial 2022 deal after leaving Manchester United. He regularly ranks among the world's highest-paid athletes.

Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami CF in 2023 under a two-and-a-half-year contract. According to the MLS Players Association's 2025 salary guide, his annualized compensation averages over $20.4 million, including a $12 million base salary.

Alex Morgan, who retired in 2024, ranked 16th among the highest-paid female athletes that year, earning $600,000 on-field and $7 million off-field from endorsements. Forbes' 2025 top 50 highest-paid athletes featured no women, highlighting persistent gender pay gaps despite progress like U.S. Soccer equalizing World Cup prize money.

Caitlin Clark, the 2024 WNBA draft's top pick, signed a four-year, $338,056 contract with the Indiana Fever, resulting in a $76,535 rookie salary. Her endorsement portfolio includes a reported $28 million deal with Nike.

Stephen Curry led NBA salaries for the 2025–2026 season at $59.6 million. In August 2024, he signed a $62.6 million extension to remain with the Golden State Warriors through 2027.

LeBron James earned $52.6 million with the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2025–2026 season, per ESPN's salary rankings.

Coco Gauff topped Forbes' 2024 highest-paid female athletes list with $34.4 million total earnings ($9.4 million on-court, $25 million off-court). Naomi Osaka ranked highly too, earning $12.9 million in 2024—$12 million from off-court sources like endorsements.