Sports have evolved many folds in the last few decades, both on and off the field. While the evolution has been largely targeted in improving the sporting viewership for the fans. It has actually directly resulted in benefits for the sports persons. Soaring TV rights due to the massive target audience that a particular sport offers. And the hefty sponsorship deals that an event or an individual sportsperson earns has particularly increased over time. Players like Roger Federer,  LeBron James, Lionel Messi have made a brand out of themselves.

Forbes recently released a list of top-earning sportsperson of the last decade. The earning charts which were once dominated by golf players are now being topped by a boxer succeeded by two footballers. With Floyd Mayweather pocketing the most with $915 million, followed by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi who earned $800 million and $750 million respectively. NBA’s very own superstar, LeBron James and “The Good Boy of Sports”, Roger Federer made up to the top five of the list.

Most of these sports persons have benefited mainly from the sponsorship deal they make with sporting giants like Nike, Adidas, Puma and Reebok. Who are fighting it out between them to earn the rights over a few of the most popular faces in the world. Though a cause of concern is the absence of female stars from the list with Serena Williams being the only female sportsperson to make the top 40 of the list.

The List released by Forbes:

1 Floyd Mayweather

• Sports: Boxing
• Net Earning: $915 million

2. Cristiano Ronaldo

• Sports: Football
• Net Earning: $800 million

3. Lionel Messi

• Sports: Football
• Net Earning: $750 million

4. LeBron James

• Sports: Basketball
• Net Earning: $680 million

5. Roger Federer

• Sports: Tennis
• Net Earning: $640 million

6. Tiger Woods

• Sports: Golf
• Net Earning: $615 million

7. Phil Mickelson

• Sports: Golf
• Net Earning: $480 million

8. Manny Pacquiao

• Sports: Boxing
• Net Earning: $435 million

9. Kevin Durant

• Sports: Basketball
• Net Earning: $425 million

10. Lewis Hamilton

• Sports: F1
• Net Earning: $400 million