These are the 25 highest-paid athletes in 2021

For most of us, sports are something we do for fun on the weekends. But for a select group of athletes, sports make up their entire career — and a highly lucrative one, at that.

Professional athletes in the U.S. make a median salary of $36,963. For the cream of the crop, however, that yearly number can increase exponentially. Top athletes not only get paid for playing their sport — but they also earn sponsorships or brand deals as a result of their athletic fame.

Want a look into their lives? Here are the 25 highest-paid athletes from around the world in 2021.

1. Conor McGregor (Mixed Martial Arts)

Total Annual Earnings: $180 million

Conor McGregor is an Irish athlete who competes in mixed martial arts, a full-contact sport that includes elements from several different styles of martial arts. McGregor is known for his strong left hook and his affinity for trash talk — which have combined to earn him a cool $180 million a year.

2. Lionel Messi (Soccer)

Total Annual Earnings: $130 million

Argentinian soccer player Lionel Messi has played for FC Barcelona (he is leaving after 17 seasons) and the Argentina national team. Called the “God of football” by teammates, Messi has a knack for goal scoring, setting multiple records.

3. Cristiano Ronaldo (Soccer)

Total Annual Earnings: $120 million

Like Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo is regarded as one of the greatest soccer players of all time. This 36-year-old athlete is from Portugal and currently plays for Manchester United F.C. His annual earnings come in at $120 million.

4. Dak Prescott (Football)

Total Annual Earnings: $107.5 million

28-year-old Dak Prescott plays quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. He played in college for the Mississippi State Bulldogs and was drafted by the Cowboys in 2016.

5. LeBron James (Basketball)

Total Annual Earnings: $96.5 million

LeBron James is a household name even among those who aren’t big basketball fans. Arguably one of the greatest basketball players of all time, LeBron plays for NBA team the Los Angeles Lakers. His career earnings recently topped $1 billion — a first for the NBA.

6. Neymar (Soccer)

Total Annual Earnings: $95 million

Kids all over Brazil and worldwide look up to Neymar, a soccer player who is a forward for Paris Saint-Germain as well as the Brazil national team. Now 29, Neymar made his professional debut at the age of just 17.

7. Roger Federer (Tennis)

Total Annual Earnings: $90 million

Swiss tennis player Roger Federer earns about $90 million a year. He became Switzerland’s Grand Champion at the age of 14. Today Federer has 20 Grand Slam titles, 103 ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) titles, and holds several records.

8. Lewis Hamilton (Auto Racing)

Total Annual Earnings: $82 million

Unlike athletes from more popular sports, Lewis Hamilton might not be well-known in circles outside auto racing — but this 36-year-old British driver is a top-notch athlete who earns big as a result. Hamilton has won seven World Drivers’ Championship titles.

9. Tom Brady (Football)

Total Annual Earnings: $76 million

Quarterback Tom Brady currently plays for the NFL team the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brady started his career with the New England Patriots in 2001. He holds seven total Super Bowl wins and makes an annual salary of about $76 million.

10. Kevin Durant (Basketball)

Total Annual Earnings: $75 million

Basketball player Kevin Durant plays for the NBA team the Brooklyn Nets. Throughout his career, Durant has won multiple NBA championships and awards as well as two Olympic gold medals. His partnerships with Foot Locker and Nike help ramp up his yearly income.

11. Stephen Curry (Basketball)

Total Annual Earnings: $74.5 million

Stephen Curry has been called the greatest shooter in NBA history. This 33-year-old athlete plays for NBA team the Golden State Warriors based out of San Francisco and is a seven-time NBA All-Star.

12. Naomi Osaka (Tennis)

Total Annual Earnings: $60 million

At just 23 years old, Naomi Osaka is a talented, widely-known tennis player who makes $60 million a year thanks to her work on the court and additional endorsement deals. Osaka holds four Grand Slam singles championships and is the current reigning champion for both the US Open and the Australian Open.

13. Tiger Woods (Golf)

Total Annual Earnings: $60 million

Golfer Tiger Woods turned professional in 1996, giving him over two decades of experience in the pro golfing world. Woods’ PGA tour wins and the numerous records he’s set have landed him a place in the World Golf Hall of Fame.

14. Russell Westbrook (Basketball)

Total Annual Earnings: $59 million

Russell Westbrook is a point guard who was recently traded to NBA team the Los Angeles Lakers. As a nine-time NBA All-Star, Westbrook’s current total earnings come in at $59 million a year.

15. Patrick Mahomes (Football)

Total Annual Earnings: $54.5 million

25-year-old Patrick Mahomes plays quarterback for NFL team the Kansas City Chiefs. Born in Texas, Mahomes played both college football and baseball before deciding to focus solely on football. This decision led him to the 2017 NFL Draft, where the Chiefs snapped him up — and paid him $54.4 million a year.

16. James Harden (Basketball)

Total Annual Earnings: $51 million

James Harden is known as one of the best shooting guards and scorers in the NBA. Throughout his career, Harden has played for college team the Arizona State Sun Devils; NBA teams the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Houston Rockets, and the Brooklyn Nets; and the United States national team.

17. David Bakhtiari (Football)

Total Annual Earnings: $48.5 million

David Bakhtiari is a 29-year-old offensive tackle for the Green Bay Packers. The California native played college ball at the University of Colorado before being drafted in 2013 by the Packers. Now, Bakhtiari makes $48.5 million per year.

18. Ronnie Stanley (Football)

Total Annual Earnings: $47.5 million

Football player Ronnie Stanley is an offensive tackle for the Baltimore Ravens. Ronnie played college football at Notre Dame, and the Ravens picked him in the 2016 NFL Draft.

19. Giannis Antetokounmpo (Basketball)

Total Annual Earnings: $47 million

Basketball player Giannis Antetokounmpo was born in Greece and now plays for NBA team the Milwaukee Bucks, giving him the nickname “Greek Freak.” Antetokounmpo is known for his all-around athleticism. His skills on the court earn him $47 million a year.

20. Dustin Johnson (Golf)

Total Annual Earnings: $44.5 million

Dustin Johnson is a professional golfer who has landed victories at competitions like the U.S. Open, the Masters Tournament, and the World Golf Championships. Dustin is currently 37 years old and makes $44.5 million a year.

21. Klay Thompson (Basketball)

Total Annual Earnings: $44.5 million

Basketball player Klay Thompson started his career as a college athlete for the Washington State Cougars before being drafted by the Golden State Warriors in 2011. Thompson’s prowess as a shooting guard has helped him become a three-time NBA champion and five-time NBA All-Star.

22. Joey Bosa (Football)

Total Annual Earnings: $44 million

Joey Bosa plays outside linebacker for the Los Angeles Chargers. Bosa has been with the Chargers since 2016, when the NFL team chose him third overall in the draft. His father and brother have also played in the NFL, making football a family affair.

23. Kyrie Irving (Basketball)

Total Annual Earnings: $44 million

Kyrie Irving currently plays as a point guard for the Brooklyn Nets. Prior to going pro, Irving also played for the college team the Duke Blue Devils — and his resume includes a gold medal at the Olympics, too. In addition to basketball, Irving has done some voiceover work and acting, helping boost that yearly income to $44 million.

24. Jalen Ramsey (Football)

Total Annual Earnings: $43.5 million

26-year-old Jalen Ramsey plays cornerback for the Los Angeles Rams, where he currently makes $43.5 million a year as the highest-paid defensive back in league history. Ramsey played college football at Florida State. The Jacksonville Jaguars drafted him fifth overall in 2016. He was traded to the Rams three years later.

25. Trent Williams (Football)