In the Highest-Paid athletes 2019, there are a few constants in life: death, taxes and the highest-paid athletes. Forbes has released their list of the world’s highest-paid athletes, and once again, the top earners are all men. The total earnings of the top 10 athletes are $819.5 million, with an average salary of $82 million.

Leading the pack is Portuguese soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo, who raked in $109 million over the past 12 months. He’s followed by American basketball player LeBron James with earnings of $89 million and Argentine soccer player Lionel Messi with $84 million. The only woman on the list is tennis player Serena Williams, who came in at No. 49 with earnings of $29.2 million.

The Highest Paid Athletes 2019

10. Matthew Stafford

Matthew Stafford was the highest-paid athlete in 2019. He recently signed a five-year, $135 million contract extension with the Detroit Lions. Stafford has been with the Lions since 2009 and is the team’s all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns. He was also the MVP of the 2017 Pro Bowl.

Source of Wealth: Football
Salary/ Winning: $57.5 M
Endorsements: $2 M
Citizenship: United States
Total Earning: $59.5 M

9. Matt Ryan

Matt Ryan is currently the highest-paid athlete in the world. He signed a five-year, $150 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons in 2019. This breaks the previous record for highest-paid athlete, held by quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Ryan has been with the Falcons since he was drafted in 2008. He led them to their first Super Bowl appearance in 2016 and was named MVP of that game. He has been a five-time Pro Bowler and two-time First-Team All-Pro.

Source of Wealth: Football
Salary/ Winning: $62.3 M
Endorsements: $5 M
Citizenship: United States
Total Earning: $67.3 M

8. Stephen Curry

Stephen Curry is the highest-paid athlete in the world for 2019. According to Forbes, the Golden State Warriors point guard has a net worth of $114 million and raked in $79.8 million over the past 12 months. Curry’s earnings result from his $37.5 million salary and an additional $42.3 million in endorsements from brands like Under Armour, Chase, and Vivo.

Source of Wealth: Basketball
Salary/ Winning: $34.9 M
Endorsements: $42 M
Citizenship: United States
Total Earning: $76.9 M

7. Roger Federer

Roger Federer is the highest-paid athlete in the world. With over $US 118 million in career earnings, he has maintained his number one ranking for a record-breaking 310 weeks. After a successful 2018 season, Federer’s sponsorships and prize money continue to bring big bucks.

In March 2019, he signed a new 10-year contract with Hublot, which is reported to be worth $US 300 million. This deal makes him the highest-paid ambassador in sports history. Federer also has lucrative deals with Nike, Credit Suisse, and Mercedes-Benz.

Source of Wealth: Tennis
Salary/ Winning: $12.2 M
Endorsements: $65 M
Citizenship: Switzerland
Total Earning: $77.2 M

6. LeBron James

LeBron James has been a dominant force in the NBA for over a decade. He is one of the most recognizable athletes globally and is considered one of the greatest players of all time. In 2018, James signed a 4-year contract with the Los Angeles Lakers worth $154 million. This makes him the highest-paid athlete in the world for 2019.

Source of Wealth: Basketball
Salary/ Winning: $33.5 M
Endorsements: $52 M
Citizenship: United States
Total Earning: $85.5 M

5. Neymar

Neymar is one of the highest-paid athletes in the world. In 2017, he became the most expensive player in history when he moved from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain for a record €222 million. Neymar has since signed a new contract with PSG to make him the world’s highest-paid player, earning €37 million per year.

Source of Wealth: Soccer
Salary/ Winning: $73 M
Endorsements: $17 M
Citizenship: Brazil
Total Earning: $90 M

4. Conor McGregor

Conor McGregor is a world-renowned mixed martial artist who has competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of 2019, he is the second-highest-paid athlete globally, with career earnings of $99 million. McGregor’s popularity and success have allowed him to become one of the most marketable athletes in the world. He has endorsement deals with several major brands, including Budweiser, Beats by Dre, and Burger King.

Source of Wealth: Mixed Martial Arts
Salary/ Winning: $85 M
Endorsements: $14 M
Citizenship: Ireland
Total Earning: $99 M

3. Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Real Madrid’s Spanish club and the Portugal national team. He is often considered the best player globally and is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. In 2018, he became the first player to win four European Golden Shoes.

Ronaldo began his career at Sporting CP before moving to Manchester United in 2003 for £12 million. He helped United win the Premier League title in his first season there. By age 23, Ronaldo had received Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year nominations.

Source of Wealth: Soccer
Salary/ Winning: $61 M
Endorsements: $47 M
Citizenship: Portugal
Total Earning: $108M

2. Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi is one of the most decorated and highest-paid athletes globally. The Argentinian soccer player has won six Ballon d’Or awards and been named the world’s best player five times. In 2019, he became the first player to earn more than $100 million in salary and endorsements in a single year.

Messi’s earnings come from a variety of sources. His salary from Barcelona, his club team, is about $80 million per year. He also earns millions of dollars in endorsement deals with companies like Adidas, Pepsi, and Huawei.

Despite his wealth, Messi remains down-to-earth and humble. He often donates money to charity and gives it back to his home country of Argentina. In 2017, he launched his nonprofit foundation called Leo Messi Foundation to help children in need worldwide.

Source of Wealth: Soccer
Salary/ Winning: $84 M
Endorsements: $27 M
Citizenship: Argentina
Total Earning: $111 M

1. Floyd Mayweather

Floyd Mayweather is a world-renowned professional boxer. He has been named the highest-paid athlete in 2019 by Forbes. In total, Mayweather has earned $285 million in career earnings. His latest fight against MMA fighter Conor McGregor brought in a whopping $550 million in revenue, making it the second-highest-grossing war.

Mayweather is known for his flamboyant lifestyle and love of expensive cars and jewelry. Despite his wealth, he has faced several legal troubles, including domestic violence charges and tax evasion.

Source of Wealth: Boxing
Salary/ Winning: $275 M
Endorsements: $10 M
Citizenship: United States
Total Earning: $285 M

Source: Forbes