Forbes: The Highest Paid Athletes of the Year

Conor McGregor – $180m

Former Featherweight/Lightweight double-champ leads the list of highest paid athletes from May 1, 2020 to May 1, 2021. Making a majority of his money out of the octagon with his own whiskey business, and other sponsorships, rather than in the Octagon.

Lionel Messi – $130m

Lionel Messi set a record this year as the highest earning soccer star of all time after bringing home $130 million. The FC Barcelona star is still at the top of his game.

Cristiano Ronaldo – $120m

Ronaldo, Juventus FC star, followed Messi as the second highest paid soccer star and third overall highest earning athlete.

Dak Prescott – $107.5m

Dallas Cowboy QB, Dak Prescott, is a surprise entry on this list considering that NFL players are not known to typically make this list compared to other athletes, especially due to the non-guaranteed contracts the NFL uses as opposed to other leagues. He is coming back from injury so hopefully we can see him at his best this upcoming season.

LeBron James – $96.5m

King James, Lakers Superstar, and consensus top 3 basketball player of his era rounds out the top 5. Many expected him to be higher than an NFL player, but we must keep in mind that COVID-19 did cause a massive shift in the NBA’s earnings. Expect Lebron James to hover around the top 5 as long as he is playing basketball.