Roger Federer is the fifteenth highest-earning athlete of all-time, according to a recent study by Forbes magazine. The Swiss star, who was recently named the most valuable athlete in the world for 2016 (across all sports), has amassed $600 million since he first turned pro in 1998.
Forbes calculated the earnings of athletes since 1990, when endorsement deals and athlete pay ‘exploded’.
Basketball legend Michael Jordan tops the list of the wealthiest athletes of all time, having amassed a fortune of US $1.77 billion. The basketball legend collected $100 million in 2016 alone from his ‘Air Jordan’ brand mark with Nike. Golfer Tiger Woods was second on the list ($1.65bn) while Arnold Palmer was third ($1.35bn).
Top 20 highest-paid athletes of all-time
| Rank | Name | Sport | Earnings since 1990 |
| 1 | Michael Jordan | Basketball | $ 1.770.000.000 |
| 2 | Tiger Woods | Golf | $ 1.650.000.000 |
| 3 | Arnold Palmer | Golf | $ 1.350.000.000 |
| 4 | Jack Nicklaus | Golf | $ 1.150.000.000 |
| 5 | Michael Schumacher | F1 | $1,000,000,000 |
| 6 | Kobe Bryant | Basketball | $ 770 million |
| 7 | Floyd Mayweather | Boxing | $ 765 million |
| 8 | Phil Michelson | Golf | $ 760 million |
| 9 | David Beckham | Football | $ 730 million |
| 10 | Shaquille O ‘Neal | Basketball | $700,000,000 |
| 11 | Mike Tyson | Boxing | $ 685 million |
| 12 | Greg Norman | Golf | $ 680 million |
| 13 | LeBron James | Basketball | $ 640 million |
| 14 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Football | $ 620 million |
| 15 | Roger Federer | Tennis | $600,000,000 |
| 16 | Alex Rodriguez | Baseball | $600,000,000 |
| 17 | Lionel Messi | Football | $ 520 million |
| 18 | Jeff Gordon | Nascar | $ 515 million |
| 19 | Oscar de la Hoya | Boxing | $510,000,000 |
| 20 | Manny Pacquiaio | Boxing | $490,000,000 |
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