Conor McGregor tops Forbes's list of 10 highest-paid athletes of 2021 (2024)

See who else made the cut

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Conor McGregor tops Forbes's list of 10 highest-paid athletes of 2021 (2)

COVID-19 has had multiple devastating effects on the professional sports industry, among them massive revenue losses due to a variety of pandemic-related factors. But much like in the world beyond it, the very top earners in sports have been relatively untouched and are still making bank.

On Wednesday, Forbes released its annual ranking of the world's Top 10 highest-paid athletes of 2021, with UFC's Conor McGregor leading the way with $180 million in earnings over the last 12 months. Two soccer stars -- Barcelona's Lionel Messi ($130M) and Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo ($120M) -- were second and third, followed by Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott ($107.5M) and Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James ($96.5M).

Here's the entire top ten:

  • Conor McGregor, UFC: $180 million
  • Barcelona's Lionel Messi, Barcelona: $130 million
  • Cristiano Ronaldo, Juventus: $120 million
  • Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys: $107.5 million
  • LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers: $96.5 million
  • Neymar, Paris Saint-Germain: $95 million
  • Roger Federer, tennis: $90 million
  • Lewis Hamilton, F1: $82 million
  • Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $76 million
  • Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets: $75 million

While the majority of McGregor's earnings came from the sale of his whiskey brand, he also earned $22 million in an appearance at UFC 257 in January.

This year marks the first time that four athletes have topped over $100 million in earnings on Forbes' list, and the four join just five other athletes - Federer, Neymar, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, and Tiger Woods - in having earned over $100 million in a single year.

In compiling their on-field earning figures, Forbes used a methodology that accounted for all prize money, salaries, and bonuses in a period spanning from May 1, 2020 to May 1, 2021. Meanwhile, off-field earnings were tabulated through an estimate of sponsorship deals, appearance fees, and licensing income in that same period, as well as cash returns from any business operated by the athlete.

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Conor McGregor tops Forbes's list of 10 highest-paid athletes of 2021 (2024)

FAQs

Conor McGregor tops Forbes's list of 10 highest-paid athletes of 2021? ›

According to a Sportico report, McGregor is tied for No. 33 among the 50 highest paid athletes of all time, raking in a total of $615 million during his career. McGregor, 34, is tied with Magic Johnson ($615 million) and ranks one spot behind Dale Earnhardt Jr. ($620 million).

Is Conor McGregor one of the highest paid athletes? ›

According to a Sportico report, McGregor is tied for No. 33 among the 50 highest paid athletes of all time, raking in a total of $615 million during his career. McGregor, 34, is tied with Magic Johnson ($615 million) and ranks one spot behind Dale Earnhardt Jr. ($620 million).

Is Conor McGregor on the Forbes list? ›

Currently, Forbes ranks MJ first with an estimated $3.3 billion net-worth. Tiger Woods is second with $2.5 billion and McGregor is the only mixed martial artist who is part of that list. During the interview, he was quite proud about that and mentioned No. 33 is also an ancient number.

Is Connor the highest paid athlete? ›

Conor McGregor, UFC: $180 million. Barcelona's Lionel Messi, Barcelona: $130 million. Cristiano Ronaldo, Juventus: $120 million. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys: $107.5 million.

Who is the highest paid sportsman of all time? ›

Jordan claimed the top spot on the list, with inflation-adjusted earnings of $3.75 billion since he left the University of North Carolina to turn pro. Golf icon Tiger Woods holds second place, with earnings of $2.66 billion, while football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is third, with earnings of $1.92 billion.

Is McGregor a billionaire? ›

According to estimates Conor McGregor's net worth stands at around $200 Million (approx. 1,640 crore Rs) in 2023. Now, that net worth is impressive in its own right but McGregor in a recent interview said that he's made around $650 Million and is on his way to becoming a billionaire.

Who are the four sports billionaires? ›

8 athletes who reached billionaire status
  • Michael Jordan – $3 billion. ...
  • Tiger Woods – $1.72 billion. ...
  • Cristiano Ronaldo – $1.24 billion. ...
  • Magic Johnson – $1.2 billion. ...
  • Lionel Messi – $1.15 billion. ...
  • Roger Federer – $1.09 billion. ...
  • Floyd Mayweather – $1.08 billion. ...
  • LeBron James – $1 billion.
Nov 13, 2023

Where does Conor McGregor rank in the richest athletes? ›

2021 list
RankNameSport
1Conor McGregorMixed martial arts
2Lionel MessiAssociation football
3Cristiano RonaldoAssociation football
4Dak PrescottAmerican football
6 more rows

Why is Conor McGregor the highest paid athlete? ›

The brash McGregor collected a total of $180 million over the last 12 months; most of that comes from his recent sale of his majority stake in whiskey brand Proper No. Twelve to Proximo Spirits for $150 million. It's the 32-year-old's first time at No. 1 and his second appearance in the top ten (he landed at No.

Where does Conor McGregor get most of his money? ›

How does Conor McGregor make his money? McGregor generates income through multiple streams, including his successful career in mixed martial arts (MMA), endorsem*nt deals, and business ventures such as his Proper No: twelve whiskey brand, and other entrepreneurial endeavours.

How much did Nate Diaz make from Conor? ›

Conor McGregor's UFC payouts (all figures in USD)

$5,615,490 vs Nate Diaz 2 — Diaz received $4,315,490. $6,812,374 vs Eddie Alvarez — the PPV event generated $66 million for UFC.

How much did Floyd Mayweather make with Connor? ›

In the end Mayweather reportedly earned around $300m in total from the fight, while McGregor earned around $100m. As a nice additional extra, the WBC awarded the winner with the most valuable boxing belt ever made.

Who is richer, Messi or LeBron James? ›

Ronaldo, Messi ($130 million) and LeBron James ($119.5 million) have all reached that threshold before, but the other five—Mbappé and Johnson, plus boxing champion Canelo Álvarez ($110 million), Mickelson ($106 million) and NBA sharpshooter Stephen Curry ($100.4 million)—earned nine figures for the first time.

Is any sportsman a billionaire? ›

He follows fellow retired NBA legend Michael Jordan (who reached billionaire status in 2014), golfer Tiger Woods (2022) and current Lakers star LeBron James (2022).

Who is the highest paid NFL player? ›

The Cincinnati Bengals' Joe Burrow is the highest paid player in the NFL. The San Francisco 49ers' Nick Bosa is the highest paid defensive player in the league.

Who is the highest paid NFL player of all time? ›

Highest overall career earnings of NFL players in the U.S. 2023. The player in the National Football League (NFL) with the highest cumulative career earnings was Aaron Rodgers, with total earnings of 342.5 million U.S. dollars.

Is Conor McGregor the highest paid UFC? ›

Conor McGregor is the highest-paid UFC fighter with over $39 million in earnings. Rounding out the top five are Khabib Nurmagomedov, Alistair Overeem, Andrei Arlovski, and Anderson Silva.

How did Conor McGregor become the highest paid athlete? ›

So, in a pandemic world and with only one fight to his name in 2021, how exactly did the Irishman land the No 1 spot on Forbes' list of the highest-paid athletes of the past 12 months? The answer lies mostly away from the Octagon – and with his critically unpopular whiskey brand.

Who is the highest paid NBA player? ›

Stephen Curry became the first player to eclipse $40 million per year when he signed a record 5-year contract worth $201 million in 2017, starting with $34,682,550 in the 2017–18 season and ending with the largest earnings in the 2021–22 season with a record payout of $45,780,966, If his contract continues Curry is ...

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