In a continued display of gender disparity in the world of sports, not a single woman made the cut for the list of the world's 100 highest-paid athletes in 2024, as reported by Sportico. While U.S. tennis sensation Coco Gauff was the highest-earning female athlete of the year, bringing in $30.4 million, this sum fell short of the minimum $37.5 million required to secure a spot among the elite top 100 earners.
At the pinnacle of the rankings stands soccer icon Cristiano Ronaldo, who retained his position as the highest-paid athlete globally for the second consecutive year, amassing a staggering $260 million in total earnings. The bulk of Ronaldo's income, totaling $215 million, came from his endeavors with the Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr, complemented by an additional $45 million from off-field ventures.
Following closely behind Ronaldo is Golden State Warriors' star Stephen Curry, who accumulated $153.8 million. Boxer Tyson Fury secured the third spot with $147 million, while soccer legends Lionel Messi and LeBron James claimed the fourth and fifth positions, pocketing $135 million and $133.2 million, respectively.
Moreover, the exclusive $100 million club featured prominent figures such as boxers Oleksandr Usyk, soccer maestros Neymar, Karim Benzema, and Kylian Mbappe, golfers Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler, as well as NFL quarterback Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys.
Notably, NFL quarterback Daniel Jones clinched the 100th spot on the list, with earnings amounting to $37.5 million. The collective income of the top 100 athletes reached a staggering $6.2 billion, marking a substantial 14 percent rise from the previous year. Athletes hailing from eight different sports and representing 27 diverse countries contributed to this prestigious list, underscoring the global reach and diversity of the sporting world.