There’s a saying that goes something like: if you love what you do you never work a day in your life. The highest paid athletes get paid to do what they love, but they work hard to get to where they are today. The top five highest paid athletes work everyday of their lives whether it’s training for a game, or a tournament, shooting a commercial for a product they endorse, or helping out their organizations. The following athletes work hard, play hard, and rewarded handsomely:
5) Drew Brees
Pictured: Drew Brees
Pay: $51 million
Salary: $40 million
Endorsements: $11 million
Drew Brees, quarterback for the New Orleans Saints is the fifth highest paid athlete in the world in 2013. In 2006, Brees signed a contract with the Saints worth $60 million which includes almost $2 million in bonuses. His endorsement deals, for companies like Vicks, Tide, and Chase earn him an additional $11 million in endorsements.
4) LeBron James
Pictured: LeBron James
Pay: $60 million
Salary: $18 million
Endorsements: $42 million
LeBron James is a basketball player for the Miami Heat who has won two NBA championships, four NBA Most Valuable Player Awards, two NBA Finals MVP Awards, two Olympic gold medals, and NBA scoring titles, and NBA Rookie of the Year Award. He has endorsement deals with Nike, Coca-Cola, Samsung, MdDonald’s and Dunkin’ Donuts have earned him the spot as the fourth highest paid athlete of 2013.
3) Kobe Bryant
Pictured: Kobe Bryant
Pay: $62 million
Salary: $28 million
Endorsements: $34 million
Kobe Bryant is a shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers. Bryant has won five NBA championships, and is a 15-time All-Star, 15-time member of the All-NBA team, and 12-time member of the All-Defensive team. Endorsement deals from Nike, McDonald’s, Sprite, Upper Deck, and Spalding have contributed to his estimated net worth of $200 million and third place ranking on the top earning athletes of 2013 list.
Pictured: Roger Federer
Pay: $72 million
Salary: $7 million
Endorsements: $65 million
Roger Federer is a Swiss professional tennis player who, as of October 2013, is ranked number seven in the world by the ATP. Multiple pundits, commentators, and sports analysts have named Federer the greatest tennis player of all time. Feer has appeared in 24 men’s Grand Slam finals, played the Wimbledon finals eight times, shares the Open Era record for the most titles at the Australian Open with Andre Agassi and Novak Djokovic, and has won the most matched in men’s Grand Slam tournaments. His multiple endorsement deals with companies such as Nike, Rolex, Credit Suisse and Lindt and his winnings from tournaments earn him the number two spot on the highest paid athletes of 2013 list.
1) Tiger Woods
Pictured: Tiger Woods
Pay: $78 million
Salary: $13 million
Endorsements: $65 million
Tiger Woods is an American golfer with an estimated net worth of $500 million. He is one of the most successful golfers of all time and has broken numerous records. He has been awarded the PGA Player of the Year eleven times, won 14 professional major golf championships, and 79 PGA Tour events. He has more career major wins and career PGA Tour wins than any other active golfer. Due to his endorsement deals with companies such as General Motors, Titleist, General Mills, Nike, American Express, and Buick and his unparalleled golfing abilities, Woods earns the number one spot of the list of highest paid athletes in 2013.
