Michael Jordan Named Highest-Paid Athlete Ever

Michael Jordan has been named the highest-paid athlete of all time by Sportico, with career earnings of $4.15 billion, largely from his Nike partnership and post-retirement business ventures. This figure puts him ahead of Tiger Woods ($2.8 billion), Cristiano Ronaldo ($2.2 billion), and LeBron James ($1.88 billion), who is the second-highest paid basketball player in history. Despite higher salaries for modern athletes, Jordan's brand and business acumen have maintained his earnings lead more than 20 years after retirement. LeBron James, still active with the Los Angeles Lakers and central to their current playoff hopes, trails Jordan by $2.27 billion in career earnings. These financial milestones add fuel to the ongoing debate about the greatest basketball player of all time, with Jordan's off-court success reinforcing his legacy. Basketball is heavily represented, with 13 players among the top 50 highest-paid athletes.