Former basketball player Michael Jordan is the highest-earning person in the world, according to a report published by Forbes magazine.
The former NBA player for the Chicago Bulls has a total of $1.7 billion, which includes his earnings as a professional player, endorsement deals, and his shoe line.
The ranking of the top 10 athletes does not include current football and marketing giants like Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi. Instead, the only former football player among the top fortunes in sports is David Beckham, who appears in the ninth position with $730 million.
Golf has the most representation in this ranking, with Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Phil Mickelson.
The eccentric former boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. is in seventh position on the list, with a fortune of $765 million, earned through his image and sports efforts.
Here is the top ten list of the highest-paid athletes in the world:
1 Michael Jordan (basketball) | $1.7 billion
2 Tiger Woods (golf) | $1.65 billion
3 Arnold Palmer (golf) | $1.35 billion
4 Jack Nicklaus (golf) | $1.15 billion
5 Michael Schumacher (F1) | $1 billion
6 Kobe Bryant (basketball) | $770 million
7 Floyd Mayweather Jr. (boxing) | $765 million
8 Phil Mickelson (golf) | $760 million
9 David Beckham (football) | $730 million
10 Shaquille O'Neal (basketball) | $700 million