Conor McGregor shoots up in ranks amongst the world’s highest-paid athletes

It’s hard for the everyday Joe to even fathom the amount of money that the world’s highest paid athletes make as they rake in millions of dollars every year.

Forbes released their list of The World’s Highest-Paid Athletes on Wednesday and once again, only one mixed martial arts superstar made their top-100 list.

UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor came in at #24, tying soccer star Gareth Bale. Both McGregor and Bale had a combined annual income of $34 million. McGregor earned an estimated $27 million in salary/winnings and $7 million in endorsements, moving up 61 spots since last year, where he earned a total of $22 million.

With the boxing match between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor potentially happening sometime in the near future, next year’s list could have both Mayweather and McGregor at the top. Mayweather has stated time and again that he needs a guaranteed $100 million to fight. UFC President Dana White has estimated that Mayweather will make over $100 million if he and McGregor do end up fighting while estimating McGregor will make around $75 million for the bout.

Forbes stated their system as the following:

“Our earnings figures include salaries, prize money and bonuses earned between June 1, 2016, and June 1, 2017. Endorsement incomes are an estimate of sponsorships, appearance fees and licensing incomes for the same 12-month period based on conversations with dozens of industry insiders. We do not deduct for taxes or agents’ fees, and we don’t include investment income.”

The top 10 World’s Highest-Paid Athletes were listed as follows:

#1 Cristiano Ronaldo – $93 M total – $58 M salary/winnings – $35 M endorsements – Soccer
#2 LeBron James – $86.2 M total -$31.2 M salary/winnings – $55 M endorsements – Basketball
#3 Lionel Messi – $80 M total – $53 M salary/winnings – $27 M endorsements – Soccer
#4 Roger Federer – $64 M total – $6 M salary/winnings – $58 M endorsements – Tennis
#5 Kevin Durant – $60.6 M total -$26.6 M salary/winnings – $34 M endorsements – Basketball
#6 Andrew Luck – $50 M total – $47 M salary/winnings – $3 M endorsements – Football
#6 Rory McIlroy – $50 M total – $16 M salary/winnings – $34 M endorsements – Golf
#8 Stephen Curry – $47.3 M total – $12.3 M salary/winnings – $35 M endorsements – Basketball
#9 James Harden – $46.6 M total – $26.6 M salary/winnings – $20 M endorsements – Basketball
#10 Lewis Hamilton – $46 M total – $38 M salary/winnings – $8 M endorsements – Auto Racing

Think Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor can bump Cristiano Ronaldo and LeBron James in next year’s list?

on 6/7/2017.