Professional athletes are earning more than ever before, as highlighted Sportico‘s ranking last week at 100 best in the world stars, who made a combined $ 4.5 billion over 12 months of salaries, prize money and endorsements.
Though most likely to reach their athletic peak in their 20s, mountaintop earnings often don’t happen until after 30. The average and average age on the list is 31, and 33 is the most common age with 13 entries. Global football star Neymar30, is the youngest in the top 10
But for a select group of athletes, they hit paying dirt early. Twelve athletes ages 25 and under made the cut with an income of at least $ 30 million. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, who turned 26 on Friday, led the way with $ 66.5 million, including about $ 4 million of endorsements. The Bills paid $ 42.4 million in bonus options in March, as part of a six -year, $ 258 million contract signed in August 2021. He ranks 15th overall in the top 100.
All major U.S. sports leagues have some level of salary limit for incoming players. Major League Baseball players cannot be a free agent until after six years of service and are bound by a league minimum and prior arbitration agreement. Most of last year’s pick on NBA The draft, Cade Cunningham, had almost no rocking room during his four -year, $ 45.6 million contract. enter with the Detroit Pistons — only the first two years are guaranteed. They belong to NFLNo. 1 overall pick, Travon Walker, who is in line for four years, $ 37.4 million deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
For these athletes, they will get a second contract where an offer worth $ 25 million or more per year is available to the star players. Allen and Marcus Lattimore of the NFL, along with Devin Booker of the NBA, Donovan Mitchell, Jayson Tatum, Jamal Murray and Brandon Ingram all signed contracts twice before their 26th birthday.
Earning an endorsement also takes time to earn a team sport. Rarely outside of LeBron James or Zion Williamson become a pro and immediately get eight figures from sponsorship. It usually requires building a pro resume and winning a championship for major endorsements to stack up, even if the athletes on the list have beaten the timeline in a variety of ways.
These twelve young athletes represent six different sports. Naomi Osaka it’s the only woman who makes the cut. Tennis ace, that recently opened Evolve’s own sports agency, made just $ 1.2 million in prize money over the last 12 months, but about $ 52 million from the courts of more than 20 partners.
Highest Paid Athlete Under Age 25
1. Josh Allen, age: 25
Total Earnings: $ 66.5 millions
The passer rating of 149 during last season’s playoffs was the highest for a quarterback in a single postseason. Merchandise sales ranked third in the NFL this season, after Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes, and endorsement partners include Nike, New Era, Pepsi, AWS and Labatt Blue.
2. Naomi Osaka, 24
Total Earnings: $ 53.2 millions
Osaka has seven career WTA titles and makes him considered, as four are in Grand Slam events. Her contract with IMG expired at the end of 2021, leading to the launch of Evolve. ““ I am very confident that strength athletes should use our platform to drive meaningful business, ”Osaka said in an email.
3. Kylian Mbappé, 23
Total Earnings: $ 48.8 millions
Mbappé is one of the greatest footballers in the world but ranks third on his own team this season, after Lionel Messi and Neymar. The third Lique 1 player this year is on the verge of leaving Paris with a blockbuster move to Real Madrid. He earns $ 17 million annually from endorsement partners Nike, China Mengniu Dairy, EA Sports, Dior, Oakley and Hublot.
4. Max Verstappen, 24
Total Earnings: $ 43 million
The Belgian-Dutch driver gets a big bonus in 2021 with 10 race wins and the F1 World Championship. He signed a contract last year with Red Bull Racing that made his salary equivalent to seventh -round winner Lewis Hamilton.
5. Marshon Lattimore, 25
Total Earnings: $ 41 million
The Cornerback New Orleans Saints signed a $ 98 million deal in September 2021 and pocketed a $ 23 million restructuring bonus in March. The 2017 NFL Draft pick has made four Pro Bowls. He turned 26 Friday.
6. Jake Paul25
Total Earnings: $ 37 million
Paul became famous for posting videos on Vine and YouTube when he was young. He made it back to being a boxer, posting two wins against Tyron Woodley in the past 12 months. The future may lie in boxing promotion, as The Most Valuable Promotion helped make Amanda Serrano-Katie Taylor’s fight last month at Madison Square Garden one of the most successful between the two women boxers.
7. Devin Booker, 25
Total Earnings: $ 35.5 million
Booker just wrapped up his seventh season in the NBA and only has two years left in five years, a $ 167 million deal that began in 2019. He signed a major shoe deal renewal with Nike in 2019 and may well suit him. drawing model at some point. Not many NBA players have more famous partners, but Kendall Jenner and 237 million Instagram followers fit the bill.
8. Trevor Lawrence, 22
Total Earnings: $ 32.8 millions
Lawrence is the youngest in the top 100 and made the cut thanks to a $ 24.1 million mark bonus when the Jaguars made him the first overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. He signed pro as one of the most marketable prospects in years, after a 34-2 career and a National Championship at Clemson. He earned $ 8 million from the field through deals with Adidas, Bose, Breitling, FTX, Gatorade, Subway, Verizon and Fanatics.
9. Donovan Mitchell, 25
Total Earnings: $ 32.5 millions
The Utah Jazz Guard has an equity stake in BodyArmor, as part of an agreement with the sports drink brand and was purchased when Coca-Cola bought the company for $ 8 billion. Mitchell also has partnerships with Adidas, Autograph, Clorox, Crypto.com, Microsoft and Verizon.
10. Jayson Tatum, 24
Total Earnings: $ 30.3 million
Tatum is another young NBA star who could be a brand shoe with Nike’s Jordan Brand. The small forward Celtics founded a candy company, Side Step Sweets, which launched its first chewing gum brand in 2022. Other offerings include Ruffles, Gatorade, New Era, Beats and 2K Sports.
11. Jamal Murray, 25
Total Earnings: $ 30.1 millions
The Denver Nuggets keeper missed the entire 2021-22 campaign recovering from ACL surgery. Next season is the third season on his current five -year contract, $ 158 million. He was one of the athletes who pushed New Balance into basketball.
12. Brandon Ingram, 24
Total Earnings: $ 30 million
In 2020, the New Orleans Pelicans locked in the striker with a five -year contract extension, $ 158 million. He joined the club the year before as part of a trade to Anthony Davis after three seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. He won the NBA Best Player award in 2020.
