Top 10 highest-paid sports stars of all time including Michael Jordan, Cristiano Ronaldo and Floyd Mayweather

A list of the top 10 highest-paid sports stars of all time has been released and features some huge names.

And while most of the names included will likely be of no real surprise, the amount of money the athletes earned over their careers will leave your jaw on the floor.

The kind of money flowing around professional sports in the modern era is unfathomable at times. Cynics will claim athletes are paid too much but with sponsorship opportunities and the way sports are broadcast globally now, there is money to burn.

Naturally, the likes of Michael Jordan, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Floyd Mayweather have all raked in big paydays throughout their time but what is surprising is just how much of a gap there is between the man at the top of this list and those behind him.

Sportico released the official list of the 50 highest-paid athletes of all time back in March earlier this year, with a variety of different sports represented on the list. There are plenty of current sports stars among the ranking, while a number of legendary figures from days gone by are still able to match the best performers of the present day.

Among the top 10, there are three footballers, three golfers, two NBA stars, a tennis legend and boxing megastar Mayweather. Everyone in the top 16 on the list is estimated to have earned over $1 billion (with inflation-adjusted earnings).

Jordan tops the list with an eye-watering £3.75 billion generated since he turned pro in 1984. Of course, a lot of this stems from his collaboration with Nike for the Air Jordan brand.

Next on the list is Tiger Woods, whose dominance of the golfing world has helped him earn £2.66 billion. He may not win tournaments anymore, but he also had income from Nike, and now has his own sportswear brand.

Football legend Cristiano Ronaldo comes in third with $1.92 billion, former golfer Arnold Palmer is fourth with $1.76 billion, and LeBron James rounds out the top five at $1.7 billion.

Choosing between Ronaldo and Lionel Messi can be a difficult debate for some but, when it comes to money, the latter trails his rival by a fair distance, with Messi earning $1.67 billion.

Mayweather completes the top 10, with career earnings of $1.48 billion before his retirement in 2017.

The top 10 highest-paid sports stars in history are as follows:

1. Michael Jordan - $3.75bn
2. Tiger Woods - $2.66bn
3. Cristiano Ronaldo - $1.92bn
4. Arnold Palmer - $1.76bn
5. LeBron James - $1.7bn
6. Jack Nicklaus - $1.67bn
7. Lionel Messi - $1.67bn
8. David Beckham - $1.5bn
9. Roger Federer - $1.49bn
10. Floyd Mayweather - $1.48bn

Beyond the top 10, big names such as Michael Schumacher (12th), Shaquille O'Neal (13th) and Neymar (15th) are also included in a star-studded top 50.