体育媒体 Sportico 近期公布「史上收入最高」职业运动员名单前 25 名，不出意外由前 NBA 球星 Michael Jordan 拔得头筹，其职业生涯总收入逾 $26.2 亿美元。至于第二名则为高尔夫名将 Tiger Woods，身价约 $21 亿美元。值得一提的是两位收入很大部分都来自与 Nike 之间的合作关系。据统计 Michael Jordan 自 2003 年正式退休以来，光从 Nike 获得的权利金的权利金就高达 $10 亿美元。以下为前 25 名完整名单：
- Michael Jordan (Basketball) – $2.62 billion
- Tiger Woods (Golf) – $2.1 billion
- Arnold Palmer (Golf) – $1.5 billion
- Jack Nicklaus (Golf) – $1.38 billion
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Soccer) – $1.24 billion
- Floyd Mayweather (Boxing) – $1.2 billion
- LeBron James (Basketball) – $1.17 billion
- Lionel Messi (Soccer) – $1.14 billion
- Michael Schumacher (Racing) – $1.13 billion
- Roger Federer (Tennis) – $1.12 billion
- Phil Mickelson (Golf) – $1.08 billion
- David Beckham (Soccer) – $1.05 billion
- Kobe Bryant (Basketball) – $930 million
- Shaquille O’Neal (Basketball) – $870 million
- Greg Norman(Golf) – $815 million -
- Mike Tyson (Boxing) – $775 million
- Alex Rodriguez (Baseball) – $650 million
- Manny Pacquiao (Boxing) – $630 million
- Kevin Durant (Basketball) – $625 million
- Lewis Hamilton (Racing) – $620 million
- Neymar (Soccer) – $615 million
- Jeff Gordon (Racing) – $595 million
- Oscar de la Hoya (Boxing) – $580 million
- Peyton Manning (Football) – $570 million
- Derek Jeter (Baseball) – $555 million
对照名单可得出几项观察要点：前 12 名中以高尔夫球入榜数目最多，高达四位，其次则为足球运动，包含 Cristiano Ronaldo、Lionel Messi 、David Beckham 三名球星。LeBron James 位列第七，略逊于全球最高收入的拳击选手 Floyd Mayweather。棒球仅有 Alex Rodriguez 和 Derek Jeter 入列前 25 名，而美式足球仅有 Peyton Manning 一位，且以第 24 名敬陪末座。此外，该排行榜中没有任何一名女性运动员。
