5. Michael Schumacher – Career earnings: $1 billion
Retired German racing driver Michael Schumacher holds the records for the most World Championship titles (7), the most Grand Prix wins (91), the most fastest laps (77) and the most races won in a single season (13). According to the official Formula One website, Schumacher is “statistically the greatest driver the sport has ever seen”.
4. Jack Nicklaus – Career earnings: $1.2 billion
Retired American professional golfer, Nicklaus is widely regarded as the greatest golfer of all time, winning a record 18 career major championships, while producing 19 second-place and 9 third-place finishes over a span of 25 years. He now has a business empire that includes course design, real estate, wine, ice cream, drinkware, golf academies, lemonade and more.
3. Arnold Palmer – Career earnings: $1.4 billion
Former American professional golfer, Palmer’s career spanned more than six decades, where he won 62 PGA Tour titles and is still considered one of the greatest and most charismatic players in the sport’s history. He died in September 2016, but his estate was noted to have still banked $40 million during the 12 months following, due to its agreements with 39 licensees.
2. Tiger Woods – Career earnings: $1.7 billion
Woods, who turned pro at 20 years old, is perhaps one of the best known contemporary professional American golfers. He is one of the most successful golfers of all time, breaking numerous records. Still an active player, Woods maintains a large endorsement portfolio.
1. Michael Jordan – Career earnings: $1.85 billion
Highly regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time, he is one of the most effectively marketed athletes of his generation and was considered instrumental in popularizing the NBA around the world in the 1980s and 1990s. Today, Jordan maintains his longtime endorsement relationships with Gatorade, Hanes, Nike, and Upper Deck. But what made him a billionaire was his 2010 investment in the Charlotte Bobcats (now the Hornets). Bought at $175 million, he bumped his stake to 90% in 2013, and the team is now worth $780 million.