Basketball on the stadium court.
We're already impressed with their physical prowess, but our favorite athletes are also demonstrating financial prowess, and Forbes has taken notice.
The publication released a list of the world's 50 highest-paid athletes, with the top 50% being black athletes. According to the list, the athletes made an estimated $3.88 billion in earnings before taxes and agent fees in the past 12 months. That's up 13% from last year's record $3.44 billion..
Each athlete on the list must have earned at least $45.2 million, the highest amount ever, in 2022. The NBA has the most players on the list, followed by the NFL and soccer.
Can you guess who topped the list? Let's take a look.
LeBron James
Coming in at number four on the list, James is unsurprisingly one of the highest earners, having been one of the highest-paid players in the league for several years: The NBA legend made $128.2 million last year, according to the publication.
As ESSENCE previously reported, multiple media outlets reported that James agreed to a two-year contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers worth up to $97.1 million in 2022.
The deal gave the 39-year-old $532 million in guaranteed career earnings, making him the highest-paid player in NBA history, and he was declared a millionaire immediately after his contract extension.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
The beloved NBA players have become known for their on-court skills and affable personalities, as well as for signing some of the biggest contracts in NBA history, with Bucks players earning a combined $111 million this year, ranking fifth on the list, according to Spotrac.
Kylian Mbappe
Mbappe comes in sixth on the list with earnings of $110 million, making him the third highest-paid soccer player in the world.
Stephen Curry
Curry ranked ninth on Forbes' list with a reported earnings of $102 million. His big contract with Under Armour and several other smart investments, a media company and a bourbon brand also contribute to his huge fortune.
Lamar Jackson
Coming in at No. 10 on Forbes' list is Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, who signed a five-year, $260 million contract in 2023. Forbes reported that he boasts a robust business portfolio that includes a soul food restaurant, a production company, a record label and a clothing line.
