Forbes released its annual list of the world's 50 highest-paid athletes on May 22, 2026, and for the third consecutive year, no female athlete made the cut.
The ranking underscores a stark economic divide between men and women in professional sports.
Top Earners and the Gap
Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo topped the list for the fourth year running with estimated earnings of $300 million.
Boxer Saúl 'Canelo' Álvarez came second at $170 million, followed by Lionel Messi with $140 million.
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers ranked fourth with $137.8 million, while Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers secured fifth place with over $127 million.
The minimum earnings to enter the top 50 were $54.6 million, held by Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner at the 50th spot.
American tennis star Coco Gauff led female earners with an estimated $33 million in 2025, more than $20 million short of the threshold needed to join the main list.
Forbes noted that since 2012, the only women to break into the top 50 have been tennis players: Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Li Na, and Naomi Osaka, who holds the female record with $60 million in 2021.
Income Disparity in Team Sports
The report highlighted that the income gap widens significantly in team sports due to differences in television broadcasting rights.
The WNBA operates under a media contract averaging $281 million annually, while the NBA generates an estimated $7 billion per year.
Base salaries also show massive divergence.
LeBron James's $137.8 million total earnings are 11 times the $12.1 million earned by Caitlin Clark.
James's playing salary of $52.6 million dwarfs Clark's $529,000 base pay, which falls below the NBA rookie minimum of $1.3 million.
Forbes evaluates earnings by combining on-field performance pay such as salaries, bonuses, and prize money with external commercial endorsements, licensing rights, appearances, and memorabilia.
