When it comes to raking in the cash, Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton aren’t just fast on track – they’re predictably cruising in Forbes’ financial fast lane, too.
In a world dominated by soccer superstars and American sports titans, the Formula 1 titans were the only drivers to make Forbes’ annual Top 50 highest-earning athletes list, proving that speed continues to pay big bucks for Grand Prix racing’s world champions.
Of course, let’s be real -these numbers are educated guesses at best. With F1 contracts locked tighter than a Monaco hairpin, Forbes’ estimates are a mix of insider whispers and spreadsheet wizardry.
So, while Max and Lewis probably aren’t calling Forbes to correct the numbers, we’d wager they’re not exactly crying over any “missing millions” either.
Max Leads the F1 Charge – Lewis Still Cashing In
As Red Bull’s golden boy and four-time world champion, Verstappen clocked in at P17 on the list with a cool $81 million in earnings for 2024.
A massive $76 million came from his Red Bull salary and bonuses, with another $5 million from endorsements.
Hamilton, one of the sport’s elder statesman at 40, landed at P21 with $69 million. Ferrari’s newest superstar earned $57 million on-track and another $12 million through endorsements.
While Lewis may not be F1’s top earner anymore, his bank account suggests he’s doing just fine in his “retirement planning phase.”
Big Money, Bigger Rivalry
Together, Verstappen and Hamilton reportedly earn more than the rest of the F1 grid combined, proving that being the sport’s marquee stars comes with perks.
As they gear up for another season of head-to-head battles, their paychecks might get even fatter, especially in the former Mercedes driver’s case.
Forbes reported that the top 50 athletes collectively earned $3.88 billion in the past year, with Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo, who now plays for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, topping the list at $260 million.
He is followed by Spanish pro golfer Jon Rahm with $218 million in earnings, while Ronaldo’s Argentine counter-part Lionel Messi completes the podium, but far behind, with just $135 million.
Forbes specifies that on-the-field earnings include salaries, bonuses and prize money, while off-the-field monies cover endorsements, appearances, licensing, etc…
Here are the top25 from from Forbes’ 2024 Top 50 list.
| RANK | NAME | SPORT | TOTAL EARNINGS | ON-THE-FIELD EARNINGS | OFF-THE-FIELD EARNINGS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Soccer | $260 M | $200 M | $60 M |
| 2 | Jon Rahm | Golf | $218 M | $198 M | $20 M |
| 3 | Lionel Messi | Soccer | $135 M | $65 M | $70 M |
| 4 | LeBron James | Basketball | $128.2 M | $48.2 M | $80 M |
| 5 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Basketball | $111 M | $46 M | $65 M |
| 6 | Kylian Mbappé | Soccer | $110 M | $90 M | $20 M |
| 7 | Neymar | Soccer | $108 M | $80 M | $28 M |
| 8 | Karim Benzema | Soccer | $106 M | $100 M | $6 M |
| 9 | Stephen Curry | Basketball | $102 M | $52 M | $50 M |
| 10 | Lamar Jackson | Football | $100.5 M | $98.5 M | $2 M |
| 11 | Joe Burrow | Football | $100 M | $96 M | $4 M |
| 12 | Kevin Durant | Basketball | $93.3 M | $47.8 M | $45.5 M |
| 13 | Shohei Ohtani | Baseball | $85.3 M | $25.3 M | $60 M |
| 14 | Canelo Alvarez | Boxing | $85 M | $75 M | $10 M |
| 15 | Patrick Mahomes | Football | $84.4 M | $59.4 M | $25 M |
| 16 | Anthony Joshua | Boxing | $83 M | $75 M | $8 M |
| 17 | Max Verstappen | Auto Racing | $82 M | $75 M | $7 M |
| 18 | Aaron Rodgers | Football | $80.8 M | $71.8 M | $9 M |
| 19 | Rory McIlroy | Golf | $80.1 M | $35.1 M | $45 M |
| 20 | Justin Herbert | Football | $78.7 M | $67.7 M | $11 M |
| 21 | Lewis Hamilton | Auto Racing | $69 M | $57 M | $12 M |
| 22 | Nick Bosa | Football | $68 M | $66.5 M | $1.5 M |
| 23 | Tiger Woods | Golf | $67.2 M | $12.2 M | $55 M |
| 24 | Kirk Cousins | Football | $62.5 M | $60 M | $2.5 M |
| 25 | Klay Thompson | Basketball | $62.3 M | $43.3 M | $19 M |
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