Lists

Highest-Paying Endorsement Deals In Pro Sports

Darren Ryding - July 4, 2023

Lists

Highest-Paying Endorsement Deals In Pro Sports

Darren Ryding - July 4, 2023

Very few in the world have the ability to be an elite athlete. Even less become true superstars. For example, there are about 500 players in the NBA, but only a few, like LeBron James and Kevin Durant, are legendary. Fame is important for an athlete because it makes you more marketable. In short, that means tons of exposure and therefore, cash.

The biggest superstars transcend their sport and have mainstream appeal. This makes them vital to many brands around the globe. It’s also essential for the athlete because many of them actually earn more from endorsements than from their sports contracts. So today, we’re going to take a look at the top 25 highest-paying endorsement deals in the world of sport today. You’re also going to learn just how powerful Nike is. Check out our list below.

25. Kei Nishikori

For a long time, Nishikori has been the most famous athlete in Japan. Naomi Osaka may oust him from that spot, but he’s still massively popular. A 12-times singles winner, he’s the only Asian tennis player to reach a Grand Slam singles final. Nishikori is the most successful male Japanese tennis star ever.

This has also helped to make him extraordinarily wealthy. He’s got a whole range of sponsors, but his big three are Wilson, Nike, and Uniqlo. The former makes his racquet and has even released limited additions in Japan. Then Uniqlo creates his clothing while Nike develops his court shoes after taking over his deal from Adidas.

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24. Jordan Spieth

Under Armour barely had a presence in golf before Spieth came along. They signed him in 2013 before tearing up that contract and giving him a huge new one in 2015. The deal made him one of the highest-paid golfers in the world. The three-time major winner has the potential to be the biggest name in the sport.

It’s no wonder because Spieth has always been a prodigy. The American was the youngest US Open winner of all-time and is the perfect brand ambassador for Under Armour. He’s a clean-cut family man which in short makes him very similar to a young Tiger Woods.

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23. Phil Mickelson

Throughout his career, Mickelson has made over $700 million from sponsors. Now 49, he’s definitely in the twilight of his days as an elite golfer. However, his time on the PGA tour has been magnificent as he’s won every major except for the US Open. Alongside Tiger Woods, he’s historically been one of the two most marketable golfers out there.

Tiger Woods vs Phil Mickelson — Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports

Mickelson had a long-running mega-money deal with the multinational British bank Barclays. But KPMG jumped in and secured his hat sponsorship rights. All of his endorsements combined earns him about $40 million per year. That’s fantastic money for the five-time major winner.

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22. Rafael Nadal

Currently ranked World No. 1, Nadal is one of tennis’s glorious triumvirate of male superstars. The clean-cut Spaniard has won 19 Grand Slam singles titles and is masterful on the clay court. In short, he has everything: talent, looks, charisma and a spotless reputation. He’s a marketing dream.

Nadal continues to wear Nike in a reported $50 million, five-year deal. Nike has been very canny in sealing some of the biggest names in the sport, including Serena Williams. If Nadal keeps winning, he’ll be worth every cent of that $10 million per year deal.

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21. Novak Djokovic

A 15-time Grand Slam winner, Djokovic is a hero to his fellow Serbians. He also held the World No. 1 spot for an incredible 275 weeks. Alongside Nadal and Roger Federer he’s been one of tennis’s three legendary figures of the modern era. In short, all of those wins have helped earn him a lot of money.

Djokovic’s biggest endorsement deal is with Uniqlo, the Japanese clothing giant. He makes about $10 million a year from the deal which is one of the biggest in tennis. Furthermore, Adidas provides his footwear. At the age of 32, he’ll be desperate to make as much money as possible while he’s in his prime.

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20. Russell Wilson

The Seahawks quarterback has one of the biggest contracts on Nike’s portfolio. He’s definitely the Seattle franchise’s most important player. The Superbowl champion has also competed in seven Pro Bowls. As such, he’s one of the most famous athletes in the United States today. To sum up, this makes him incredibly marketable.

His host of sponsors include Microsoft, Bose, and Braun. But Nike are by far his biggest deal. After briefly signing with Under Armour, he’s back wearing the iconic swoop in a deal that is one of the most lucrative in the NFL. The Seahawks hoped he would guide them to another Super Bowl, but they were knocked out by the Green Bay Packers.

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19. Usain Bolt

Now retired, Bolt is still a potent force for Puma. The Jamaican is the most successful sprinter of all-time. He’s an eight-time Olympic gold medallist and also an 11-time world champion, setting innumerable records along the way. Meanwhile, his celebration pose is almost as famous as his name.

Usain Bolt Olympics — Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports

A marketing juggernaut, Bolt has a whole host of sponsors to his name. His deal with Puma is worth more than $10 million per year. In short, this makes him one of their most important and famous brand ambassadors. Virgin Media and Hublot are two of his other main sponsors.

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18. Serena Williams

Yet another Nike athlete, Williams is definitely the most recognizable and powerful female athlete on the planet. Her achievements on the court are quite simply insane as she has broken down boundaries in tennis. The 23-time major winner is just a phenomenal athlete.

Williams has been with Nike since 2004 when her initial contract was $40 million over five years. The US star also convinced the brand to rethink its relationship with female athletes and the type of equipment that they require. All-in-all, this was truly a groundbreaking deal.

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17. Odell Beckham Jr.

The Cleveland Browns star is definitely one of the biggest names in the NFL. In 2016, he became the fastest player in NFL history to reach both 200 career receptions and 4,000 career receiving yards. However, controversy off the field has attached itself to his persona. Nonetheless, fans still love him.

And so do sponsors because he’s carrying a ton of endorsements. Beckham Jr. signed the biggest shoe deal in NFL history when Nike signed him to a five-year contract. That’s set to be worth close to $30 million. A clause will push it up to $48 million over eight years if he meets all of the requirements.

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16. Bryce Harper

Harper is by far the highest earner in baseball. The Phillies’ right fielder signed a contract worth $330 million over 13 years in 2019. But of course, he makes bags of dollars in endorsements off the field as well. Needless to say, brands are flocking to his person because he’s so famous.

The baseball player’s most important sponsor is definitely Under Armour. He first signed with the company back in 2014 but they extended and increased his deal just two years later to a baseball record. Harper’s colorful cleats have become an iconic part of his gameday uniform.

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15. Derrick Rose

For a long time, Rose was the highest-earning NBA star on Adidas’s books. In a sport dominated by arch-rivals Nike, his signature was vital for the brand with the three stripes. In 2012, he signed a 13-year contract worth $185 million. With several years left to run, he can rub his hands together with glee because that’s a lot of money.

However, you can argue strongly that he has turned into a liability for Adidas because of a sexual assault case and his injury record. Rose tore his ACL just a few months after signing the deal and has been injury prone ever since. In short, the amount of games he has missed has curtailed his career.

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14. Naomi Osaka

Japanese star Osaka is the highest-ranked woman on this list. She rose to prominence after beating Serena Williams and is a two-time major winner. Osaka chose to represent Japan in the Tokyo Olympics. This practically guarantees her megastar fame as she becomes the modern face of the nation.

Her fame will explode in 2020 so it’s no wonder that Nike swooped in and offered her a mega deal. Osaka was previously a brand ambassador for Adidas but their biggest rivals saw an opportunity when her contract ran down. To sum up, this could be some of the best money they’ve ever spent.

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13. James Harden

In 2015, Adidas made Harden the face of their NBA campaign with a massive 13-year deal worth a potential $200 million. They released his first signature shoe in 2016 for $120. In short, it’s clear that Adidas has a lot of faith in Harden, as well as the American people.

Harden has proven his worth thanks to success on the court. First of all, he’s a seven-time All-Star and was the 2018 MVP. He’s also a two-time NBA scoring champion. In short, the Rockets star is one of the most prolific threats in the NBA. To sum up, Adidas made a great investment.

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12. Neymar

Brazil’s Neymar is one of soccer’s most important players. The PSG man might have stunted his prospects somewhat by moving to France, but he’s definitely still a superstar. With 61 goals for his country, he’s a national icon. Furthermore, Neymar’s lavish lifestyle has seen him transcend the sport.

Neymar’s 11-year deal with Nike is worth about $10 million per year. He’s coming towards the end of that deal so you can expect a massive new one in the near future. The Brazilian is also the first soccer player to create a line of shoes with Nike’s Jordan brand. To sum up, he can definitely be happy with his earnings.

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11. Kobe Bryant

One of the NBA’s most popular stars, Bryant has had an up-and-down relationship with his sponsors. In 2003, sexual assault allegations effectively cost him a deal with McDonald’s. That’s a long time ago now and Bryant is back up and running with his endorsement deals. But his deal with Nike is something special.

They actually signed with him just days before the sexual assault allegations broke. However, they stuck with him, earning millions of dollars for Bryant and even more for Nike. His current deal is worth $8 million a year with his shoes retailing at over $100 a pair.

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10. Cristiano Ronaldo

For a long time, Ronaldo was the most famous soccer star in the world. The former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward now stars in Serie A for Juventus. He also won the European Championships with Portugal in 2016. Ronaldo is a walking billboard, especially with his growing Nike line CR7.

Ronaldo’s lifetime deal with Nike is worth a potential $1 billion. CR7 produces everything from t-shirts and underwear to fragrances, jeans and even a line of hotels. He’s drifting towards the end of his career, but his brand is as famous as ever. Juventus even changed the design of their team jerseys to exploit the US market and sell more of his shirts.

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9. Tiger Woods

Still, the biggest name in golf, Woods dominated the sport for a decade. The American had so many endorsement deals during his peak years including the famous EA PGA Tour game. However, his aging body and damaged reputation combined to lose him many of his sponsors, including shaving brand Gilette.

But Woods has been a Nike ambassador since 1996 when he turned professional. In 2013, he renewed his deal with the famous brand. His ongoing relationship with the sports giant is worth $200 million. That’s probably just as well because his divorce cost him $100 million.

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8. Rory McIlroy

Nike remains the biggest name in golf. In short, they only sponsor the most famous names in the sport, so it is a barometer of how good you are. Woods has been their biggest name for a long time, but McIlroy is the current face of the brand. The Northern Irishman has been with the label since 2017.

He signed a staggering 10-year $200 million deal with Nike at a lavish ceremony in the UAE. The 30-year-old was on top of the world rankings for 93 weeks and is a four-time major champion. In short, McIlroy is a born winner. It’s no surprise they want him as golf’s leading man.

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7. Kevin Durant

If you don’t think Durant is a good businessman, then you haven’t been paying attention. His move to the Golden State Warriors was an inspired tactical decision. First of all, he won two NBA championships. That set him on the path to being one of the best of his generation. Now he’s with the Brooklyn Nets.

Durant made his fortune on and off the court. He has many endorsements including deals with Beats by Dre, Family Insurance, and Alaska Airlines. However, Nike is by far his biggest sponsor. He has signed a 10-year extension with the athletic apparel giant worth $300 million. There are a lot of Durant shoes out there.

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6. Roger Federer

Federer is a living tennis legend and one of the best to ever do it in the men’s game. The Swiss star has won an outrageous 20 Grand Slam singles titles. This is the most in the history of the sport. Now 38, Federer has been playing at the highest level for over 20 years.

The world No. 3 has many sponsors including Hublot and Credit Suisse. Greta Thunberg actually criticized him for his deal with the latter over environmental concerns. After a decades-long relationship with Nike, he jumped ship to Japanese clothing company Uniqlo. That’s worth $300 million over 10 years. To sum up, Federer’s retirement should be nice.

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5. David Beckham

Beckham was the first soccer star to become a global household name. He was effectively the Michael Jordan of the sport, earning endorsement after endorsement because of his popularity. ‘Beck’s’ has had several sponsorships that other athletes could only dream of, including a three-year, $21.7 million deal with Armani.

That should give you some indication of his pulling power. It’s also why his career-long sponsors Adidas handed him a lifetime contract worth $160.3 million. Things haven’t slowed down since he retired either. Beckham actually made $75 million in 2014 when he walked away from soccer. That was the highest of his career so far.

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4. Lionel Messi

Messi is the best soccer player on the planet. The Argentine superstar has won almost everything there is in the game. He’s also got one of the most recognizable faces and names on the planet. In short, these two factors combine to make him incredibly marketable. His list of endorsements is endless.

But one sponsorship deal stands out more than any other. Messi is the face of sports giant Adidas. He has a lifetime deal with the brand that sees him earn a ridiculous $13 million per year. To sum up, this is one of the biggest deals in the world of sports. Messi transcends soccer.

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3. Stephen Curry

A look at Curry’s income will show you why he’s in the top 10 of Forbes list of World’s Highest-Paid Athletes. The Golden State Warriors star earns a reputable $34 million. Sure, that’s a fantastic amount of money. But it’s not why Forbes ranks him so high. No, his endorsement deals are his biggest source of income.

We’re specifically talking about his massive deal with Under Armour. He stunned the world by leaving Nike for the American sports brand but it makes total sense. $42 million per year is a massive amount of money and the fourth biggest individual contract of all-time.

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2. LeBron James

Some athletes transcend sport. James is a megastar and the most powerful figure in Nike’s armory today. The Lakers star is the reason why sports clubs and athletes across the globe sign with the brand. He can give them unique exposure in a global market. That’s why he’s got a lifetime deal with the brand worth a potential $1 billion.

A three-time NBA champion and a 15-time All-Star, James is the greatest player of his generation. But off the court, his business profile has been dramatically building up. These interests include his production company Springhill Entertainment and several other investments.

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1. Michael Jordan

Long retired, Jordan is still a basketball legend. A six-time NBA champion and 12-time All-Star, his record speaks for itself. But Jordan did more than just perform brilliantly on the court. He also changed the face of endorsements across the sporting world.

Jordan is worth an estimated $1.5 billion. This is in large part because of his custom Air Jordans deal with Nike. The iconic shoe has been in production for over 30 years. Nike expects the Jordan brand to be worth $4.5 billion by the end of 2020. In short, that’s an insane amount of money and has made both parties very rich.

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Highest-Paying Endorsement Deals In Pro Sports

Highest-Paying Endorsement Deals In Pro Sports

25. Kei Nishikori

24. Jordan Spieth

23. Phil Mickelson

22. Rafael Nadal

21. Novak Djokovic

20. Russell Wilson

19. Usain Bolt

18. Serena Williams

17. Odell Beckham Jr.

16. Bryce Harper

15. Derrick Rose

14. Naomi Osaka

13. James Harden

12. Neymar

11. Kobe Bryant

10. Cristiano Ronaldo

9. Tiger Woods

8. Rory McIlroy

7. Kevin Durant

6. Roger Federer

5. David Beckham

4. Lionel Messi

3. Stephen Curry

2. LeBron James

1. Michael Jordan

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