I just came across the current ranking of the richest athletes in the world, and honestly, the numbers are impressive. In first place, as expected, Michael Jordan with 3.6 billion — his income from Nike is simply huge. Behind him is Vince McMahon with 3.2 billion, then Ion Tiriac with 2.4.

Interestingly, the richest athlete in the world is not always the one who earns the most on the field. Ronaldo is in fifth place with 1.2 billion, Messi seventh with 850 million — both legends, but their wealth depends on sponsors and investments. Roger Federer has 750 million — the Swiss has worked hard.

And then there’s Tom Brady, Serena Williams, LeBron James — all in the range of 300 to 800 million. It turns out that who is the richest athlete in the world is often not so much a question of sports achievements as of the ability to build a business around oneself. Federer, Messi, Ronaldo — they not only played but also invested wisely. The figures are rounded, but the overall picture is clear: mostly Americans and a few Europeans are at the top. It will be interesting to see how these fortunes grow further.