Sport

Rory McIlroy named 12th richest sportsman on earth by Forbes

World number one banked €42.7 million while Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather tops list again

Rory McIlroy is the 12th highest earning sportsman in the world according to Forbes having banked €42.7 million last year. Photograph: PA
Rory McIlroy is the 12th highest earning sportsman in the world according to Forbes having banked €42.7 million last year. Photograph: PA
Wed Jun 10 2015 - 21:24

Boxer Floyd Mayweather has been named the world's highest-paid sportsman for the second year running after banking 300million US dollars (€266m).

According to figures released by Forbes, endorsements accounted for just 15m dollars (€13.2m) of his income, with the majority of the American's earnings coming from last month's super-fight against Manny Pacquiao.

That bout in Las Vegas accounted for most of the 460m dollars (€407m) increase in earnings of the world’s top 100 athletes in 2015, with Pacquiao’s takings of 160m dollars (€141m) comfortably making him the second-highest earner.

Mayweather, former world number one Tiger Woods and now Pacquiao are the only athletes to earn nine-figure incomes in a single year.

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In third place was Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, who may have lost out to Barcelona rival Lionel Messi on the field but his earnings of 79.6m dollars (€70m) were nearly six million more than the Argentinian's.

Woods retained his place in the top-10 despite a dreadful year of injuries and loss of form thanks to his 50m dollar (€44m) endorsements, compared to winnings of just 600,000 (€531,000).

Fellow American Phil Mickelson was the top-performing golfer in eighth, although only by 200,000 dollars (€177,000) ahead of Woods.

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, who has won two majors in the last 12 months, banked 48.3m dollars (€42.7m), including 32m (€28.3m) in sponsorship, to be 12th on the list just ahead of Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton — 15th with 39m dollars (€34.5m).

Highest-earning British footballer was Gareth Bale, whose 25.5m dollar (€22.5m) salary at Real Madrid, put him 18th on the list with 35m (€31m).

England captain Wayne Rooney was 34th with 26.9m dollars (€23.8m), with former international team-mate Frank Lampard 87th on 19.7m (€17.5m).

Andy Murray’s 22.3m (€19.75m) dollars was worthy of only 64th place.

Forbes’ earnings figures include salaries, bonuses, prize money and appearance fees, as well as estimates on licensing and endorsement income for the past 12 months.

The list only includes athletes active during the last 12 months.