The Most Powerful Pro Athletes in Sports

It should come as no surprise that pro athletes have come a long way over the years. From people who play a sport well to brand ambassadors for shoes, professional athletes have multi-million dollar deals and are considered to be the inspiration for millions of people around the world.

The sport that these people play also has a huge role in inflating their power and income. Of course, it’s not a surprise that the most powerful athletes in the world are all basketball, soccer, boxing, and golf players.

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So, just how powerful are these people? In this article, we will talk about some of the most powerful pro athletes in the world today including who they are and how they gained such a high status.

The Most Powerful Pro Athletes in Sports
Image source: NBA.com

LeBron James

With a net worth of $480 million, LeBron James is one of the highest-paid athletes in the world.

But besides the money, LeBron also yields an incredible amount of power in the NBA. Coaches, teammates, and even the NBA administration are routinely known to bend over backward to fulfill his demands.

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He is widely respected in the sporting community and is also well known for his political commentary.

He also has a huge following of fans on social media and many endorsements with world-class brands.

Tiger Woods

The accusations and scandals surrounding Tiger Woods have certainly hurt his career, but not enough to take him off this list.

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With a net worth of $800 million, this star is synonymous with golf. Ask anyone to name the first golf player that comes to their mind, and Tiger Woods will probably be it.

He boasts a whole host of golfing records and currently ranks second in the world.

Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. returned to the spotlight after his famous comeback fight with Manny Pacquiao in 2017, in which he won.

He is currently an undefeated boxing champion and hasn't played since.

Easily the richest boxer in the world, Floyd Mayweather Jr has a net worth of $565 million.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Nobody gets as much love and attention as Cristiano Ronaldo, and we have the numbers to prove it.

Ronaldo is a highly successful soccer player, having played for Real Madrid and Manchester United in the past.

Currently, his Instagram account has the largest number of followers in the world. His Facebook and Twitter accounts combined, have more than 110 million followers.

Like the other athletes on this list, Ronaldo has a lot of endorsements to his name. This adds to his immense popularity and wealth. As of 2020, Cristiano Ronaldo is worth around $450 million.

David Beckham

David Beckham is so much more than his previous soccer career. He is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, has starred in Hollywood films, and was the Samsung Olympic Ambassador at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Even though he retired in 2013, David Beckham is regarded as one of the most famous soccer players of all time.

His soccer career, and his endorsements, put his net worth at over $450 million.

Honorable Mention: Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant passed away earlier this year in a helicopter crash, but the Black Mamba was certainly one of the most powerful professional athletes.

Widely considered as the face of the Lakers, alongside LeBron James, Kobe Bryant was known for his rebellious attitude and unique style of play.

At the time of his death, Kobe’s net worth was $600 million.

The Most Powerful Pro Athletes in Sports
Image source: hellomagazine.com

The Bottom Line

Professional athletes aren’t just people who play a sport well. They are icons and account for some of the richest and most powerful people in the world.

More than half of their money comes from endorsements and royalties. This list, of the most powerful pro athletes in the world, was curated to show you exactly how much power and money they have.

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