LeBron James and More of the Richest Athletes Younger Than 40
Between contracts and endorsements, big money was earned.
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Superstars earn super cash, and the true megastars in sports earn the big mega checks. And when an athlete has success on the field, it leads to more endorsements, which leads to an even greater net worth.
Read More: Maria Sharapova and 45 More Incredibly Rich Retired Athletes
The list of some of the richest athletes under 40 years old will be no surprise. From the greatest female tennis star of all time to soccer’s superstars to a player in the conversation as one of the NBA’s best ever, GOBankingRates has compiled a list of some of the best-known under-40 stars across the world of sports.
Using data from Celebrity Net Worth, Forbes, TheRichest and Spotrac, we found rich athletes from a variety of sports. Read on to see the list.
Simona Halep: $30 Million
- Age: 29
- League/sport: Tennis
- Titles/championships: One major, 22 WTA titles
The Romanian star is ranked No. 2 in the world and has 22 career tournament titles. With a long career ahead, she’s certain to move up the rankings of top-earning female athletes.
Find Out: The Richest Athletes in the World
Justin Verlander: $95 Million
- Age: 37
- League/sport: MLB (Detroit Tigers)
- Contract terms: Two years, $66 million
- Titles/championships: One World Series, one AL MVP, eight-time All-Star
The veteran pitcher has 226 career wins and 3,013 strikeouts, making him an almost certain lock for the Hall of Fame. Nearly all his net worth comes from his salary.
Read More: Most Successful Athlete From Every Decade
Russell Wilson: $135 Million
- Age: 32
- League/sport: NFL (Seattle Seahawks)
- Contract terms: Four years, $140 million
- Titles/championships: One Super Bowl
The Seattle Seahawks quarterback has two Super Bowl appearances and one title in his career. His average annual salary is $35 million.
Who’s Richer: These Sports Stars or Their Significant Others?
Kevin Durant: $170 Million
- Age: 32
- League/sport: NBA (Brooklyn Nets)
- Contract terms: Four years, $164 million
- Titles/championships: Two NBA championships
Durant, who is coming off an Achilles’ tendon injury, earns $26 million per year from Nike in addition to his Nets contract. The forward is considered one of the best players in the NBA.
Read More: Injuries Cost These 13 Athletes a Fortune
Serena Williams: $210 Million
- Age: 39
- League/sport: Tennis
- Titles/championships: 23 majors, 73 WTA titles
Williams is the top-earning female athlete by far. Considered the best female tennis player of all time, she is one Grand Slam title from tying Margaret Court’s record of 24. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Williams earns $30 million-$40 million per year in career winnings and endorsements. She was finally dethroned this year when Naomi Osaka earned $37 million in salary and endorsements, making her the highest-paid female athlete.
Lewis Hamilton: $285 Million
- Age: 35
- League/sport: Formula One
- Titles/championships: Seven world championship titles
Hamilton is one of the greatest drivers in Formula One history. His seven titles tied Michael Schumacher for the most ever, and he holds the record for most race wins at 95. Hamilton just concluded a two-year contract with Mercedes worth a reported $60 million per year.
Year in Review: Biggest Sports Deals of 2020
Lionel Messi: $400 Million
- Age: 33
- League/sport: Soccer (FC Barcelona)
- Contract terms: Four years, $92 million
- Titles/championships: Ten La Liga titles, six Ballon d’Or trophies
Widely considered one of the greatest soccer players of all time, Messi has been at Barcelona his entire professional career. He made his professional debut at the age of 17. Messi is known to be dissatisfied with his current situation and is the subject of transfer rumors.
Looking Back: Athletes Who Made More Money From Endorsements Than Their Contracts in 2020
Roger Federer: $450 Million
- Age: 39
- League/sport: Tennis
- Titles/championships: 20 Grand Slam titles, 103 career ATP titles
Federer has long been considered perhaps the greatest men’s tennis player of all time. He is tied with rival Rafael Nadal for the most Grand Slam titles in men’s tennis history and has dominated the sport since 2003. Federer is a prized endorser, raking in $100 million in his career.
Read More: The Highest-Paid Athlete of Every Year From 1990 to 2020
LeBron James: $500 Million
- Age: 36
- League/sport: NBA (Los Angeles Lakers)
- Contract terms: Four years, $153 million
- Titles/championships: Four NBA championships
King James ties at the top for the richest athletes under 40 years old — see his wealthy companion on the next slide. The NBA star makes around $55 million in endorsements each year and owned 1% of Beats by Dre, worth $30 million when it was sold.
2020 in Review: Bestselling Sports Jerseys This Year
Cristiano Ronaldo: $500 Million
- Age: 35
- League/sport: Soccer (Juventus)
- Contract terms: $70 million
- Titles/championships: Seven La Liga titles, five Ballon d’Or trophies, five UEFA Champions League titles, Euro 2016 title
If Lionel Messi isn’t the best soccer player in the world right now, then Ronaldo is. He made his pro debut at age 18 and has played for some of the biggest clubs in the world, including Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus. Ronaldo is the first soccer player to earn $1 billion over the course of his career.
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Net worths were sourced from Celebrity Net Worth and are accurate as of Dec. 29, 2020.
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Superstars earn super cash, and the true megastars in sports earn the big mega checks. And when an athlete has success on the field, it leads to more endorsements, which leads to an even greater net worth.
Read More: Maria Sharapova and 45 More Incredibly Rich Retired Athletes
The list of some of the richest athletes under 40 years old will be no surprise. From the greatest female tennis star of all time to soccer’s superstars to a player in the conversation as one of the NBA’s best ever, GOBankingRates has compiled a list of some of the best-known under-40 stars across the world of sports.
Using data from Celebrity Net Worth, Forbes, TheRichest and Spotrac, we found rich athletes from a variety of sports. Read on to see the list.
Simona Halep: $30 Million
- Age: 29
- League/sport: Tennis
- Titles/championships: One major, 22 WTA titles
The Romanian star is ranked No. 2 in the world and has 22 career tournament titles. With a long career ahead, she’s certain to move up the rankings of top-earning female athletes.
Find Out: The Richest Athletes in the World
Justin Verlander: $95 Million
- Age: 37
- League/sport: MLB (Detroit Tigers)
- Contract terms: Two years, $66 million
- Titles/championships: One World Series, one AL MVP, eight-time All-Star
The veteran pitcher has 226 career wins and 3,013 strikeouts, making him an almost certain lock for the Hall of Fame. Nearly all his net worth comes from his salary.
Read More: Most Successful Athlete From Every Decade
Russell Wilson: $135 Million
- Age: 32
- League/sport: NFL (Seattle Seahawks)
- Contract terms: Four years, $140 million
- Titles/championships: One Super Bowl
The Seattle Seahawks quarterback has two Super Bowl appearances and one title in his career. His average annual salary is $35 million.
Who’s Richer: These Sports Stars or Their Significant Others?
Kevin Durant: $170 Million
- Age: 32
- League/sport: NBA (Brooklyn Nets)
- Contract terms: Four years, $164 million
- Titles/championships: Two NBA championships
Durant, who is coming off an Achilles’ tendon injury, earns $26 million per year from Nike in addition to his Nets contract. The forward is considered one of the best players in the NBA.
Read More: Injuries Cost These 13 Athletes a Fortune
Serena Williams: $210 Million
- Age: 39
- League/sport: Tennis
- Titles/championships: 23 majors, 73 WTA titles
Williams is the top-earning female athlete by far. Considered the best female tennis player of all time, she is one Grand Slam title from tying Margaret Court’s record of 24. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Williams earns $30 million-$40 million per year in career winnings and endorsements. She was finally dethroned this year when Naomi Osaka earned $37 million in salary and endorsements, making her the highest-paid female athlete.
Lewis Hamilton: $285 Million
- Age: 35
- League/sport: Formula One
- Titles/championships: Seven world championship titles
Hamilton is one of the greatest drivers in Formula One history. His seven titles tied Michael Schumacher for the most ever, and he holds the record for most race wins at 95. Hamilton just concluded a two-year contract with Mercedes worth a reported $60 million per year.
Year in Review: Biggest Sports Deals of 2020
Lionel Messi: $400 Million
- Age: 33
- League/sport: Soccer (FC Barcelona)
- Contract terms: Four years, $92 million
- Titles/championships: Ten La Liga titles, six Ballon d’Or trophies
Widely considered one of the greatest soccer players of all time, Messi has been at Barcelona his entire professional career. He made his professional debut at the age of 17. Messi is known to be dissatisfied with his current situation and is the subject of transfer rumors.
Looking Back: Athletes Who Made More Money From Endorsements Than Their Contracts in 2020
Roger Federer: $450 Million
- Age: 39
- League/sport: Tennis
- Titles/championships: 20 Grand Slam titles, 103 career ATP titles
Federer has long been considered perhaps the greatest men’s tennis player of all time. He is tied with rival Rafael Nadal for the most Grand Slam titles in men’s tennis history and has dominated the sport since 2003. Federer is a prized endorser, raking in $100 million in his career.
Read More: The Highest-Paid Athlete of Every Year From 1990 to 2020
LeBron James: $500 Million
- Age: 36
- League/sport: NBA (Los Angeles Lakers)
- Contract terms: Four years, $153 million
- Titles/championships: Four NBA championships
King James ties at the top for the richest athletes under 40 years old — see his wealthy companion on the next slide. The NBA star makes around $55 million in endorsements each year and owned 1% of Beats by Dre, worth $30 million when it was sold.
2020 in Review: Bestselling Sports Jerseys This Year
Cristiano Ronaldo: $500 Million
- Age: 35
- League/sport: Soccer (Juventus)
- Contract terms: $70 million
- Titles/championships: Seven La Liga titles, five Ballon d’Or trophies, five UEFA Champions League titles, Euro 2016 title
If Lionel Messi isn’t the best soccer player in the world right now, then Ronaldo is. He made his pro debut at age 18 and has played for some of the biggest clubs in the world, including Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus. Ronaldo is the first soccer player to earn $1 billion over the course of his career.
More From GOBankingRates
- 19 Effective Ways To Tackle Your Budget
- Are You Spending More Than the Average American on 25 Everyday Items?
- 30 Important Money Habits for Your Financial Future
- Guns and 32 Other Things You Definitely Do NOT Need To Buy During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Net worths were sourced from Celebrity Net Worth and are accurate as of Dec. 29, 2020.
