NBA / Jul 1, 2009 / 12:04 pm
Top 50 Highest Paid American Athletes
This morning Sports Illustrated released their official annual ranking of the Top 50 Highest Earning American Athletes. Naturally, there are a bunch of NBA players on there. LeBron clocks in at No. 3 with $42 million + (although he makes less than Phil Mickelson?!). Shaq, KG, Kobe, and Allen Iverson go 5-8.
Then it gets a little crazy…
Steph’s still in the top 20, ahead of guys like Jeff Gordon. We laughed out loud when we saw that Steve Francis, at more than $20 million, is still ahead of guys like Paul Pierce, Carmelo Anthony and Tom Brady.
Check out the full list HERE. Do any other names really surprise you?
July 1st, 2009 at 12:18 pm
rangerjohn says:
I went to high school with lance berkman (#50) and we run into him now and then, a close friend was also his roommate at rice univ. he makes more then what SI is saying. he is closer to the 20 mil mark in reality. real nice guy NOW, he was kind of a dueche in school, funny how they say money changes people, he went the other way i guess.
i also find it funny that forbes has different numbers and different ranks as well. (kobe #2 on forbes list)
July 1st, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Dukesman2000 says:
Where is Allan Houston?
July 1st, 2009 at 1:13 pm
That's whats up says:
ranger, if you got ANYTHING on Lance Berkman, now is the time to CASH IN
July 1st, 2009 at 1:19 pm
jzsmoove says:
how the hell did Jermaine O’neal get $750K in endorsements? props to his agent.
July 1st, 2009 at 1:35 pm
douglas copeland says:
I doubt the validity of this because forbes has Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant tied for the highest paid basketball players including endorsements and salary.
July 1st, 2009 at 1:44 pm
TJ 2 says:
thats some good money, those guys eat off of those endorsements! alot of the younger athletes specifically basketball are as high as they are because of their endorsements, there base salaries are have of their endorsements! its like dont worry about your NBA or PGA contracts! just make yourself very marketable!
July 1st, 2009 at 1:45 pm
John says:
Wow, Shaq earns more in endorsements than anybody in the NBA ( – Lebron of course ) . I guess the Cavs will have a lot of TV games next season ,,,
July 1st, 2009 at 1:58 pm
rangerjohn says:
ha THATS WHATS UP!
I wish i had something good on him lol. he was always pretty “straight edge” never really did anything. he always acted holier then thou sort of in school. like “im better then you”. i guess he ended up being right at least when it came to baseball and makin money lmao.
i find it interesting the houston texans have a couple players on the list and yet THEY STILL SUCK BAAAAADDDDDD!
July 1st, 2009 at 2:12 pm
rlf says:
isn’t it strange?
in all of the “rankings” kobe ranks higher than anyone, except tiger.
i rather believe forbes than sports illustrated.
July 1st, 2009 at 2:15 pm
rlf says:
lol, at sports illustrated, kobe made 43 million last year. that list is all wrong. lol
July 1st, 2009 at 4:25 pm
bixby says:
omg lets argue about how much $ these overpaid athletes make. will help me forget how sh i tty your life is!
July 1st, 2009 at 4:36 pm
douglas copeland says:
Yeah it’s safe to say sports illustrated is regurgitating bad facts, that list is all wrong.
July 12th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
Eric says:
why that steve francis is having a salary of $20 million dollars but is he played a lot of games and i he played and good games?? why??
July 12th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
Eric says:
steve francis?? he is the player the is being paid but not seeing in action,, i expect that the salary of steve is about $4 million in 4 season,, why?
September 17th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
briyyany says:
ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww