This week Forbes released its latest list of the world’s 100 most paid athletes.
According to Forbes:
“The 100 top-earning athletes hail from 23 countries and compete in ten sports, with Americans (65) and baseball players (26) the most numerous. Over the last 12 months, they banked a cumulative $3.15 billion, 29% of which came from endorsements and appearances.”
There are some familiar names on the list, like Tiger Woods – yes he is still on it – who will take home a whopping $45.3 million (US dollars) in pay, which includes $274 000 in winnings and other endorsements. And he is only ranked 12th on the list!
Other familiar names include Lewis Hamilton (number 11) with $46 million, Roger Federer (number 4) with $67.8 million, and Lionel Messi (number 2) with a whopping $81.4 million!
The most notable name on the list – because of his rank and earnings – is Real Madrid and Portugal star soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo (ranked 1), who takes home an insane $88 million per year!
Apart from all the money listed the most outstanding thing about it, in my opinion, is the number of women on it: two.
Out of 100 athletes around the world, only two made it onto this list – Serena Williams (ranked 40th) and Maria Sharapova (ranked 88th), who has recently been slapped with a two-year ban for doping. She will no doubt drop in ranking next year and after, due to lack of time on the tennis court.
I think it is ludicrous in 2016, that the issue of paying our female athletes less than their male counterparts remains unchanged.
Don’t get me wrong, I am sure there has been some progress in levelling the playing field. And I also know that earnings are dependent on the athletes themselves, the sport in question, and the team you play for, among other things such as TV rights and sponsorships.
Even with these factors in mind, one wonders if it still isn’t a reflection of how sponsors, TV companies, and sport teams in general view the involvement of women in sport – as secondary.
Perhaps I’m reading too much into it, but something does not seem right.
Have a look at the full list here.