1 - Michael Jordan

Legend of NBA Michael Jordan tops the list of the world’s wealthiest athletes. He has managed to gain an astonishing fortune of more than $3 billion, a record amount in the history of sports. His prime NBA years were in the 1980s and 1990s and in the early 2000s. As of today, MJ has finished his career. The 60-year-old athlete focuses on business. He is the major shareholder of the Charlotte Hornets NBA basketball club, owns his own car dealership, invests in various companies, and appears in commercials.

2- Tiger Woods

3 - Arnold Palmer

Arnold Palmer is the top 3 golfer of the 20th century. The peak of his career came in the 1960s. During that period he won 29 victories in the world's most prestigious PGA Tour series. In addition to his professional career, Arnold Palmer also hosted television shows, acted in films, produced golf shows, and wrote books. His diverse pursuits helped him become the first golfer in history to make $1 billion. Until his death in 2016, the athlete earned $1.7 billion.

4 - Jack Nicklaus

Jack Nicklaus, nicknamed The Golden Bear, is a retired US professional golfer. He is the record holder for the most US Open titles. Notably, Niklaus won 18 major events during his career. The athlete retired in 2005. Despite his age of 83 years, he is developing various businesses. The former athlete has his own company that manufactures golf equipment. According to the latest data, his fortune is estimated at $1.6 billion.

5 - Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo is the youngest athlete on the list of the richest people in sports. As of today, 38-year-old Portuguese soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo has earned nearly $1.6 billion through his soccer career and numerous commercial projects. He has not yet finished his professional career. This fact gives him a chance to rise to the top of the rank, especially since Ronaldo is still in demand in advertising and owns a successful business. The athlete has his own brand CR7, which includes a chain of hotels, a restaurant, a fitness center, and many other businesses.