Sports stars don't make their fortunes solely on the field or court.
From juicy sponsorships to savvy side hustles, the world's sporting elite can leverage their celebrity status to boost their bank balance in many surprising ways.
Read on to discover who the highest-earning sports stars are in 2023 and how they scored their money over the last 12 months, with figures sourced via Forbes's list of the world's highest-paid athletes. All dollar amounts in US dollars.
Soccer player Mohamed Salah is Liverpool FC's star striker. Forbes reports that he scored his 100th Premier League goal for the English football team in 2020, making him the fastest player in the club's history to reach the milestone.
The Egyptian player, who signed a three-year contract extension with Liverpool in 2022, has earned $35 million (£28m) on the pitch over the last year.
And he's made a further $18 million (£14.5m) thanks to juicy endorsement deals with the likes of Adidas, Vodafone, and Pepsi.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers signed a three-year contract with the Green Bay Packers worth $150 million (£120.7m) in 2022, though he was traded to the New York Jets in April.
The four-time MVP winner pulled in $42 million (£34m) on the football field this past year.
He made a further $11 million (£8.9m) outside of football thanks to business interests that include his minority ownership stake in the Milwaukee Bucks NBA team, resulting in total earnings of $53 million (£43m).
Jon Rahm is currently the world's top-ranked golfer.
The Spanish star set the single-season PGA Tour prize money record this April when he banked $14.5 million (£12m). Overall, he's earned around $28 million (£23m) from golf this past year.
His lucrative sponsorship deals with brands including Mercedes-Benz, Rolex, and VistaJet helped Rahm pocket a further $25 million (£20m) last year, bagging him impressive total earnings of $53 million (£43m).
Following a series of shock defeats, former world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua made an epic comeback in April with his win over Jermaine Franklin.
Of the $53 million (£43m) that Joshua has earned over the last 12 months, at least $50 million (£40m) will have been made inside the ring.
Meanwhile, his money-making partnerships with sportswear brand Under Armour, streaming service DAZN, and luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet bumped up his bank balance by an extra $3 million (£2m).
NBA star James Harden signed a two-year contract with the Philadelphia 76ers in July 2022 that was worth $68.6 million (£55m).
As a result, the MVP point guard banked $33.1 million (£27m) on the basketball court.
Harden scored an additional $22 million (£18m) thanks to his hefty endorsement deal with Adidas, as well as his stakes in the sports drink brand Bodyarmor and the Houston Dynamo soccer team.
New York Mets player Max Scherzer is tied with his teammate Justin Verlander for the highest-paying salary in Major League Baseball.
The superstar pitcher earned $56.7 million (£46m) this past year, with $55.7 million (£45m) made on the field.
He took home an additional $1 million (£805k) from sponsorships with brands such as Nike and the trading card company Topps.
NBA player Damian Lillard earned $58.6 million (£47m) over the last 12 months, partly thanks to the contract extension he signed with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2022. The deal was reportedly worth $122 million (£98m) and will keep him at the club until the end of the 2026/27 season.
Over the last year, the hot shot point guard has made an impressive $42.6 million (£34m) on the basketball court, as well as a further $16 million (£13m) off the court thanks to his endorsement portfolio, signature shoe line with Adidas, and his rapping side hustle under the moniker Dame D.O.L.LA.
Superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes earned $59.3 million (£48m) over the last 12 months.
The two-time Super Bowl champion made $39.3 million (£32m) on the football field thanks to the 10-year contract extension he signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2020, which is worth up to $503 million (£405m).
Mahomes made an additional $20 million (£16m) thanks to his impressive range of sponsorships with leading brands including Adidas, Subway, and Nestlé.
Golden State Warriors player Klay Thompson triumphantly returned to the basketball court last year after missing out on two seasons due to injury.
The superstar shooter made $60.9 million (£49m) over the last year, with $40.9 million (£33m) earned on the court.
The five-time All-Star netted an additional $20 million (£16m) thanks to sponsorship deals with Waiakea Water and Hasbro, as well as via his $80 million (£64m) 10-year endorsement contract with the Chinese shoe brand Anta.
Dutch-Belgian racing driver Max Verstappen became Formula 1's youngest-ever race winner in 2016, at the tender age of 18.
The Red Bull racer, who's the current World Drivers' Champion, is said to have earned $60 million (£48m) on the track last season.
His endorsement deals with video game developer Electronic Arts and beverage brand Heineken revved his bank balance up by a further $4 million (£3m), taking his total annual earnings to $64 million (£51m).
While Max Verstappen cruised to victory, F1 legend Lewis Hamilton had one of his worst-ever racing seasons, with his sixth place in the championship representing his lowest finish since his 2007 debut.
Regardless, the Mercedes racer still earned an impressive $55 million (£44m) from the sport during the latest season.
The sought-after racing driver took home an additional $10 million (£8m) thanks to sponsorship deals with Tommy Hilfiger, Puma, and drink brand Monster Energy.
Bryson DeChambeau left golf's PGA Tour in favour of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf League in 2022.
The massive upfront payment he received for joining the newly formed league, coupled with his prize money, has seen the golf champ take home $68 million (£55m) from the sport over the past year.
DeChambeau also banked a cool $1 million (£804k) thanks to his lucrative sponsorship deal with the luxury watch brand Rolex.
NFL star Kyler Murray signed an extension contract with the Arizona Cardinals last year that was reportedly worth up to $230.5 million (£186m).
As a result, the quarterback will have earned an impressive $67 million (£54m) on the football field by the end of 2023.
Overall, Murray will have made $70.5 million (£57m), with a further $3.5 million (£3m) coming from his money-spinning deals with Bodyarmor, Nike, and esports organisation FaZe Clan.
Another golf pro who seriously profited by leaving the PGA Tour and joining the LIV Golf League last year was Brooks Koepka.
The American star has reportedly made $72 million (£58m) over the last 12 months, with $66 million (£53m) earned on the green.
Koepka's juicy sponsorship portfolio, which includes brands such as Nike and Rolex, helped him bank a further $6 million (£5m).
Rising sports star Cameron Smith is yet another golf pro who joined the LIV Golf League in 2022.
The Australian golfer took home an enviable $73 million (£59m) in annual earnings, with a hefty $66 million (£54m) made from the sport.
Smith is on the receiving end of a further $6 million (£5m) thanks to his sponsorship deals with investment banking business Citigroup, clothing company Perry Ellis International, and private plane company NetJets.
Tiger Woods is one of the wealthiest sportspeople in the world, with a jaw-dropping $1.1 billion (£883m) net worth.
The golf legend turned down a "mind-blowingly enormous" nine-figure deal to join the LIV Golf tour last year, although he still earned $15.1 million (£12m) from the sport.
Woods banked a further $60 million (£48m) from his various business ventures, which include his high-end mini golf chain Popstroke and the entertainment company TMRW Sports, which he founded with fellow golfer Rory McIlroy last year.
Meanwhile, his money-making endorsement portfolio includes leading brands such as Rolex, TaylorMade, and Monster Energy.
Like Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy turned down LIV Golf to stick with the PGA Tour.
The decision didn't impact his bank balance though: McIlroy has made $80.8 million (£65m) this past year, with $40.8 million (£33m) earned on the green.
McIlroy took home the additional $40 million (£32m) from his lucrative sponsorship portfolio and numerous business interests, which include TMRW Sports and GolfPass – a digital subscription service that he launched with NBC Sports in 2019.
NBA player Russell Westbrook is on track to bank an impressive $82.1 million (£66m) this year.
The nine-time All-Star, who signed with the Los Angeles Clippers in February, has made $47.1 million (£38m) on the basketball court.
Westbrook is set to make a further $35 million (£28m) thanks to his signature shoe line with Nike and sponsorship deal with liquor brand Hennessy.
Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson has earned an eye-watering $72 million (£58m) on the football field this past year.
The NFL hot shot banked an additional $13 million (£10m) from his endorsement portfolio, which includes Nike, Amazon, and Mercedes-Benz, as well as via his brand management firm, West2East Empire.
The business-savvy star is also an investor in the Portland Diamond Project, which is working towards bringing a Major League Baseball team to Oregon.
Soccer star Neymar has also earned $85 million (£68m) this past year according to Forbes's research.
The Paris Saint-Germain player, who inked a contract extension (including performance bonuses) with the French club in 2021, earned $50 million (£40m) from his skills on the pitch.
The Brazilian superstar scored a further $35 million (£28m) thanks to endorsement deals with brands such as Puma, Red Bull, Qatar Airways, and the NFT platform NFTSTAR.
Milwaukee Bucks player Giannis Antetokounmpo has netted himself an incredible $87.6 million (£70m) over the past year.
The two-time MVP earned $42.6 million (£34m) on the basketball court and a further $45 million (£36m) off the court.
The so-called 'Greek Freak' has an impressive range of sponsors, which includes the likes of Nike, Amazon, and Google. And last year Disney+ even released a movie called Rise based on his life story.
Kicking off our top 10 is NBA star Kevin Durant, who took home $89.1 million (£72m) in annual earnings.
The 13-time All-Star, who was traded to the Phoenix Suns in February, earned $44.1 million (£36m) on the court and $45 million (£36m) outside of basketball.
The business-savvy star has invested in more than 80 companies, runs his own media brand called Boardroom, and also owns stakes in several sports teams. Meanwhile, his sponsors include Nike, Coinbase, and gaming company 2K Sports.
Tennis champ Roger Federer earned a mere $100,000 (£80k) on the tennis court this past year.
However, the Swiss star has raked in an unbelievable $95 million (£76m) away from the sport, partly owing to his unrivalled sponsorship portfolio, which includes a 10-year deal worth $300 million (£242m) with the Japanese apparel company Uniqlo.
Federer also profited from his stake in Swiss athletic apparel company On, taking his total annual earnings to $95.1 million (£76m).
NBA legend Stephen Curry has made a jaw-dropping $100.4 million (£81m) over the last year, according to Forbes.
The Golden State Warriors star has made $48.4 million (£39m) on the court. However, it's his off-court ventures that have brought in even more money...
Curry's production company, Unanimous Media (which inked a development deal with Comcast NBCUniversal in 2021), and his clothing collection with Under Armour have helped him make a further $52 million (£42m).
Phil Mickelson, another golf pro who joined the Saudi-backed LIV Golf League in 2022, made $104 million (£84m) on the course this past year.
Sponsors Workday and KPMG dropped Mickelson over his controversial comments that he was willing to ignore human rights violations in Saudi Arabia to be part of the LIV Golf Tour.
Despite this, he still banked $2 million (£1.6m) from money-making deals with other sponsors, which include Rolex, Grayhawk Golf Club, and VistaJet.
Dustin Johnson also joined LIV Golf in 2022.
Though the decision cost him his fruitful Adidas sponsorship, Johnson still banked a total of $107 million (£86m) over the last year, making him the highest-earning golfer in our round-up.
The star made $102 million (£82m) on the golf course and a further $5 million (£4m) from his lucrative sponsorship portfolio, which includes Bodyarmor and golf equipment brand TaylorMade.
Mexico's Canelo Alvarez earned a knockout sum of $110 million (£89m) this past year, making him the highest-earning boxer in the world.
Alvarez, who rakes in tens of millions per fight, banked $100 million (£81m) inside the ring.
Meanwhile, he earned a further $10 million (£8m) thanks to his numerous business ventures, which include the entertainment company Canelo Promotions, a clothing line, the drinks brand Yaoca, and fitness app I Can.
With a fortune worth $1 billion (£805m), NBA superstar LeBron James is undeniably one of the world's richest sports stars.
The Los Angeles Lakers player has earned $119.5 million (£96m) this last year alone, with $44.5 million (£36m) of that netted on the basketball court.
His endorsement deals with brands such as PepsiCo, Sony, and Nike, and his business interests, which include stakes in Beats by Dre and the Blaze Pizza franchise, have scored James a staggering $75 million (£60m).
The youngest person in our round-up is French soccer star Kylian Mbappé, who's earned an impressive $120 million (£97m) during the last 12 months.
While the 24-year-old Paris Saint-Germain player banked $100 million (£81m) on the pitch, his endorsements with high-profile brands such as Nike, Hublot, and gaming company Electronic Arts have earned him a further $20 million (£16m).
The entrepreneurial Mbappé also published a graphic novel titled Je m'appelle Kylian in 2021.
Narrowly missing out on the top spot is Argentinian soccer star Lionel Messi, who banked an eye-watering $130 million (£105m).
The Paris Saint-Germain player, who is set to join Inter Miami, earned $65 million (£52m) from the beautiful game and, incredibly, earned the same amount again off the pitch.
His lucrative endorsement portfolio includes a lifetime contract with Adidas and a deal with fan engagement app Socios that banks him $20 million (£16m) a year. Meanwhile, his business pursuits include his own eponymous clothing line, which has a bricks-and-mortar store in Barcelona.
The highest-earning sports star of the last 12 months is Cristiano Ronaldo, who banked a whopping $136 million (£109m).
The soccer legend, who joined Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr club last year, earned $46 million (£37m) on the pitch and an unbelievable $90 million (£72m) away from the sport.
His juicy endorsement portfolio includes a lifetime deal with Nike, and he also profits from business ventures such as his CR7 clothing and accessories line, as well as the hotels and gyms he owns.
Now find out which millionaire sports stars have gone bankrupt