15. Neymar, Soccer
Advertisement
Advertisement
He’s not the highest earning soccer player on this list… at least not yet. Some are hailing Neymar as the heir apparent to David Beckham’s worldwide celebrity status, as he takes his enormous popularity in his home country (Brazil) to the world’s stage. At just 23 years old, he’s already making a combined $31 million a year, including the $17 million he earned in endorsements through deals with Nike and Beats By Dre. Neymar also signed lucrative deals with personal hygiene products maker Unilever and energy drink titan Red Bull. While he might round out the bottom of the top 15, he is considered the fastest emerging (most marketable) athlete in the world, and is a name to watch in the near future.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement