There are 16 athletes in the world who have earned $1 billion in total earnings. Six of them are still active today. 

Who’s next to join the ultra-exclusive group? 

Statistica released its list of the highest-paid athletes of all time. There are 16 billionaire athletes already on the map, including endorsements. Of those, six are active: Tiger Woods ($2.7B), Cristiano Ronaldo ($1.9B), LeBron James ($1.7B), Lionel Messi ($1.7B), Floyd Mayweather ($1.5B) and Phil Mickelson ($1.4B). 

Bookies.com veteran oddsmaker Adam Thompson has revealed his betting odds as to which athlete is next to hit 10 figures in earnings. 

Next 2024 Billionaire Athlete Odds

This market is for entertainment purposes only and has been created by the Bookies.com team. It is not currently available on betting apps. Percentages will not add up to 100% most time because these are designed to simulate odds a sportsbook would set.

Who Will Join The Billionaire Athlete Club?

Kevin Durant is going to become a billionaire in earnings in the next year. His total earnings stood at $955 million going into 2024 and he has two years left on his current NBA contract that will pay him over $100 million. 

Durant ranks second behind LeBron in all-time NBA career earnings, and he’ll get to over $500 million when his final deal is done. But like most athletes this high up, more than half of his earnings come from endorsements. In KD’s case, Nike, FanDuel, and Fanatics lead a portfolio that brings in over $45M annually. 

Mike Tyson stands at $905 million in career earnings, and was reportedly going to get another $20 million from the scheduled showdown with Jake Paul. That fight was canceled, and while there is hope it will be rescheduled, that still keeps Iron Mike, 57, short of the billionaire mark. 

Lewis Hamilton ($880M) is likely the top challenger to Durant. The all-time winningest Formula One driver in 2023 increased his revenue by more than $60 million. He’s already earned an estimated $45 million for 2024 and is still going. Hamilton is on pace to join Michael Schumacher as the only billionaire racers in 2025 or ‘26. 

Steph Curry ($770M) ranks fourth in all-time NBA career earnings and will rise to No. 3 in two years when he adds roughly $115 million more to the coffers. The Curry Brand of Under Armour apparel helped in bring in $100M in 2023 alone. 

Rory McIlroy ($670M) could have lapped the field had he signed if LIV Golf had offered the rumored $850M that was made public. Maybe it still happens, but Rory will have a hard time catching KD without it. 

Golfer Jon Rahm received an estimated $550 million to join LIV Golf in 2023, which made him the world’s highest-paid athlete for the year. That likely puts him into Rory range but well short of the billion mark. 

Also well behind but capable of a massive payout somewhere includes Aaron Rodgers ($560M) and Conor McGregor ($555M). They highlight everyone else in The Field. 

Kylian Mbappe ($125M in 2023), Giannis Antetokounmpo ($88.4M), and Patrick Mahomes ($84.3M) are all ranked in the Top 10 of highest-paid athletes of 2023 and could be on track someday to join the Billionaires Club. All are still in their 20s and are a decade or so behind.