Team India captain Virat Kohli is the only Indian athlete to have made it to the world’s 100 highest paid athletes, according to a list released by Forbes.
Kohli has been ranked 89th in the list with a total earnings of USD 22 million. Of the total, he earns USD 3 million from salary and remaining USD 19 million from endorsements.
Coming to Serena Williams, the No.1 female Tennis player of the US, she has got the rare distinction of becoming the only female athlete to secure a place in Top 100. With $27 million earnings, Serena is ranked 51. Russian Tennis star Maria Sharapova, who makes it to the list every year, couldn’t make it this year due to a reduction in her brand endorsements following a 15-month doping ban.
The highest paid athletes list is topped by Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo. With estimated earning of $93 million over the past 12 months, he retained the crown of the world’s highest-paid athlete for the second straight year. Lebron James ($86.2 million), Lionel Messi ($80 million), Roger Federer ($64 million) and Kevin Durant ($60.6 million) make it to the top five highest-paid athletes.