The 5 Richest Athlete Endorsement Deals

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 30: Charlotte Bobcats owner Michael Jordan attends the 11th annual Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational gala at the Aria Resort & Casino at CityCenter March 30, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images for MJCI)

We all know that professional athletes get paid very handsomely to play a sport, but not all of them top-out past just a few multi-million dollar salaries. Since there are plenty of others who companies pin as potential spokespeople to help sell products and rep a brand internationally, we’re diving into some of the richest athlete endorsement deals ever done, with a few that may surprise you.

5. Allen Iverson – Reebok

Sure, former NBA baller Allen Iverson may allegedly be going through some money issues these days, but one can’t always believe what they read, right? In A.I.’s case, fans shouldn’t ignore the fact that, thanks to a lifetime deal he struck with Reebok back in 2001, he’s still receiving $1 million annually, and is set to cash-in on his 55th birthday by opening up a $32 million fund waiting for him.

4. Derrick Rose – Adidas

Chicago Bulls MVP point guard Derrick Rose has had some unfortunate injuries the past few seasons, but he’s still set on making ridiculous amounts of money thanks to an extremely rich deal he signed with Adidas a few years ago. While it’s frustrating not to be playing, Rose can take solace in collecting over $18.5 million a year from the company, which is a ton of cash for a few autograph appearances and commercials to film.

3. Rory McIlroy – Nike

What does winning two major PGA titles before the age of 23 get a guy? Try $25 million a year from the biggest athletic brand on the planet. That’s what Rory McIlroy got from Nike back in 2013 to rep their gear, as he reportedly agreed to a 10-year deal worth a total of $250 million. The terms may not be official, but give or take a few millions and you get the point—Rory makes a lot of money.

2. George Foreman – Salton, Inc.

Former heavyweight champ George Foreman hasn’t boxed since 1997, so how does he still land as No. 2 on this list? Well for anyone who has ever heard of or used his “Fat Reducing Grilling Machine,” you know why he’s here. Agreeing to a deal with Salton, Inc.—who makes the grill—in 1995, Foreman has reportedly earned more than $200 million since, making him more money following his retirement than when he was actively fighting.

1. Michael Jordan – All Endorsements

Michael Jordan just has to be the best at everything, doesn’t he? Arguably the greatest basketball player to ever play, Jordan finds himself atop this list because endorsement deals like Nike—which gave MJ his own subdivision of the company, Jordan Brand—still pays the guy around $80 million a year! That comes from various revenue streams, meaning he’s earning a lot for currently doing very little.

Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images for MJCI

Written by Nick Dimengo

Graduate of the University of Kentucky. Cleveland sports fan. Frustrated respecter of LeBron James. Influencer of bad ideas. In addition to Worthly/Housely, I'm a regular contributor to Bleacher Report, Scout, Esquire and Maxim, and run or bike way too much for my own good when not writing. The day a Cleveland sports team wins a title is the day I can officially say my life is complete.