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Motorsport

Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen make the world's athletes' rich list

Lewis Hamilton Max Verstappen

Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen rank among the absolute global elite in terms of sports earnings in 2025.

Seven-time world champion Hamilton edged out four-time champ Verstappen on the annual ranking of the world’s highest-paid athletes by the American business magazine Forbes. According to the magazine, Hamilton sat in equal 22nd place with Mexican boxer Canelo Alvarez, earning a total of $80million over the past 12 months.

Verstappen was 24th, just ahead of footballer and part-time diver Neymar Jr, raking in $78million. Most of this amount – an estimated $72million – came from his salary and bonuses with Red Bull. The remaining $6million dollars derived from commercial deals, including personal sponsorships and merchandise.

This is where Hamilton had him beaten: though Lewis earned less from on-track activities last year – $60million – his off-track commercial activities including investments and endorsements was greater.

Predictably, perhaps, the Forbes list is dominated by exponents of ball games and the likes. For the third year in a row, footballer Cristiano Ronaldo topped the chart with a total income of $275million.

Rivals will have to work much harder to overtake the Portuguese star’s earning power: basketball player Stephen Curry, in second place, earned $156million. Boxer Tyson Fury completed the top three with a modest $146million.

Placing at the bottom of the list and a relative pauper on earnings of $53.6million was New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson. This, according to Forbes, would have placed him sixth overall eight years ago since sports personality earnings are following an ever-upward trajectory.

“Landing a spot on the exclusive list is harder than ever,” it said.

Photos from Emilia Romagna GP - Thursday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Carlos Sainz, Williams

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Tyre warmers in the Paddock

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Mercedes bodywork

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Jonathan Wheatley, Team Principal of Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber and Peter Sauber

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls, Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls, Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Flags at the Ayrton Senna Memorial

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

A Roland Ratzenberger flag on the fencing

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Jonathan Wheatley, Team Principal of Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber and Frederic Vasseur, Team Principal of Scuderia Ferrari talk with Peter Sauber

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Ayao Komatsu, Haas F1 Team

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, Franco Colapinto, Alpine

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing, Alan Permane, RB F1 Team

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Formula 1

51

In this article

Stuart Codling

Formula 1

Lewis Hamilton

Max Verstappen

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