<P> This is a list of the highest - paid athletes in the world as ranked by Forbes magazine . </P> <P> The 2017 list: </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Rank </Th> <Th> Name </Th> <Th> Sport </Th> <Th> Nation </Th> <Th> Total </Th> <Th> Salary / Winnings </Th> <Th> Endorsements </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Cristiano Ronaldo </Td> <Td> Football </Td> <Td> Portugal </Td> <Td> $93 million </Td> <Td> $58 million </Td> <Td> $35 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> LeBron James </Td> <Td> Basketball </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> $86.2 million </Td> <Td> $31.2 million </Td> <Td> $55 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Lionel Messi </Td> <Td> Football </Td> <Td> Argentina </Td> <Td> $80 million </Td> <Td> $53 million </Td> <Td> $27 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Roger Federer </Td> <Td> Tennis </Td> <Td> Switzerland </Td> <Td> $64 million </Td> <Td> $6 million </Td> <Td> $58 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> Kevin Durant </Td> <Td> Basketball </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> $60.6 million </Td> <Td> $26.6 million </Td> <Td> $34 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> Andrew Luck </Td> <Td> American football </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> $50 million </Td> <Td> $47 million </Td> <Td> $3 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> Rory McIlroy </Td> <Td> Golf </Td> <Td> Northern Ireland </Td> <Td> $50 million </Td> <Td> $16 million </Td> <Td> $34 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> Stephen Curry </Td> <Td> Basketball </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> $47.3 million </Td> <Td> $12.3 million </Td> <Td> $35 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 9 </Td> <Td> James Harden </Td> <Td> Basketball </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> $46.6 million </Td> <Td> $26.6 million </Td> <Td> $20 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> Lewis Hamilton </Td> <Td> Auto racing </Td> <Td> England </Td> <Td> $46 million </Td> <Td> $38 million </Td> <Td> $8 million </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Rank </Th> <Th> Name </Th> <Th> Sport </Th> <Th> Nation </Th> <Th> Total </Th> <Th> Salary / Winnings </Th> <Th> Endorsements </Th> </Tr>

Who's the highest paid athlete in sports