The richest athletes of all time

LeBron James is now officially a billionaire. With $346 million in playing contracts and an estimated $700 million from investments and sponsorships, James is quickly climbing up the list of the richest athletes of all time.

Let's take a look at five more current and former athletes who have cashed in on their talent and fame.

5. Magic Johnson 

Net worth: $600 million 

Like James, Earvin "Magic" Johnson was once a star for the Los Angeles Lakers. He was a five-time NBA Champion and three-time MVP. His endorsements and sponsorships have been outrageously profitable, and he has also parlayed his popularity into some plum media assignments. With an estimated net worth around 600 million, Johnson is now also a co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and he has also served as the Lakers’ President of Basketball Operations. 

4. Michael Schumacher

Net worth: $766 million

Michael Schumacher is a Formula One racing legend with a net worth close to $800 million. "The Red Baron" held the record for most wins in F1, having gone on a five-year run of championships in the prime of his career.

In 2013, Schumacher suffered a tragic skiing accident and was placed into a medically-induced coma for close to six months. Sadly, he remains in a vegetative state, and is unlikely to ever make a full recovery.

3. Tiger Woods

Net worth: $800 million

In his prime, Tiger Woods was the most dominant golfer in the history of the game. There were times when he was even money to win full-field PGA events, and he parlayed that talent into millions in tournament winnings. With all of his success, Woods would go on to sign major endorsement deals with Nike and Gatorade, among others. Tiger’s net worth is estimated at $800 million, and he makes upwards of $50 million a year.

Despite several personal transgressions that could have halted his success, Woods’ endorsements and golf-related investments have continued to show him the money.

2. Michael Jordan

Net worth: $1.6 billion

Michael Jordan is arguably the most popular athlete of all time, and his Jumpman icon is known throughout the world. He has inspired tens of millions of fans to purchase from his clothing line, and he is also the principal owner of the Charlotte Hornets.

Estimated to have a net worth of $1.6 billion while having earned "only" $90 million through actual NBA contracts, Jordan is clearly a savvy businessman with an almost impenetrable brand. From his shoes, to his Netflix documentary, to his cigar-smoking on the golf course, Jordan exudes cool and that has made him very, very rich.

1. Ion Tiriac

Net worth: $1.7 billion

If you were to challenge a bar patron to a wager on the richest athlete in the world, there is a good chance most would go with Jordan and never land on Ion Tiriac as the correct answer. The wealthy Romanian represented his native country in the 1964 Olympics in ice hockey, and was later inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame thanks to his 23 wins in his top sport.

Following his athletic career, Tiriac got into banking and is now estimated to be worth close to $2 billion dollars thanks to his many shrewd investments in real estate, auto, and financial services.