Sports Illustrated finds James -- third last year -- making nearly $16 million in salary/winnings and $30 million in endorsements. Woods, the leader all seven years of the survey, loses millions because of his sex scandal, but still exceeds $90 million.
LeBron James signing his six-year, $110 million contract with the Miami Heat.Cleveland, Ohio -- LeBron James is the fourth highest-earning American athlete in 2010, according to Sports Illustrated's annual analysis, one spot below where he ranked in 2009.
Jonah Freedman details the earnings of America's top 50 money-making athletes on Sports Illustrated's SI.com.
This is the seventh year that SI has totaled salaries, winnings and estimated endorsement earnings for athletes. Tiger Woods is first, as he has been every year. Woods is the world's first-ranked golfer. Coincidentally, Phil Mickelson is again second to Woods on SI's earnings list, and he's the No. 2-ranked golfer, too.
It will be interesting to see how James' endorsements are affected by his leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat as a free agent. He has been ridiculed not so much for his departure, as by the way he handled it. Many fans, media and NBA personnel have been put off by indications of James' apparent plotting, maybe for years, with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to play together in Miami; James' failure to inform the Cavaliers of his intentions until his bizarre "The Decision" show on ESPN; and reports of James' demanding personality over the last several years.
Jonah Freedman writes about James, who "settled" for a six-year, $110 million contract with Miami, about $17 million less than he could have got from Cleveland:
King James left millions on the table by choosing to bolt Cleveland for Miami. But will James be the same kind of star -- on and off the court –- playing alongside Dwyane Wade?
Despite dropping one spot, James is projected to make almost $4 million more this year than last. He's earning nearly $16 million in salary and winnings this year, about $1.6 million more than in 2009. James' estimated 2010 endorsement money is $30 million, up $2 million from a year ago.
Woods will total an estimated $90 million this year. Two years ago, though, he pulled in about $128 million, and in 2009, just over $99 million. He has lost some endorsements in the last several months, after his numerous extra-marital affairs were disclosed. Reports indicate he could lose a few hundred million dollars of worth in a divorce settlement with his wife, Elin Nordegren, if they end their marriage.
Shaquille O'Neal, a free agent who played last season with the Cavaliers but will likely play elsewhere next season, is sixth on the list. New York Yankees' pitcher CC Sabathia, a Cleveland Indian from 2001 until traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in June, 2008, is 13th. Almost all of his earnings are from his salary.
Click here for the 2009 top 50 list. Click here for the 20 highest-earning international athletes.
Jonah Freedman writes how Sports Illustrated formed its rankings:
Our findings consisted solely of salary, winnings, bonuses, endorsements and appearance fees. We consulted players' associations, tour records, agents and news reports. Our endorsement estimates for 2010 came from Burns Entertainment & Sports Marketing, other sports-marketing executives and analysts, and agents. Salary figures were based on current or most recently completed seasons (the upcoming 2010 season for the NFL). For winnings-based sports (auto racing, golf, tennis), we used the '09 calendar year. Boxing purses are from July '09 to June 2010. Candidates for the U.S. 50 had to be American citizens and currently active in their sports.