Retired boxer Floyd Mayweather has reclaimed first place from football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo in Forbes' 2018 list of the world's 100 highest-paid athletes.
The 41-year-old American's earnings from last year's fight with Irishman Conor McGregor made him the world's best paid for the fourth time in seven years, with A$374 million.
Cha-ching: Mayweather's fight with Conor McGregor saw both fighters clean up financially.
Photo: AP
Real Madrid striker Ronaldo ($142 million) fell to third, behind soccer rival Lionel Messi ($146 million).
Irish mixed martial artist McGregor ($130 million) and Paris St Germain's Neymar ($118 million) were fourth and fifth, respectively, but for the first time since 2010 there was not a single woman on the list.
Serena Williams, winner of 23 grand slam tennis singles titles, was the sole female representative last year but she has since largely been inactive owing to pregnancy and giving birth to her daughter Alexis in September.
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Though still substantial, her $24 million off-court earnings from sponsors were insufficient for her to make the top 100.
LeBron James (basketball), Roger Federer (tennis), Stephen Curry (basketball), Matt Ryan (American football) and Matthew Stafford (American football) concluded the top 10.
Neck and neck: But Lionel Messi (left) has edged Cristiano Ronaldo in earnings.
Photo: AFP
Barcelona's Argentine star Messi narrowly surpassed Ronaldo after signing a new contract at Barcelona, but the Portuguese, Mayweather and golfer Tiger Woods – this year ranked 16th – remained the only three to top the best-paid list during the past 18 years.
Fourth-placed McGregor's earnings represented almost double that of four-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton ($67 million).
Forbes' Top 10:
1. Floyd Mayweather, $374 million
2. Lionel Messi, $146 million
3. Cristiano Ronaldo, $142million
4. Conor McGregor, $130 million
5. Neymar, $118 million
6. LeBron James, $112 million
7. Roger Federer, $101 million
8. Stephen Curry, $101 million
9. Matt Ryan, $88 million
10. Matthew Stanford, $78 million
ALSO:
16. Tiger Woods, $57 million
45. Usain Bolt, $41 million
83. Virat Kohli, $31 million
(Australian dollars)
PA
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