Roger Federer is the first tennis player to top the annual Forbes 2020 list.
Federer, who has the best endorsement portfolio in sports, is just the ninth athlete
to have landed in the top spot since 1990, the first year Forbes began tracking athletes’ earnings.
He is also the first tennis player in the 30 year history to land at No. 1
after drawing $100 million off the court, thanks to deals with Uniqlo, Credit Suisse and Mercedes-Benz and 10 other partners.
"The coronavirus pandemic triggered salary cuts for soccer stars Messi and Ronaldo,
clearing the way for a tennis player to rank as the world's highest paid athlete for the first time,"
said Kurt Badenhausen, senior editor at Forbes.
"Roger Federer is the perfect pitchman for companies,
resulting in an unparalleled endorsement portfolio of blue-chip brands
worth $100m a year for the tennis great."
TOP TEN LIST 2020
BBC news
Roger Federer becomes world's highest paid athlete, says Forbes
Federer, who has the best endorsement portfolio in sports, is just the ninth athlete
to have landed in the top spot since 1990, the first year Forbes began tracking athletes’ earnings.
He is also the first tennis player in the 30 year history to land at No. 1
after drawing $100 million off the court, thanks to deals with Uniqlo, Credit Suisse and Mercedes-Benz and 10 other partners.
"The coronavirus pandemic triggered salary cuts for soccer stars Messi and Ronaldo,
clearing the way for a tennis player to rank as the world's highest paid athlete for the first time,"
said Kurt Badenhausen, senior editor at Forbes.
"Roger Federer is the perfect pitchman for companies,
resulting in an unparalleled endorsement portfolio of blue-chip brands
worth $100m a year for the tennis great."
TOP TEN LIST 2020
BBC news