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The 20 highest paid athletes in the world in 2020, according to Forbes

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Nate Scott

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May 29, 2020 11:10 am ET

Tennis star Roger Federer has, for the first time, climbed to the top of the highest-paid athletes in the world list, according to the new list dropped by Forbes this week.

Federer got past Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, who have alternated atop the list for three of the past four years.

Part of the reason for Ronaldo and Messi’s drop is coronavirus — both took salary reductions this year as the virus caused both La Liga and Serie A to suspend games.

While there is an international flavor to the top of the list, the NBA and NFL quickly get involved with massive earnings for top stars. (And some QBs who got contracts at the right time.)

Note: These are pre-tax earnings over the past year, not total wealth or net worth. This is purely the money these athletes have made in the past year, through either endorsements, salary, or winnings.

1. Roger Federer -- $106.3 million ($100M endorsements / $6.3M salary and winnings)

2. Cristiano Ronaldo -- $105 million ($45M endorsements / $60M salary and winnings)

3. Lionel Messi -- $104 million ($32M endorsements / $72M salary and winnings)

4. Neymar -- $95.5 million ($25M endorsements / $70.5M salary and winnings)

5. LeBron James -- $88.2 million ($60M endorsements / $28.2M salary and winnings)

6. Stephen Curry -- $74.4 million ($44M endorsements / $30.4M salary and winnings)

7. Kevin Durant -- $63.9 million ($35 endorsements / $28.9M salary and winnings)

8. Tiger Woods -- $62.3 million ($60M endorsements / $2.3M salary and winnings)

9. Kirk Cousins -- $60.5 million ($2.5M endorsements / $58M salary and winnings)

10. Carson Wentz -- $59.1 million ($4M endorsements / $55.1M salary and winnings)

11. (Tie) Tyson Fury -- $57 million ($7M endorsements / $50M salary and winnings)

11. (Tie) Russell Westbrook -- $57 million ($27M endorsements / $29M salary and winnings)

13. Lewis Hamilton -- $54 million ($12M endorsements / $42M salary and winnings)

14. Rory McIlroy -- $52 million ($30M endorsements / $22M salary and winnings)

15. Jared Goff -- $49 million ($2M endorsements / $47M salary and winnings)

16. Conor McGregor -- $48 million ($16M endorsements / $32M salary and winnings)

17. James Harden -- $47.8 million ($19M endorsements / $28.8M salary and winnings)

18. Giannis Antetokounmpo -- $47.6 million ($28M endorsements / $19.6M salary and winnings)

19. Anthony Joshua -- $47 million ($11M endorsements / $36M salary and winnings)

20. Deontay Wilder -- $46.5 million ($0.5M endorsements / $46M salary and winnings)