Sports Illustrated has recently revealed this year's Fortunate 50 list, and unlike since its start in 2004, Tiger Woods has been replaced as the No.1 highest paid athlete with someone with a little more charisma.
Undefeated boxing champion Floyd "Money" Mayweather Jr. has topped the list as the new No.1 highest paid athlete in America, doing so with just two bouts this year where he could earn as much as $128 million.
Miami Heat's LeBron James comes in at No.2, passing Kobe Bryant (No.4), Tiger Woods (No.5) and Phil Mickelson (No.6), thanks in part to $4 million more in tour winnings. New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees comes it at No.3, after not making the list last year, thanks in part to a $37 million signing bonus from his new contract.
According to Sports Illustrated, candidates for the Fortunate 50 must be U.S. citizens or play in a U.S.-based league. Endorsements reflect current deals, and salaries are based on current or most recently completed seasons; for instance, for NFL players the season that ended in February was used. (Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco's new deal, which will pay him $20.1 million next season, isn't reflected.) For auto racing and tennis, prize money came from the 2012 calendar year. Golf earnings are from July 1, 2012 through April 21, 2013. Boxing purses are from August 2012 through May 2013 (but projected money from bouts through September was included since fight deals are done on a yearly basis).
Below is the order and names of each athlete to make this year's list:
1. Floyd Mayweather Jr.
2. LeBron James
3. Drew Brees
4. Kobe Bryant
5. Tiger Woods
6. Phil Mickelson
7. Derrick Rose
8. Peyton Manning
9. Alex Rodriguez
10. Zack Greinke
11. Dwyane Wade
12. Kevin Durant
13. Johan Santana
14. Felix Hernandez
15. Vincent Jackson
16. Carmelo Anthony
17. Cliff Lee
18. Mario Williams
19. Derek Jeter
20. Joe Mauer
21. Carl Nicks
22. C.C. Sabathia
23. Prince Fielder
24. Amar'e Stoudemire
25. Ryan Howard
26. Time Lincecum
27. Matt Schaub
28. Mark Teixeira
29. Calvin Johnson
30. Matt Kemp
31. Dwight Howard
32. Vernon Wells
33. Chris Paul
34. Adrian Gonzalez
35. Dirk Nowitzki
36. Miguel Cabrera
37. Pau Gasol
38. Justin Verlander
39. Roy Halladay
40. Matt Cain
41. Barry Zito
42. Carl Crawford
43. Joe Johnson
44. Cole Hamels
45. Joey Votto
46. Albert Ujos
47. Chris Bosh
48. Eli Manning
49. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
50. Alfonso Soriano
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