Formula 1 News: Only F1 drivers make World’s Highest-Paid Athletes list
Several of Formula 1’s biggest names have earned spots on Sportico’s recently released list of the 2025 100 Highest-Paid Athletes in the World, illustrating how success on the track can translate into massive earnings off it.
–by Mark Cipolloni–
The following list is compiled from Sportico’s 2025 ranking of the world’s highest-paid athletes, which estimates total earnings (salary/winnings + endorsements) for the calendar year 2025. Sportico’s methodology accounts for salaries, bonuses, prize money, endorsements, appearances, licensing, and other business income across eight sports and 28 countries, totaling $6.05 billion for the top 100. The cutoff for inclusion was approximately $37.9 million.
We’ve focused on the top 20 for brevity, but included all mentioned race car drivers (all from Formula 1) with their full rankings to show their positions relative to the overall list. No other motorsport athletes (e.g., NASCAR or IndyCar) appear in the top 100. Earnings are in USD millions.
| Rank | Name | Sport | Total Earnings ($M) | Notes |
| 1 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Soccer | 260 | $200M salary/winnings + $60M endorsements. |
| 2 | Canelo Álvarez | Boxing | 137 | Dominates combat sports earnings. |
| 3 | Lionel Messi | Soccer | 130 | Boosted by MLS and global brand deals. |
| 4 | Juan Soto | Baseball (MLB) | 129.2 | Massive contract with the New York Yankees. |
| 5 | LeBron James | Basketball (NBA) | 128.7 | $48.7M salary + $80M off-court (endorsements and businesses). |
| 6 | Karim Benzema | Soccer | 115 | High Saudi league salary. |
| 7 | Stephen Curry | Basketball (NBA) | 105.4 | Includes Under Armour extension boost. |
| 8 | Shohei Ohtani | Baseball (MLB) | 102.5 | $2M base salary but $100M+ in endorsements due to global appeal. |
| 9 | Kevin Durant | Basketball (NBA) | 100.8 | Strong endorsement portfolio. |
| 10 | Jon Rahm | Golf | 100.7 | LIV Golf contract drives earnings. |
| 11 | Lewis Hamilton | Auto Racing (F1) | ~100 | $70M salary (Ferrari deal) + $30M endorsements; highest-ranked race driver. |
| 12 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Basketball (NBA) | 94.3 | |
| 13 | Anthony Edwards | Basketball (NBA) | 62.2 | |
| 14 | Joel Embiid | Basketball (NBA) | 62 | |
| 15 | Max Verstappen | Auto Racing (F1) | 83 | $75M salary (Red Bull) + $8M endorsements; second-highest race driver. |
| 16 | Jayson Tatum | Basketball (NBA) | 60.4 | |
| 17 | Patrick Mahomes | Football (NFL) | ~80.3 | From earlier reports in the article. |
| 18-20 | (Various NBA/NFL/Soccer stars) | Various | 70-90 (est.) | Full details not specified in sources, but include players like Dak Prescott and Tyson Fury in similar ranges from comparable lists. |
| 32 | Lando Norris | Auto Racing (F1) | 59 | $54M salary (McLaren) + $5M endorsements. |
| 96 | Oscar Piastri | Auto Racing (F1) | 38 | $35M salary + $3M endorsements; lowest-ranked F1 driver on the list. |
Key Insights on Race Drivers’ Rankings
– Formula 1 Dominance in Motorsport: All four race drivers on the list are from F1, reflecting the sport’s global appeal and high salaries/endorsements. No drivers from other series (e.g., NASCAR’s Kyle Busch or IndyCar’s Scott Dixon) made the cut, likely due to lower base pay and fewer international sponsorships.
– Where They Rank Overall: F1 drivers hold strong mid-tier positions, with Hamilton (11th) leading thanks to his Ferrari move and off-track ventures (e.g., fashion and investments). Verstappen (15th) benefits from Red Bull’s success, while Norris (32nd) and Piastri (96th) show rising McLaren talent but lower experience levels.
– Comparison to Other Sports: Race drivers’ earnings are competitive with top NFL/NBA stars but trail soccer icons like Ronaldo due to fewer events and team-based revenue sharing. F1’s growth (e.g., via Netflix’s Drive to Survive) has boosted individual branding.
– Discrepancies with Other Lists: For context, Forbes’ May 2025 list (covering mid-2024 to mid-2025) has slightly different figures (e.g., Ronaldo at $275M, Hamilton at $80M ranked 22nd). Sportico’s calendar-year focus makes it more current for 2026 discussions.
This list underscores the financial might of individual sports stars, with F1 drivers punching above their weight in a field dominated by team sports athletes.