We often see news stories about the amount of money professional athletes make. It sets everyone to speculating about their worth as opposed to a policeman, teacher, soldier, nurse or any other professional who makes a significance contribution to society. It must also be admitted that sports is a business, and like any other business, exists to make money. Being able to run, jump, hit, throw, swim, skate, shoot pool, etc, can be a very lucrative trade for some gifted athletes. I thought it might be interesting to see who are the wealthiest individuals in the world of sports. So here is the list for 2015 of the 50 wealthiest sports personalities.
The wealthiest individual in the world of sports is Romanian Ion Tiriac. The 76-year-old Tiriac has a personal net worth of $2 BILLION. As an athlete he played both professional tennis and ice hockey in the 1960s and 70s. He took his winnings and started an investment bank which became Europe’s most financially successful. He has also promoted athletic and entertainment events all over the world. His nickname is “Count Dracula,” due to his Romanian roots.
Michael Jordan is America’s richest athlete and number 2 in the world. The 52-year-old former basketball star has a net worth of $1 BILLION. Much of that comes from his endorsement contract and part ownership of Nike/Jordan, the world’s most profitable shoe company. When he divorced his wife in 2002, her payoff was $129 MILLION plus their mansion in suburban Chicago.
Tiger Woods is number 5 on the list. The 41-year-old golfer has a net worth of $700 MILLION. Much of that comes from his endorsements with Nike, Gatorade, American Express, and so on. One of the problems for Woods is that his play has slipped noticeably in the past few years and a number of companies have ended the relationship with Woods. He will have to rely on smart investing to keep his financial empire afloat.
Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig is number 14 on the list with a worth of $400 MILLION. American Professional wrestling promoter and entrepreneur Vince McMahon is number 4 on the list with a personal worth of $750 MILLION. American Boxer Floyd Mayweather is the richest boxer in the world. The 38-year-old has personal worth of $400 MILLION and is number 14 on the list. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is American auto racing’s top financial entity. The 41-year-old North Carolinian has a net worth of $300 MILLION, which puts him 21st on the list. Swiss tennis player Roger Federer clocks in at number 19 with a personal worth of $320 MILLION, making him the number one tennis player. Alex Rodriguez (A-Rod), although retired, is America’s wealthiest baseball player with a personal worth of $300 MILLION. The 34-year-old Indian cricket player Mahendra Singh Dhoni has a personal worth of $170 MILLION and is India’s most admired celebrity.
Three of the top 50 have Hoosier connections. NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon is number 34 on the list with a estimate worth of $200 MILLION. His money has come from race winnings and endorsements. Tony Hulman is also worth $200 MILLION. While he is no longer running the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, he does run the Indy Racing League and Hulman and Co., which is the parent company of the family’s many business holdings. Peyton Manning has broken into the top 50 at number 48. The former Colt is the NFL’s richest player with a net worth of $165 MILLION. He is still much beloved in Indianapolis and many hope he will return to Indy some day.
You will note that I have mentioned no female athletes. That is because there are no women listed in the top 50.You can argue the injustice of that all you wish but it remains a fact. For better or worse, big time professional sports remains a male domain.
For the record, American tennis star Serena Williams is the wealthiest female athlete with a net worth of $120 MILLION. Of the ten richest female sports personalities, seven are tennis players. Race car driver Danica Patrick is 10th with a worth of $18 MILLION. Golf and tennis are where the big bucks are for the women. Is this split between the men and women fair? Of course not. But then is it fair that athletes make so much money in the first place? I will leave that for you to decide.
snicewanger@yahoo.com