The Rich Zone: overpaid athletes

Friday, June 17, 2011

Good Thing We Don't Idolize Sports Figures...

Tiger Woods
Golf
Last Year's Rank: 1
$62,294,116
Tiger's empire has crumbled, but Rome wasn't built in a day. His Nike and EA deals still keep him on top of the charts while other endorsers -- and his game -- have gone in other directions. But his reign at No. 1 may soon be over.
2
Phil Mickelson
Golf
Last Year's Rank: 2
$61,185,933
Lefty's hefty sponsorship portfolio isn't flashy -- deals with Callaway, KPMG, Rolex, Barclays Capital, ExxonMobil and Amgen/Pfizer -- but he's one of the most reliable endorsers in pro sports. For more on Phil Mickelson go here.
3
LeBron James
Miami Heat (NBA)
Last Year's Rank: 4
$44,500,000
There's plenty of room for LeBron's talent in his $9 million Coconut Grove mansion. King James' compound features a wine cellar, library, home theater and dock that can fit two 60-foot yachts. But all the money in the world can't buy an NBA title.
4
Peyton Manning
Indianapolis Colts (NFL)
Last Year's Rank: 9
$38,070,000
Who needs a lucrative new contract, anyway? If the Colts place the franchise tag on the four-time NFL MVP again next year, Manning will earn more than $50 million in salary over two seasons.
5
Alex Rodriguez
New York Yankees (MLB)
Last Year's Rank: 5
$36,000,000
If A-Rod's bat catches fire, he could cash in this season on the first milestone bonus written into his contract: another $6 million for passing Willie Mays (No. 4 at 660) on the all-time home-run list.
6
Kobe Bryant
Los Angeles Lakers (NBA)
Last Year's Rank: 7
$34,806,250
Kobe relinquished a pair of back-to-back titles this spring: the NBA championship and his crown as the NBA's top jersey seller worldwide. LeBron's No. 6 Heat top now outsells Kobe's No. 24.
7
Kevin Garnett
Boston Celtics (NBA)
Last Year's Rank: 15
$32,832,044
This could be KG's final appearance on this list, as he's set to earn $21 million next season in the last year of his contract and could retire. He'll have earned more than $300 million over his career.
8
Matt Ryan
Atlanta Falcons (NFL)
Last Year's Rank: NR
$32,700,000
The bulk of guaranteed money in Ryan's six-year, $72 million contract he signed in 2008 should be paid out this year, when he'll earn a $22 million roster bonus on top of his $10.25 million salary.
9
Tom Brady
New England Patriots (NFL)
Last Year's Rank: T-28
$30,007,280
Brady's four-year, $72 million extension signed last September gives him the highest average annual salary in the NFL. He's due to collect $10 million of his $16 million signing bonus in August.
10
Dwight Howard
Orlando Magic (NBA)
Last Year's Rank: 12
$28,647,180
Any dream of Superman joining Lakers needs a cold dose of reality: Howard would have to accept a huge reduction from $17.9 million he's own next year; Kobe might have to take a pay cut, too.