Sportico recently published the top 100 highest-paid athletes in 2022 and – lo and behold – LeBron James is the king ahead of the three soccer superstars Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Neymar.
James earned almost three times more than his current salary with the Los Angeles Lakers thanks to his many endorsement deals. No other athlete got paid more through sponsors and brand endorsements than James.
King James is not alone at the top as far as NBA players go, however, as Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and James Harden made it to the Top 10, too.
Check out below the NBA players on that list.
LeBron James: $126.9 million
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $36.9M
Endorsements: $90M
Overall rank: 1st
Stephen Curry: $86.2 million
Joe Rondone-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $41.2M
Endorsements: $45M
Overall rank: 6th
Kevin Durant: $85.9 million
Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $37.9M
Endorsements: $48M
Overall rank: 7th
James Harden: $76 million
Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $40M
Endorsements: $36M
Overall rank: 9th
Giannis Antetokounmpo: $71.9 million
Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $35.9M
Endorsements: $36M
Overall rank: 12th
Russell Westbrook: $69.8 million
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $39.8M
Endorsements: $30M
Overall rank: 13th
Klay Thompson: $54.2 million
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $34.2M
Endorsements: $20M
Overall rank: 18th
Damian Lillard: $51.4 million
Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $35.4M
Endorsements: $16M
Overall rank: 23rd
Kyrie Irving: $44.9 million
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $31.9M
Endorsements: $13M
Overall rank: 28th
Paul George: $44 million
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $35.5M
Endorsements: $8.5M
Overall rank: 29th
Anthony Davis: $41.8 million
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $31.8M
Endorsements: $10M
Overall rank: 32nd
Kawhi Leonard: $41 million
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $35.5M
Endorsements: $5.5M
Overall rank: 33rd
Jimmy Butler: $40.5 million
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $32.5M
Endorsements: $8M
Overall rank: 36th
John Wall: $40.4 million
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $39.9M
Endorsements: $500K
Overall rank: 37th
Chris Paul: $35.8 million
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $27.8M
Endorsements: $8M
Overall rank: 50th
Devin Booker: $35.5 million
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $28.5M
Endorsements: $7M
Overall rank: 51st
Joel Embiid: $34.5 million
John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $28.5M
Endorsements: $6M
Overall rank: 55th
Bradley Beal: $34.3 million
Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $30.3M
Endorsements: $4M
Overall rank: 56th
Tobias Harris: $34 million
Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $32.5M
Endorsements: $1.5M
Overall rank: 60th
Khris Middleton: $33.8 million
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $32.3M
Endorsements: $1.5M
Overall rank: 63rd
D'Angelo Russell: $33 million
David Berding-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $27M
Endorsements: $6M
Overall rank: 69th
Rudy Gobert: $33 million
Jeffrey Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $32M
Endorsements: $1M
Overall rank: 69th
Blake Griffin: $32.7 million
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $29.2M
Endorsements: $3.5M
Overall rank: 73rd
Donovan Mitchell: $32.5 million
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $25.5M
Endorsements: $7M
Overall rank: 75th
Kristaps Porzingis: $32.5 million
Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $28.5M
Endorsements: $4M
Overall rank: 75th
Jrue Holiday: $31.7 million
David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $29.7M
Endorsements: $2M
Overall rank: 79th
CJ McCollum: $31.6 million
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $27.8M
Endorsements: $3.8M
Overall rank: 80th
Karl-Anthony Towns: $31.5 million
Christine Tannous-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $28.5M
Endorsements: $3M
Overall rank: 82nd
Kevin Love: $31.1 million
David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $28.1M
Endorsements: $3M
Overall rank: 87th
Pascal Siakam: $30.7 million
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $29.7M
Endorsements: $1M
Overall rank: 89th
Jayson Tatum: $30.3 million
David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $25.3M
Endorsements: $5M
Overall rank: 92nd
Jamal Murray: $30.1 million
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $26.6M
Endorsements: $3.5M
Overall rank: 96th
Brandon Ingram: $30 million
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $26.5M
Endorsements: $3.5M
Overall rank: 97th
Gordon Hayward: $29.9 million
Andrew Wevers-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $26.9M
Endorsements: $3M
Overall rank: 98th
Nikola Jokic: $29.9 million
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $27.9M
Endorsements: $2M
Overall rank: 98th
Andrew Wiggins: $29.6 million
Joe Rondone-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $28.4M
Endorsements: $1.2M
Overall rank: 100th
Basketball, Business, NBA, Ranking, Featured, LeBron James, Top
