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Canelo Alvarez, despite a rocky year in the ring, remains a financial powerhouse as the second-highest-paid athlete globally, raking in $170 million in 2025. This insight reveals the financial dynamics of sports superstars today.
Alvarez, 35, earned $160 million from fight purses and an additional $10 million from endorsements, landing him behind Cristiano Ronaldo, who leads the list for the fourth straight year with a staggering $300 million. Canelo's 2025 highlights include a unanimous decision victory over William Scull in May, followed by a loss to Terence Crawford for the undisputed super middleweight title in September.
After opting for elbow surgery, Alvarez plans his return to the ring on September 12 against Christian Mbilli for the WBC super middleweight title in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Notably, Jake Paul also makes the cut at No. 23 with $70 million, following a year that included a win over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and a knockout defeat to Anthony Joshua.
Rounding out the top five are soccer star Lionel Messi with $140 million, NBA legend LeBron James at $137.8 million, and MLB sensation Shohei Ohtani with $127.6 million. This list underscores the financial success fueled by both performance and brand power in sports today.
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