Top 10 Highest Earners in Sports 2012

Meet the super talented athletes whose hard work and natural ability have been rewarded with skyscraping salaries and lucrative sponsorship deals. This ton ten, based on Forbes magazines "Sports Money 50-50" list of the most powerful people in sports, is ranked according to total earnings between June 2009 and June 2010

1. Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods

   Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods  (14 Time Pro Golf Champion)

$105 M

Tiger Woods (USA) born on December 30, 1975.

The golfing legend's income includes an annual $30 million payment from sponsors Nike. He has won the Masters four times, most recently in 2005.

2. Floyd Joy Mayweather Jr.

Floyd Joy Mayweather Jr. (Unbeaten Boxer in Five Classes)

$65 M

Floyd Mayweather Jr. (USA) born on February 24, 1977

Undefeated in his professional career (his 41 wins include 25 knockouts), this boxing sensation can boast nine world titles in five different weight classes.

3. Kobe Bean Bryant

Kobe Bean Bryant (Shooting Guard, Los Angeles Lakers)

$48 M

Kobe Bryant (USA) born on August 32, 1978

With 25,970 points as of April 2010, Bryant is the Los Angeles Laker's all time top scorer. He is set to earn $30.5 million in the 2013-14 season from just playing.

4. Philip Alfred Mickelson

Philip Alfred Mickelson (2010 Masters Golf Champion)

$46 M

Phil Mickelson (USA) born on June 6, 1970

Mickelson is the world golfing number two, but his prize money is dwarfed by his lucrative endorsements from companies such as ExxonMobil, Rolex and Barclays.

5. David R J Beckham

David R J Beckham (Midfielder, Los Angeles Galaxy)

$43.7 M

David Beckham (UK) born on May 5, 1975

The England football hero is still a financial top draw. Of the $40 million he earned in 2009, almost $33 million came via sponsorship.

6. Roger Federer

Roger Federer (16 Time Grand Slam Winner)

$43 M

Roger Federer (Switzerland) born on August 8, 1981

As of August 2010, Federer had won $56.9 million in prize money. His Nike deal is the most lucrative in tennis, worth over $10 million a year.

7. Lebron Raymone James

Lebron Raymone James (Small Forward/Guard, Miami Heat)

$42.8 M

Lebron James (USA) born on December 30, 1984

James enjoys lucrative deals with Nike and McDonalds, among others. In 2010, Forbes rated him the second most influential athlete, after US cyclist Lance Armstrong.

8. Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao

Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao (WBO Welterwieght World Champion)

$42 M

Manny Pacquiao (Philippines) born on December 17, 1978

Fights against Miguel Cotto and Joshua Clottey netted "Pac Man" a cool $35 million alone. In 2010, he became a member of Congress in the Philippines.

9. Eli Nelson Manning

Eli Nelson Manning (Quarterback, New York Giants)

$39.9 M

Eli Manning (USA) born on January 3, 1981

Manning is now officially the highest earning NFL player, following a $97.5 million, six year contract signed with the New York Giants in August 2010.

10. Terrell Raymonn Suggs

Terrell Raymonn Suggs (Linebacker, Baltimore Ravens)

$38.3 M

Terrell Suggs (USA) born in October 11, 1982

A $63 million contract in 2009, and bonus of $33 million made Suggs the best paid National Football League (NFL) linebacker in history.

Manny Pacquiao named Richest Boxer by Sports Illustrated

Philippines boxing star Manny Pacquiao is not only the best boxer today but also happens to be the sport's richest fighter. The eight time world champion earned $52.5 million (Php2.250 billion) last year, easily landing him a spot in the Fortunate 50 list of Sports Illustrated's highest earning athletes.

The 32 year old Filipino boxing sensation is ranked fourth behind top golfers Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, and tennis star Roger Federer. He is second behind Federer, owner of 16 grand slam titles, in the list of the highest paid non American athletes.

The earnings represented the prize money and endorsement made by Pacquiao in 2010, the year he collected $20 million each in the two fights he had with Joshua Clottey and Antonio Margarito for the WBO welterweight tittle and WBC super welterweight crown respectively.

Only last month, Pacquiao upped his ante by netting a total of $30 million (almost Php 1.3 billion) for successfully defending his WBO 147 belt opposite Sugar Shane Mosley with a 12 round one sided decision. Pacquiao who is guaranteed a $ 20 million prize purse for the Mosley fight, is the only boxer to make SI list and comes in the wake of a recent Forbes ranking where the reigning pound for pound king placed 24th in the World's 50 highest paid athletes with the net earning of $25 million.

TOP 10 HIGHEST EARNING SPORTSMEN

1. Tiger Woods / Golf / $100,000,000

2. Oscar de la Hoya / Boxing / $43,000,000

3. Phil Mickelson / Golf / $42,200,000

4. Kimi Raikkonen, Finland / Motor racing / $40,000,000

5. Michael Schumacher, Germany / Motor racing / $36,000,000

6. David Beckham, UK / Football / $33,000,000

7. Kobe Bryant / Basketball / $32,900,000

8. Shaquille O'Neal / Basketball / $31,900,000

9. Michael Jordan / Basketball / $31,000,000

Ronaldinho, Brazil / Football / $31,000,000