In 2016, basketball and tennis players dominate the list of the richest athletes to come to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, thanks to the decision of some wealthy athletes, including basketball player LeBron James, to refrain from competing.
It looks like top 10 richest athletes in the Rio Olympics according to Forbes.
10. Paul George, basketball player
- Total income: $ 24.1 million
- Advertising Revenue: $ 7M
In 2014, the Indiana Pacers forward suffered a serious leg injury. However, already in the 2015/16 season, he regained his best shape and is now ready to compete for the title of Olympic champion.
9. Kyrie Irving, basketball player
- Total income: $ 27.6 million
- Advertising Revenue: $ 11M
This year Irving will debut at the Olympics, and in 2014, together with his team, won gold at the World Championships. The basketball player has signed a deal with Nike for $ 5 million and still receives income from the sale of branded shoes.
8. Serena Williams, tennis player
- Total income: $ 28.9 million
- Advertising Revenue: $ 20M
The only lady in the ranking of the richest Olympians in 2016. In 2015, she won three Grand Slam tournaments. In London, Williams won gold in the women's singles and doubles in 2012, and previously won gold in both Beijing and Sydney.
7. Carmelo Anthony, basketball player
- Total income: $ 30.9 million.
- Advertising Revenue: $ 8M
He received gold medals twice: once for the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and the other for the 2012 London Olympics. If he wins gold in Rio, he will become the first three-time Olympic champion in the history of American basketball. Anthony's sponsors include such giants as Nike, Draft Kings and Jordan Brand.
6. Usain Bolt, sprinter
- Total income: $ 32.5 million
- Advertising Revenue: $ 30M
The fastest man in the world has returned to the 2016 Rio Olympics. He has won numerous gold medals, notably for the 100m at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
This year's Olympics will be the last for Bolt and he intends to win three gold medals: for one hundred, two hundred meters and for the 4x100 relay.
5. Kei Nishikori, tennis player
- Total income: $ 33.5 million
- Advertising Revenue: $ 30M
First Asian tennis player to qualify for the 2014 Grand Slam finals. For this, Japan adores its hero, and thanks to the efforts of the IMG agency, of which Nishikori is a client, the athlete entered into lucrative contracts with a number of brands, including Jaguar, Adidas, Uniqlo, Procter & Gamble and others. The tennis player has already won two matches at the Olympics.
4. Neymar, footballer
- Total income: $ 37.5 million
- Advertising Revenue: $ 23M
The 24-year-old Brazilian footballer has signed a contract with the Barcelona club, valid until 2021. His net worth is $ 90 million. Brands such as Nike, Gillette, Red Bull and Panasonic collaborate with Neymar to advertise.
3. Rafael Nadal, tennis player
- Total income: $ 37.5 million
- Advertising Revenue: $ 32M
For the Spanish athlete, 2015 was a bad year. This is the first time he has been able to win a Grand Slam tournament since 2004.However, Nadal has a good chance of winning a medal in Rio, as one of the strong rivals (Djokovic) is no longer participating in the games, and the other rival (Federer), who underwent knee surgery, is undergoing rehabilitation.
2. Novak Djokovic, tennis player
- Total income: $ 55.8 million
- Advertising Revenue: $ 34M
Despite two losses in men's singles and doubles, Djokovic is the second-richest athlete at the Summer Olympics in Rio, earning $ 55.8 million in the past 12 months. He has already completed his Olympics, as he will not perform in the mixed doubles.
1. Kevin Durant, basketball player
- Total income: $ 56.2 million
- Advertising Revenue: $ 36M
The new star of the Golden State Warriors team. If the US team manages to win a medal at the games, they will receive a substantial bonus: $ 25,000 for gold, $ 15,000 for silver and $ 10,000 for bronze.