Top 5 Sports stars who earned more from endorsements than they do playing sports.

These sports endorsement juggernauts earn more money endorsing products than they do playing their sports.

 

• No 5. Stephen Curry

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• Endorsements: JPMorgan Chase, Brita, Vivo and PressPlay and Under Armour

The 3^rd basketballer on our top 5 sports stars who command more money endorsing products than playing their sports in 2017 is Stephen Curry. The 2014-15 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player earned $35m off the court, this is more than doubled his $12.3m earned playing for the Golden State Warriors.

• No 4: Rory Mcllroy

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• Endorsements: Nike TaylorMade

 

Rory McIlroy earned $34m in 2017 from endorsements.  more than doubled the $16m earned playing golf.

He continues to be endorsed by Nike even though Nike no longer makes golf clubs and balls.  His endorsement by Taylormade significantly increased his endorsements value. The deal is reportedly worth $10 per year, in addition to his existing $20m annual Nike deal.

• No 3: Kevin Durant

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• Endorsements: Nike, Beats, American Family Insurance, BBVA, Sparkling Ice, Panini and NBA 2K.

 Kevin Durant is the 3^rd on our list and the 2nd basketballer on the top 5, his $34m earnings from endorsements compared $26.6 from basketball means he command more money off the court than on it. 

• No 2: Roger Federer

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• Endorsements: Nike, Credit Suisse, Rolex, Wilson, Mercedes-Benz, Jura, Lindt Chocolate, Sunrise, Net Jets, Moet & Chandon, Gillette, Procter and Gamble.

 

Federer, although is the 4^th highest earning sportsperson in 2017 in general, he, however, tops the list of highest-earning sports stars who earn more from endorsements than they do in their actual sport. He is No 2 on our list because. when his total earnings are considered, he is well below the No 1 on our list.

 Federer was named the world most marketable athlete by London School of Marketing in 2016, earns $58m in endorsement and $6m from Tennis in 2017 according to Forbes.

• No 1: LeBron James

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• Endorsements: Coca-Cola, Nike, Upper Deck, Samsung, Audemars Piguet and Dunkin Donuts, Intel and Verizon, Beat Electronics and Kia Motors

 

LeBron James, a basketball megastar, the 2^nd highest earning sportsperson after Christiano Ronaldo, is also the 2^nd highest earning superstar from endorsements, Just behind Roger Federer. Forbes quoted his Endorsement income at $55m, this is more than his earnings from basketball which stands at $31.2m.