Nuggets all-star Carmelo Anthony remained No. 25 in Sports Illustrated’s annual analysis of the highest-earning American athletes, released Wednesday.
Anthony increased his earnings from 2009 — endorsements for 2010 are estimated — by $2.4 million to $21.8 million, but did not move up in the rankings.
Should he sign the Nuggets’ three-year, $65 million contract extension offer and keep the endorsements coming (with an estimated $6 million in 2010), he would move up considerably when the extension kicks in for the 2011-12 season.
Tiger Woods remained No. 1, although his estimated endorsements for 2010 are worth $22 million less than last year, down to $70 million. His overall earnings were $90.5 million, down from $99.7 last year.
Phil Mickelson, thanks to an estimated $52 million in endorsements, remained No. 2 at $61.7 million.
Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. made the biggest jump, going from not on the list to No. 3 at $60.3 million. He jumped ahead of LeBron James, who was No. 4 at $45.8 million.
Rounding out the top 10 were Alex Rodriguez, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, Derek Jeter, Peyton Manning and Dwyane Wade.
In addition to A-Rod and Jeter, three other New York Yankees made the list.
According to , the average earnings of the top 50 reached an all-time high of $26.2 million (up 11 percent from 2009).
Sports Illustrated also ranked the top 20 non-American sportsmen, whose average salary was more than $30 million. Roger Federer took over the top spot, making $61.8 million. He supplanted David Beckham, who fell to No. 3 behind reigning FIFA world player of the year Lionel Messi of Argentina.
Bankloads
The top 50 earners by sport:
NBA 16
NFL 15
MLB 13
NASCAR 3
Golf 2
Boxing 1
