5 Biggest Endorsement Deals That Make These Athletes a Truckload of Money
Athletes and Brands Are Great Bedfellows. Athletes Excel at What They Do and Brands Are Always Looking for the Next Big Face to Promote Their Product. and When...
Athletes and brands are great bedfellows. Athletes excel at what they do and brands are always looking for the next big face to promote their product. And when it comes to brand endorsements, a few do it better than famous athletes. These endorsement deals are worth their weight in, well, big bucks.
1. LeBron James - Nike
He is considered as the Michael Jordan of modern basketball. At just 18, he declined a deal worth $10 Million from Reebok. But, Nike managed to crack a deal with him later. In 2015, he signed a whopping $1 Billion minimum lifetime deal with the brand.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo - Nike
Ronaldo is one of the most recognisable athletes in the world. He has a lifetime endorsement deal with Nike, which is set to exceed $1 Billion. That's not all, he also rakes in a lot of moolah from other brands such as Herbalife, EA Sports and American Tourister. He also happens to be the third highest paid athlete worldwide.
3. Steph Curry - Under Armour
Steph Curry is one of the most loved basketball players of the modern era. His deal with his team is worth $34 million but his endorsement deal with Under Armour is a whopping $42 million. This makes his deal with the brand the fourth highest endorsement deal of any athlete globally.
4. Lionel Messi - Adidas
When you watch Lionel Messi playing football, it's simply mesmerizing and the things he does with the football on the field will make many go speechless. His annual salary is in excess of $80 Million but his deal with adidas is a mere $27 Million, which looks a bit embarrassing. But then he is Lionel Messi and brands love to sign him.
5. Roger Federer - Uniqlo
Roger Federer is the face of tennis worldwide. He has won more than 20 grand slams and was the face of Nike for many years. Recently, he signed a lucrative deal with Japanese designer Uniqlo, which is potentially worth $300 million over ten years and that is double the money he was making from Nike. Game, Set & Match, Federer!
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