Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have long been two of the highest-earning players in golf, but according to a recent Sports Illustrated article, they are also among the top earners in all of sports over the past year.
With its annual list of the ‘Fortunate 50,’ the magazine highlighted the top breadwinners among U.S. citizens and athletes that play for U.S.-based sports teams. The list combined salary, winnings, bonuses and endorsements, with on-course earnings for golfers calculated from July 1, 2012 to April 21, 2013.
Woods, who topped the list each year from 2004-2011, came in fifth with more than $40.8 million earned. The survey estimated that the 14-time major champ, who just won his fourth tournament of the 2013 season last week at TPC Sawgrass, took home $33 million in endorsements, an estimated $20 million of which is attributed to his deal with equipment manufacturer Nike, in addition to his $7,839,027 in on-course earnings over the prescribed window.
Mickelson was one spot behind Woods, in sixth place with more than $39.5 million. Although the 42-year-old amassed more endorsement money than Woods – an estimated $36 million – he took home approximately $4.3 million less in on-course earnings, which allowed Woods to overtake him on the overall list. Mickelson’s main equipment sponsor is Callaway, and according to the article the four-time major champion likely banks $7 million per year for his appearances in television ads for the arthritis medicine Enbrel.
For the second consecutive year, boxer Floyd Mayweather, Jr. topped the list, with an estimated $90 million in earnings. The other three athletes ahead of Woods were NBA superstars LeBron James ($56.5 million) and Kobe Bryant ($46.8 million), as well as NFL quarterback Drew Brees ($47.8 million).
After Mickelson in sixth, the top 10 names on the list were rounded out by the NBA’s Derrick Rose ($33.4 million), former Super Bowl MVP Peyton Manning ($31 million), baseball slugger Alex Rodriguez ($29.9 million) and pitcher Zack Greinke ($29 million).
Woods and Mickelson were the only professional golfers to crack the top 50 this year, though Woods’ Nike colleague Rory McIlroy did finish seventh on the ‘International 20' version with more than $33.3 million in combined earnings. The international list was headlined by soccer player David Beckham ($48.3 million) and tennis superstar Roger Federer ($43.4 million).