Four Formula One drivers feature in Forbes’ annual top 100 of the world’s highest paid athletes, with Lewis Hamilton ranking 11th with total earnings of $46 million.
Fellow world champions Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso, as well as Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg also appear in a list topped by Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo who made $88m in the past year.
According to Forbes, $42m of Hamilton’s income came in salary and winnings, with another $4m in endorsements. NBC’s Motor Sports Talk reports that the Briton recently struck a deal with French cosmetics giant L’Oreal
Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel places 19th on the top 100, with $40m in salary and another €1m in endorsements, which includes a deal with Braun.
McLaren-Honda’s Fernando Alonso sits 24th on the list, having earned €36.5m (€35m in salary and 1.5$m in endorsements), while championship leader Rosberg narrowly makes the cut in 98th position with total earnings of $21m ($20m in wage another $1m in endorsements).
Fellow racing aces included in the top 100 are NASCAR stars Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 71st ($23.5m) and Jimmie Johnson in 82nd ($22.2m).
It is worth noticing that F1 drivers are amongst the athletes that earn the least from endorsements. By comparison, NBA star LeBron James, who is third in the list, gets $54m of his $77.2m tally in endorsements alone.
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