Federer is widely perceived as the greatest tennis player ever. He holds the records for most singles Grand Slam wins (17) and career prize money ($77 million). Total earnings: $61.9 million nSalary/winnings: $27.9 million nEndorsements: $34 million nBryant had the highest salary in the NBA for the third straight year during the 2012-13 season. His $27.85 million salary is $7 million higher than any other player. Bryant made the All-NBA first team for the eighth straight year this season and passed Wilt Chamberlain for fourth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.
Bryant is still a huge draw, particularly overseas where he had the NBA’s best-selling jersey during the 2011-12 season. This year Bryant added Hublot to his endorsement roster, which already included Nike, Coca-Cola, Turkish Airlines, Lenovo, Panini and Mercedes-Benz. Total Earnings: $59.8 million nSalary/winnings: $17.8 million nEndorsements: $42 million nKing James had a memorable 2012 as he won his first NBA title, third MVP Award and a second Olympic Gold Medal. He joined an exclusive group of four Hall of Famers with his fourth MVP Award after the 2012-13 season. James is the NBA's biggest endorsement star, thanks to deals with Nike, McDonald's, Coca-Cola, Samsung and others. Sales of his signature Nike shoes rose 50% to $300 million in the U.S. During 2012, according to research firm SportsOneSource.
He outsold his nearest NBA competitor by a 6-to-1 margin in the U.S. Total Earnings: $51 million nSalary/winnings: $40 million nEndorsements: $11 million nBrees signed a five-year, $100 million contract extension in July 2012 with the New Orleans Saints that included a $37 million signing bonus. Brees was rewarded for six Pro Bowl selections and a Super Bowl title since he joined the Saints in 2006.
Brees is one of the NFL’s most successful pitchmen with a dozen endorsement deals, including Nike, Procter & Gamble, Verizon Wireless, PepsiCo and Wrangler. His foundation, Brees Dream Foundation, has contributed $17 million to charitable causes and academic institutions in New Orleans, San Diego and West Lafayette/Purdue communities.
Total Earnings: $49 million nSalary/winnings: $43 million nEndorsements: $6 million nAaron Rodgers was arguably the NFL’s best player over the past two seasons, leading the NFL in passer rating and throwing 84 touchdowns and only 14 interceptions. This year he finally got the contract to match. Rodgers signed a five-year, $110 million deal in April that made him the highest-paid player in the NFL on an annual basis.
It included a $35 million signing bonus and $62.5 million in the first three years of the deal. Rodgers is one of the top-paid football guys in the Nike stable and his “Discount Double Check” commercials for State Farm are a national hit. Tom Dahlin/Getty Images','scope':{'credit':'Tom Dahlin/Getty Images','caption':'Total Earnings: $49 million nSalary/winnings: $43 million nEndorsements: $6 million nAaron Rodgers was arguably the NFL’s best player over the past two seasons, leading the NFL in passer rating and throwing 84 touchdowns and only 14 interceptions. This year he finally got the contract to match. Rodgers signed a five-year, $110 million deal in April that made him the highest-paid player in the NFL on an annual basis.