Lionel Messi is the highest-paid athlete on the planet. According to Forbes, Messi took home an astonishing $75 million in on-field earnings over the last year – more than any other sportsperson on the planet. His Paris Saint-Germain salary alone is worth $35 million annually, which means he earns $738,000 a week, or $105,000 a day, or $8,790 per hour. The Argentine also pocketed a tidy $25 million joining fee when he signed for the French team last summer, reported the Evening Standard. But he also earns a lot off it. Messi's off-field earnings of $55 million over the last year can only be topped by tennis icon Roger Federer and NBA superstar LeBron James. On top of a $20 million-a-year partnership with cryptocurrency "fan token" platform Socios, the 35-year-old's endorsement portfolio includes deals with Adidas, Budweiser, and PepsiCo. Last June, he also became Hard Rock International's first ever athlete brand ambassador. His net worth is an eye-watering $600 million. In total, he's earned over $1 billion during his career. According to Forbes, Messi has earned $1.15 billion during his career on-and-off the field. Only three currently active athletes – LeBron James, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Tiger Woods – have ever earned more. Only two other current athletes – Roger Federer and Floyd Mayweather – other than those mentioned above have ever surpassed $1 billion in career earnings, according to Forbes. Messi likes to spend his money on luxury cars. |