SI: The 50 highest-earning athletes

When welterweight Floyd Mayweather was No. 1 on Sports Illustrated’s Fortunate 50 last year—knocking out Tiger Woods, who had been No. 1 every year since SI started producing the list in 2004—it looked like a fluke, the result of the $85 million he received for his fights with Victor Ortiz and Miguel Cotto. Now Mayweather is proving that he belongs at the top. From just two bouts this year, one earlier this month and the other scheduled for September, he will earn at least $90 million, and that’s conservative; he could make as much as $128 million.

There are other notable shifts this year. LeBron James (No. 2) passed Kobe Bryant (No. 4). Tiger Woods (No. 5) is back above Phil Mickelson (No. 6)—thanks to $4 million more in tour winnings. Drew Brees wasn’t on last year’s list but he burst into the top five thanks to a $37 million signing bonus from his new contract.

The findings consist solely of salary, winnings, bonuses and endorsements. SI consulted players’ associations, tour records, online databases, agents and media reports. The endorsement estimates come from a stable of marketing executives, agents and other experts, including Burns Entertainment & Sports Marketing.

Candidates for the Fortunate 50 must be U.S. citizens or play in a U.S.—based league.

1. Floyd Mayweather (boxing)
2. LeBron James (NBA)
3. Drew Brees (NFL)
4. Kobe Bryant (NBA)
5. Tiger Woods (golf)

MLB:
9. Alex Rodriguez
10.Zack Greinke
13.Johan Santana
14.Felix Hernandez
17.Cliff Lee
19.Derek Jeter
20.Joe Mauer

No matter how good the player, age will take its toll. | SportsonEarth.com : Joe Posnanski Article

If I were building a team from scratch (and I am in my sim league this year) I would take Hosmer and Perez. At least I would if my league’s setup wasn’t so geared to this year. :)

All of which brings us back to the original question: Who would you rather have in the middle of your lineup for the next five years—Pujols and Hamilton or Hosmer and Perez?

And I’ll just say it: I would take my chances with Hosmer and Perez. Hosmer had a terrible 22-year-old season, but he was terrific as a 21-year-old rookie, and it’s too easy to forget just how young a 22-year-old player really is. The player Hosmer reminds me of—Joey Votto—was in Double-A as a 22-year-old. Heck, Votto spent most of his age-23 season in Triple-A. I think Hosmer is going to be a masher.

And Salvy Perez? Superstar. Defensively he’s incredible—best catch-and-throw catcher in the American League right now, at 22. Offensively, he’s undisciplined, but he hit .301 with some power in a half-season—way ahead of where they thought he’d be. Sure, it’s insane to compare those meager accomplishments against two men with 630-plus homers and four MVPs and 14 All-Star appearances and ...