LeBron James – $96.5M

This list wouldn’t be complete if an “NBA” player didn’t make it to the top five. Coming in fifth is the legendary basketball player LeBron James who made $96.5 million in 2021. Nicknamed “King James,” he currently plays for the “Los Angeles Lakers.”

It has been nearly two decades since James was drafted to the league, and he’s built an estimated fortune of $850 million, as per Forbes. A four-time “NBA” Champion and MVP, James’s annual income isn’t surprising as he has a four-year contract worth $153 million with the Lakers. Like other star athletes, he’s got an extensive endorsement portfolio plus other income sources like a production company, SpringHill Entertainment.