1. America's Highest Earning Sports Stars
An especially gifted athlete can do more than just thrill the crowd. Today's top
American athletes also have extremely high earning potentials. Sports teams will
happily shell out millions of dollars to score the talents of today's top athletes;
major brands and companies vie for the endorsements of them too. When all is said
and done, the highest paid sports stars in America really rake it in. Learn more
about their exorbitant salaries and out-of-this-world endorsement deals below.
Jim Furyk: Golfer Rakes in More than $25 Million
He may not be Tiger Woods, but pro golfer Jim Furyk won't be heading to the
poorhouse any time soon. The popular golfer earns a salary of $16,334,622 per
year. It clearly pays to be the 2010 PGA Tour Player of the Year and the 2010
FedEx Cup champion. Endorsement deals with names like Johnnie Walker and
TaylorMade earn Furyk an additional $9 million, which is not a bad payday.
Darelle Revis: Cornerback Enjoys $25 Million-Plus Earnings
As the cornerback for the New York Jets, Darelle Revis has catapulted to fame and
fortune. The team pays Revis a salary of $25 million. He supplements that income
with endorsement deals with companies like Google, Nike and Range Rover.
Those deals help him bring home an additional $750,000, which is sure to come in
handy.
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.: NASCAR Driver Brings Home the Bacon
Compared with his counterparts in the NBA and NFL, Earnhardt's yearly
NASCAR salary of $4,572,930 seems decidedly tame. Don't worry about him,
though - endorsements with Sony, Adidas and many other popular brands and
companies plump up his bank account to the tune of $22 million per year. In total,
the driver of numbers 88, 5 and 7 earns $26,572,930 per year.
Sam Bradford: Quarterback Pays Bills with $27 Million in Earnings
Bradford has earned many accolades as the quarterback for the St. Louis Rams.
While his career is only in its infancy, he has already scored an amazing salary of
$26.8 million per year. In addition to that, endorsements with hot brands like AXE
net him another $450,000 per year. It's safe to say that he won't be going hungry
any time soon.

2. Dwyane Wade: Heat Star Earns More than $28 Million per Year
Throughout his storied career, Dwyane Wade has accomplished many amazing
feats. The Miami Heat star was the 2006 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year;
his jersey was the top-selling jersey for a long time running. In return, he earns a
salary of $14.2 million. He doubles that income with endorsement deals with
companies like Staples, T-Mobile and Gatorade.
Dwight Howard: NBA Player Nets Magical Earnings
Being a three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year opens doors. Howard, who
is the center and power forward of the Orlando Magic, pulls in a $16,647,180
salary. He earns an additional $12 million through endorsements with T-Mobile,
DC Comics and appearances for the "Got Milk" campaign.
Tom Brady: Living Large on $30 Million per Year
Few names in football are as recognizable as Brady's. The New England Patriots
quarterback has played in four Super Bowls; he has won three of them. He is also a
two-time Super Bowl MVP. On top of all of that, Brady is extremely easy on the
eyes. It's little wonder that he earns a salary of $20,007,280 per year, which is
bolstered by an additional $10 million in endorsements with names like Nike,
UGG and Under Armour.
Matt Ryan: A Quarterback who is Very Well Compensated
As the quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons, Ryan's $32,250,000 salary is absolutely
out of this world. The young player has already earned accolades such as ACC
Player of the Year and NFL AP Offensive Rookie of the Year. Although his
endorsement career hasn't gotten up to speed with his athletic career quite yet,
deals with brands like AirTran allow him to make an additional $450,000 for
annual earnings of $32.7 million.
Kevin Garnett: Boston Celtics Power Forward has Powerful Salary
Garnett is a high earner on and off the basketball court. For his athletic prowess as
the power forward for the Boston Celtics, Garnett makes $18,832,044 per year. For
his side job as a product endorser, the player rakes in an extra $14 million. All told,
Garnett is compensated to the tune of $32,832,044 per year.

3. Kobe Bryant: Shooting Guard with Superior Earnings
As one of the best-known names in professional sports, Bryant has gone above and
beyond his duties for the Los Angeles Lakers. The shooting guard earns a salary of
$24,806,250 for his work with the team. Endorsement deals with premier
companies like Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Upper Deck and Adidas net him an
additional $10 million. Between his sports career and his endorsement deals, he
makes $34,806,250.
Alex Rodriguez
A-Rod is one of the shining stars of baseball. Compared with NBA players and
NFL players, baseball players' salaries don't tend to be as exorbitant. Rodriguez is
an exception, though, with an annual salary of $32 million. The famous third
baseman for the New York Yankees isn't big on endorsements. Despite that, he
makes an extra $4 million for brands like Vita Coco.
Peyton Manning: Most Valuable Player and Earner
With annual earnings that exceed $38 million, Manning is a force to be reckoned
with. He makes $32 million of that as the quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts;
after earning the most NFL MVPs ever, that salary is easy to understand. He
scoops up an extra $15 million per year doing endorsement deals for Sprint,
MasterCard and other prominent names.
LeBron James: King James Makes Awe-Inspiring Earnings
When stacked up against the salaries of other NBA players, James' $14.5 million
earnings don't seem all that substantial. That is only the tip of the earnings iceberg
for the wildly popular Miami Heat player. Endorsement deals with Sprite, Glaceau,
McDonald's, Nike and other huge names earn James an additional $30 million per
year. Without a doubt, this player knows how to make the most of his endorsement
deals.
Phil Mickelson: Lefty Pulls in the Big Bucks
Although he is right-handed at everything else, Mickelson is a left-handed golfer.
That's how he earned the nickname "Lefty," and it's just one of the endearing
things about the beloved professional golfer. Through the years, Mickelson has
racked up four major golf tournament winnings and has also won a whopping 39

4. PGA tour events. He has been ranked as the second-best golfer several times in
recent years. His salary as a golfer is a modest $4,185,933 per year. That total is
dramatically enhanced by endorsements with ExxonMobil, Rolex and Barclays,
which net the golf pro an extra $57 million. In total, he rakes in $61,185,933,
which is nothing short of impressive.
Tiger Woods: Still the Top Earner in Professional Sports
Woods isn't just the top-earning American sports star; he is the highest paid
professional athlete in the entire world. In total, Woods makes a reported
$62,294,116 per year. His salary as a pro golfer only accounts for $2,294,116 of
that total. The other $60 million in earnings come from lucrative endorsement
deals. Woods hit a bump in the road with a series of scandals a few years back, but
he is back in the saddle again. Through his career, he has endorsed products by
companies like GM, American Express and Nike. In the latter case, he scored the
largest endorsement deal in history. As his reputation improves again, you can
expect to see even more impressive numbers from one of the most popular figures
in sports.