Thanks to the coronavirus, Americans might possibly be robbed of their national pastime some more as the 2020 baseball season tries to continue but remains uncertain. In line with that, people have lost another favorite pastime: complaining about the enormous salaries of superstar athletes. While sympathizing with multimillionaires is never easy, it’s a tough time to be someone who earns a living with their athletic prowess. In a career where retirement comes at age 40 — if you’re lucky — every single lucrative season in your 20s and 30s is crucial. Having an entire year wiped out by COVID-19 can be the same as a small-business owner having to close up shop for the next decade.
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So, while many of the people on this list are not in dire financial straits — particularly when compared to the rest of America right now — they are examples of how much money sweeping shutdowns can cost a top-tier athlete. As such, GOBankingRates used Forbes’ annual list of the highest-paid athletes and found the top earner — in combined salary/winnings and endorsements — from every year going back to 1990.
None of these athletes are likely going to end up in serious need of a paycheck, but top earners of today could still miss out on an awful lot of money.
Last updated: Aug. 4, 2020
1990
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Athlete: Mike Tyson
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Sport: Boxing
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Total earnings: $28,600,000
1991
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Athlete: Evander Holyfield
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Sport: Boxing
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Total earnings: $60,500,000
1992
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Athlete: Michael Jordan
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Sport: Basketball
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Total earnings: $35,900,000
1993
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Athlete: Michael Jordan
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Sport: Basketball
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Total earnings: $36,000,000
Find Out: Today’s Richest Athletes in the World
1994
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Athlete: Michael Jordan
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Sport: Basketball
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Total earnings: $30,010,000
1995
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Athlete: Michael Jordan
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Sport: Basketball
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Total earnings: $43,900,000
1996
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Athlete: Mike Tyson
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Sport: Boxing
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Total earnings: $75,000,000
1997
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Athlete: Michael Jordan
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Sport: Basketball
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Total earnings: $78,300,000
1998
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Athlete: Michael Jordan
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Sport: Basketball
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Total earnings: $69,000,000
Check Out: These 13 Athletes Won the Most Lucrative Endorsement Deals
1999
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Athlete: Michael Schumacher
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Sport: Formula One
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Total earnings: $49,000,000
2000
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Athlete: Michael Schumacher
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Sport: Formula One
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Total earnings: $59,000,000
2001
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Athlete: Tiger Woods
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Sport: Golf
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Total earnings: $65,000,000
Editor’s note: In 2002, Forbes changed its reporting period from the full calendar year to June-to-June. As such, there is no list for the highest-paid athletes of 2001. This figure was sourced from a report by Men’s Health.
2002
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Athlete: Tiger Woods
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Sport: Golf
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Total earnings: $69,000,000
2003
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Athlete: Tiger Woods
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Sport: Golf
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Total earnings: $78,000,000