These.....are the most talented athletes in the world.......and they're getting paid....because of being the very best........in their sports.
For the full list of "The Fortunate 50" Click ..... here.
Tiger sacrificed millions in appearance fees during his year off to recover from knee surgery, but replaced his lucrative Buick deal -- voided by mutual consent -- with a new one from AT&T.
Like Tiger, Phil no longer counts on a car-maker in his endorsement portfolio. (Ford chose not to re-sign him.) He still has lucrative deals with Rolex, Callaway, Exxon, Barclay's and KPMG.
LeBron has one more season left under his deal before he can opt out. If Cleveland doesn't show it's Finals-worthy by next spring, expect the Knicks to come in with a huge offer.
We're in the middle of A-Rod's peak earning power in his middle-loaded, 10-year megadeal: He'll make another $33 million in 2010 and then gradually decrease to a "normal" $20 million by '17.
The Big Bargaining Chip? Regardless of his trade to Cleveland, Shaq is in the final year of the five-year, $100 million deal he signed while with Miami. It's the largest expiring deal in the NBA.
After earning a team-high in salary this past season, KG shoots down to $16.4 million in '09-10 as his three-year extension kicks in, making him the lowest earner of Boston's Big Three.
While Kobe's league-high $23 million salary next season is certainly befitting of an NBA Finals MVP, it'll also eat up more than a third of the Lakers' cap room to rebuild under the luxury tax.
AI just finished the final year of the six-year, $76 million extension he signed in '03 with the Sixers. Larry Brown would be open to signing him in Charlotte -- no doubt at a big discount.
Yankee captain now has a place to get the kids involved in his Turn 2 Foundation in shape: He opened his second co-branded 24-Hour Fitness gym in Manhattan, and a third is scheduled.
NFL's top endorser has distributed $500,000 in grants in '09 through his PayBack Foundation to charities in Indianapolis, near his alma mater (Tennessee) and his hometown, New Orleans.
Junior was voted NASCAR's most popular driver for the sixth straight year. But what NASCAR needs to win back fans and sponsors is for him to win more often than once every 76 races.
Even if he doesn't get a contract extension this summer, D-Wade will get his nine figures one way or another. He's suing an ex-business partner for slander and libel for $100 million.
Last year Howard bought the 11,000-square foot "Chateau d'Usse" near Orlando for $8 million. The mansion includes four kitchens, 15 TVs, two game rooms and three "mini-beaches."
Big Tex's $181 million deal includes a clause where he has the option to buy the eight best available season tickets. Finally, someone who can afford the $2,600 Legends Suite seats.
Injured T-Mac spent less time on the court last season, but spent more time involved in aide to Darfur -- he visited refugee camps in Chad in '07 and continues to donate to schools.
Though Duncan's $22.2 million salary next season is the team's highest, the fiscally responsible Spurs still have nine players from last year's roster signed at around the salary-cap limit.
Starbury netted some $18.6 million while riding the pine for the Knicks last season, then latched on with the Celtics in January for the veteran's minimum, earning him a prorated $1.3 million.
Sabathia's seven-year, $161 million deal is by far the richest ever for a pitcher in baseball history. He'll earn roughly $675,000 for every game he starts over the course of this season.
Future Hall-of-Famer would like to stay in Dallas, but he must lower his asking price. With skills in decline, he'll be lucky to get a third of the $20 million range to which he's grown accustomed.
Miami could be without its two biggest-name players next summer when O'Neal's contract expires and Dwyane Wade can opt out. That would let the Heat rebuild around Michael Beasley.
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