![From Conor McGregor to Cristiano Ronaldo, these are 2021's top paid athletes in the world – how did they each make over US$100 million in the past year and who's the richest? From Conor McGregor to Cristiano Ronaldo, these are 2021's top paid athletes in the world – how did they each make over US$100 million in the past year and who's the richest?](https://img.i-scmp.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1098,format=auto/sites/default/files/styles/1200x800/public/d8/images/canvas/2021/06/16/ff81a463-6946-4c56-9f5a-ec885a487b17_19c7f3f5.jpg?itok=kKiZPmQq&v=1623834677)
From Conor McGregor to Cristiano Ronaldo, these are 2021's top paid athletes in the world – how did they each make over US$100 million in the past year and who's the richest?
![Cristiano Ronaldo signed a $ 1 billion contract exposing Messi and matching Michael Jordan and Lebron James | El Futbolero US International Players Cristiano Ronaldo signed a $ 1 billion contract exposing Messi and matching Michael Jordan and Lebron James | El Futbolero US International Players](https://www.elfutbolero.us/__export/1620952015536/sites/elfutboleromx/img/2021/05/13/3328_80.jpg_1805528673.jpg)
Cristiano Ronaldo signed a $ 1 billion contract exposing Messi and matching Michael Jordan and Lebron James | El Futbolero US International Players
![Lebron James signs lifetime contract with Nike | Kazakhstan News: Latest news on Kazakh TV | Kazakh TV Lebron James signs lifetime contract with Nike | Kazakhstan News: Latest news on Kazakh TV | Kazakh TV](http://kazakh-tv.kz/upload/anounces/big_0592c434d7a6e5215f038df3fe1f1951.jpg)
Lebron James signs lifetime contract with Nike | Kazakhstan News: Latest news on Kazakh TV | Kazakh TV
![Report: Nike was unwilling to give Kobe Bryant's contract similar 'lifetime' structure held by LeBron James and Michael Jordan - Lakers Daily Report: Nike was unwilling to give Kobe Bryant's contract similar 'lifetime' structure held by LeBron James and Michael Jordan - Lakers Daily](https://lakersdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/skysports-lebron-james-michael-jordan_4458550.jpg)
Report: Nike was unwilling to give Kobe Bryant's contract similar 'lifetime' structure held by LeBron James and Michael Jordan - Lakers Daily
![Nike 4 Life: What Lebron James' lifetime contract with Nike means for the future of marketing. | Joshua Scott Nike 4 Life: What Lebron James' lifetime contract with Nike means for the future of marketing. | Joshua Scott](https://assets.website-files.com/5b5a3ed2836bb8ab11563885/5b97ea80fe4f017cb9c9dbb8_1_zDDC1lEIpNTy2oetAxT3wQ.jpg)
Nike 4 Life: What Lebron James' lifetime contract with Nike means for the future of marketing. | Joshua Scott
![TCR. on Twitter: "Cristiano Ronaldo has the BIGGEST endorsement deal in sports history with Nike. https://t.co/4Ky21NTxo1" / Twitter TCR. on Twitter: "Cristiano Ronaldo has the BIGGEST endorsement deal in sports history with Nike. https://t.co/4Ky21NTxo1" / Twitter](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E9HCDvKXoAozNLG.jpg)