Mixed martial artist Conor McGregor topped Forbes' Highest-Paid Athletes 2021 list, surpassing Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Forbes reported that it is McGregor's first time at the number one spot and marked his second appearance on the list. In 2018, McGregor ranked number four with a net earning of at least $99 million.

Conor McGregor on the Forbes List

The newly released list covered the athletes' earnings from May 2020-May 2021. During the period, McGregor collected a total of $180 million over the last twelve months. Forbes pointed out that most of the MMA fighter's earnings came from his engagement outside the arena, which is the sale of his whiskey brand proper No. Twelve to Proximo Spirits which accounted for more than $150 million.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation noted that McGregor only fought once in the octagon during the scope of Forbes' report. Furthermore, McGregor became the third athlete to earn more than $70 million outside their respective sport. He followed the footsteps of tennis player Roger Federer and Tiger Woods.

Because of this, the Irish MMA fighter beat Lionel Messi and Christian Ronaldo, who placed second and third, respectively, in the 2021 highest-paid athletes list. Lionel Messi earned a total of $130 million, composed of $97 million from playing football and $33 million outside the field.

Christian Ronaldo, on the other hand, garnered a total of $120 million, with $70 million from playing the sport and $50 million from other engagements. Ronaldo, Mesi, and McGregor are among the four paid athletes on the list that earned over $100 million on the list. Football player Dak Prescot joined them, earning $107.5 million this past year.

Forbes noted that the four athletes this 2021 joined other athletes such as Roger Federer, Floyd Mayweather, Neymar, Manny Pacquiao, and Tiger Woods to have made more than $100 million in a single year.

Other Personalities in Forbes' Highest-Paid Athletes for 2021

Basketball players Lebron James and Kevin Durant were also among this year's top 10 highest-paid athletes. James ranked fifth with total earnings of $96.5 million while Durant placed last, earning a total of $75 million.

Federer and Neymar also made it to the list, ranking seventh and sixth respectively this year. Federer earned a total of $90 million, while Neymar earned a total of $95 million. Formula one player Lewis Hamilton and NFL player Tom Brady ranked eighth and ninth on the list.

Forbes underscored that the gross earnings of the ten highest-paid athletes for 2021 amounted to a total of $1.05 billion during the past twelve months. This is only a few million short on the 2018 record, amounting to $1.06. That year, the list was topped by boxer Floyd Mayweather, who earned $285 million. Most of Mayweather's earning were raked from his pay-per-view fight against Conor McGregor in 2017.

Meanwhile, the gross earning of this year's Forbes list is 28 percent greater than the top earners in the previous year.

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