Forbes highest-paid athletes: Tiger Woods tops list, India skipper MS Dhoni at 16th

Forbes has announced its annual list of top powerful athletes in the world. Golfer Tiger Woods heads the list while basketball stars LeBron James and Kobe Bryant aren't too far behind.
India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni with earnings of USD 31.5 million, has been ranked at 16th place on Forbes' list of highest-paid athletes. (All AFP images)

37-year-old Woods made USD 78.1 million (approx Rs 444 crores) in the year 2012-13.

Roger Federer at USD 71.5 million (approx Rs 406 crores) - most impressive endorsement portfolio in sports as per Forbes. 10 sponsors collectively pay him more than $40 million annually. He also has deals with Nike, Rolex, Wilson and Credit Suisse.

Kobe Bryant (Basketball) - Total earnings: $61.9 million (approx. Rs 350 crore)
Salary/winnings: $27.9 million Endorsements: $34 million

LeBron James (Basketball) - Total Earnings: $59.8 million (approx Rs 340 crore) Salary/winnings: $17.8 million Endorsements: $42 million

Drew Brees (NFL) - Total Earnings: $51 million (approx. Rs 290 crore) Salary/winnings: $40 million Endorsements: $11 million

Aaron Rodgers (NFL) - Total Earnings: $49 million (approx. Rs 278 crore) Salary/winnings: $43 million Endorsements: $6 million

Phil Mickelson (Golf) - Total Earnings: $48.7 million (approx. Rs 276 crore) Salary/winnings: $4.7 million Endorsements: $44 million

David Beckham (Soccer) - Total Earnings: $47.2 million (approx. Rs 268 crore) Salary/winnings: $5.2 million Endorsements: $42 million
Beckham announced his retirement from soccer after a five-month stay at Paris Saint-Germain, where Becks won his tenth league title to put a bow on his decorated 21-year career.

Cristiano Ronaldo (soccer) - Total Earnings: $44 million (approx. Rs 250 crore) Salary/winnings: $23 million Endorsements: $21 million
Ronaldo was runner-up in 2012 in voting for the world's best player of the year after notching 60 goals in 55 games.

Lionel Messi - Total Earnings: $41.3 million (approx. Rs 234 crore) Salary/winnings: $20.3 million Endorsements: $21 million
After scoring 91 goals in all competitions last year to break a 40-year-old world record held by Gerd Muller, Messi won FIFA's world player of the year award for a record fourth year in a row.

Tom Brady (NFL) - Total Earnings: $38.3 million (approx. Rs 217 crore) Salary/winnings: $31.3 million Endorsements: $7 million

Derrick Rose (Basketball) - Total Earnings: $37.4 million (approx. Rs 212 crore) Salary/winnings: $16.4 million Endorsements: $21 million

Joe Flacco (NFL) - Total Earnings: $36.8 million (approx. Rs 209 crore) Salary/winnings: $35.9 million Endorsements: $850,000

Floyd Mayweather (Pro boxing) - Total Earnings: $34 million (approx. Rs 193 crore) Salary/winnings: $34 million Endorsements: $0

Manny Pacquiao (Pro boxing) - Total Earnings: $34 million (approx. Rs 193 crore) Salary/winnings: $26 million Endorsements: $8 million

Mahendra Singh Dhoni - Total Earnings: $31.5 million (approx. Rs 179 crore) Salary/winnings: $3.5 million Endorsements: $28 million
The captain of India's national cricket team is arguably the nation's biggest celebrity. Nearly half of Dhoni's 25 endorsements pay more than $1 million annually, including a three-year deal with former billionaire Vijay Mallya's United Breweries Group worth more than $5 million over three years. Mahi has also shown an ear for business by taking equity stakes or key roles with companies he endorses and his own Supersport World Championship motorcycle racing team.

Kevin Durant (Basketball) - Total Earnings: $30.9 million (approx. Rs 175 crore) Salary/winnings: $16.9 million Endorsements: $14 million

Alex Rodriguez (Baseball) - Total Earnings: $30.3 million (approx. Rs 172 crore) Salary/winnings: $29.8 million Endorsements: $500,000

Fernando Alonso (Formula One) - Total Earnings: $30 million (approx. Rs 170 crore) Salary/winnings: $28 million Endorsements: $2 million

Peyton Manning (NFL) - Total Earnings: $30 million (approx. Rs 170 crore) Salary/winnings: $18 million Endorsements: $12 million
He rounds off the top 20.

Federer had topped the 2012 list. The only other Indian in the top-100 list is Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar at 51st position with a total annual earning of USD 22 million (Rs 125 crores).

Other sports stars, who are below Dhoni are Ferrari's formula one racer Fernando Alonso (19th), Northern Ireland golfer Rory McIlroy (21st spot), Lewis Hamilton (26th), Novak Djokovic (28th), Rafael Nadal (30th) and Usain Bolt (40th).

This year's 100-strong list features just three women led by tennis ace Maria Sharapova, who ranks No.22 with an earning of USD 29 million. (PTI image)