I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that even those with a passing interest could have an educated stab at sport’s two top earners from the last year. Does your memory require a little jogging? Remember that massive boxing bout that saw two men hugging each other so hard that money shot out of their backsides?

Yes Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao nab the top two spots and their numbers are truly staggering. This below from Forbes:

Mayweather tops the list for a second straight year and third time overall. His $300 million year is more than double the previous record for athlete pay set by Tiger Woods who made $115 million between June 2007 and June 2008 ($125 million adjusted for inflation). Mayweather, Woods and now Pacquiao are the only athletes to earn nine-figures in one year.

Let’s give a full run of your top ten and just how much they tucked into their piggy banks these past twelve months.

1. Floyd Mayweather – $300 million

2. Manny Pacqiuao – $160 million

3. Cristiano Ronaldo – $79.6 million

4. Lionel Messi – $73.8 million

5. Roger Federer – $67 million

6. LeBron James – $64.8 million

7. Kevin Durant – $54.1 million

8. Phil Mickelson – $50.8 million

9. Tiger Woods – $50.6 million

10. Kobe Bryant – $49.5 million

I guess it pays to skip class and dedicate yourself to honing your sporting prowess. You can see the top 100 athletes HERE.

[source:forbes]