Stephen Curry Ranks as Forbes’ Second-Highest Paid Athlete, Topping All NBA Players Off the Court

Golden State Warriors icon Stephen Curry has been recognized as the second-highest-paid athlete globally between May 1, 2024, and May 1, 2025, according to a report by Forbes.

Curry’s total earnings reached an impressive $156 million, with a significant $100 million generated from endorsements and business ventures outside of his basketball salary. This off-court income is matched only by Major League Baseball sensation Shohei Ohtani.

While Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James is the next highest-paid basketball player on the list, his total earnings of $133.8 million place him sixth overall. Cristiano Ronaldo, fueled by his massive $225 million contract in Saudi Arabia, sits atop the ranking with a staggering $275 million in total earnings.

Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant is the only other basketball player to break into the top 10, earning $101.4 million ($51.4 million on the court and $50 million off it).

Other notable NBA players within the top 30 include Giannis Antetokounmpo (13th) and his Portland Trail Blazers teammate Damian Lillard (29th). An additional 10 basketball players feature in the top 50, with Anthony Edwards notably ranking as the third-highest-paid athlete under the age of 25.

The collective earnings of the top 50 highest-paid athletes this year reached a remarkable $4.23 billion, surpassing last year’s total of $3.88 billion, highlighting the continued financial growth within the elite levels of professional sports.