world of sports? James still has a ways to go to be the highest-paid star in sports.
Slideshow: Annual Salaries Of 25 Top Sports Stars
If James gets a raise from $20 million a season to $25 million, as expected, he will match Kobe Bryant as the highest-paid NBA player. Both James and Bryant would rake in about $48 million a year, including endorsements.
That isn’t even half of what Tiger Woods makes in a year, even after Woods lost $5 million in endorsements in the past year.
Woods made about $105 million in 2009, said Forbes in its annual list of celebrity earnings.
Michael Jordan still takes in $55 million as a retired athlete, while boxers Floyd Mayweather ($68 million in 2009) and Manny Pacquiao ($42 million) will cash in on their huge fight this year.
Also in James’ salary range are golfer Phil Mickelson, tennis star Roger Federer and soccer stud David Beckham.
TMZ favorites Alex Rodriquez and Christiano Ronaldo make about $36 million a year.
Not on the Forbes list is Formula One driver Kimi Raikkonen, who reportedly gets $51 million a year.
And Italian motorcycle racer Valentino Rossi makes about $35 million a year, which is about what American racer Dale Earnhardt Jr. makes in a year.
Tennis player Maria Sharapova is the highest-paid woman athlete in sports, getting about $25 million a year despite her number 15 world ranking.
Serena Williams is second with an estimated $20 million in annual income.
