Hamilton slips out of Forbes’ Top 10 highest-paid athletes

There is no place for seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton in the top 10 highest-paid athletes of 2022, according to Forbes. 
Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1.
Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1.

The list, which is compiled by Forbes, ranks the ten highest-paid athletes in the world. They have made a combined $990 million over the last 12 months, down on the $1.05billion in 2021. 

Hamilton, who has featured on Forbes’ list twice in his career (2017, 2021) sat eighth last year but has dropped out of the top 10 for gross earnings over the last 12 months. 

Hamilton was beaten to the 2021 F1 world championship by Red Bull's Max Verstappen in the controversial Abu Dhabi finale as he missed out on a record-breaking eighth drivers' world title. 

Another notable absentee is MMA fighter Conor McGregor, who topped the list last year on $180m. 

He has been replaced in number one spot by footballer Lionel Messi, who has taken home a whopping $130m since making his blockbuster transfer from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain last August. 

Football and basketball dominate this year’s Forbes’ rich list, which can be seen in full below. 

  1. Lionel Messi (football), $130m - $75m on-field, $55m off-field 
  2. LeBron James (basketball), $121.m - $41.2m on-field, $80m off-field 
  3. Cristiano Ronaldo (football), $115m - $60m on-field, $55m off-field 
  4. Neymar (football), $95m - $70m on-field, $25m off-field 
  5. Stephen Curry (basketball), $92.8m - $45.8m on-field, $47m off-field 
  6. Kevin Durant (basketball), $92.1m - $42.1m on-field, $50m off-field 
  7. Roger Federer (tennis), $90.7m - $0.7m on-field, $90m off-field 
  8. Canelo Alvarez (boxing), $90m - $85m on-field, $5m off-field 
  9. Tom Brady (NFL), $83.9m - $31.9m on-field, $52m off-field 
  10. Giannis Antetokounmpo (basketball), $80.9m - $39.9m on-field, $41m off-field 

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