Top whack

The respected American Forbes Magazine has published this year’s rich list in sport. Top of the heap are Tiger Woods and Michael Schumacher, who both earn in excess of 66 million euros a year from golf and motor racing respectively, including advertising endorsements, merchandising and bonuses. Third in the rankings is American football player, Peyton Manning, on 35m euros followed by basketball’s elite Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neill and Kevin Garnett. Andre Agassi and David Beckham are the best-paid tennis and soccer players, both taking home in the region of 23m euros. Baseball’s Alex Rodriguez and another basketball star, Kobe Bryant, complete the top ten on just over 21m euros. These mammoth earnings are still dwarfed by the top three money makers from other walks of life. Actor/Producer Mel Gibson and American talk show hostess Oprah Winfrey both made 174m euros this year. Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling raked in a more modest 122m euros.