Woods back on top of Forbes' sports earnings list
Tiger Woods, whose four wins this season have seen him return to the
top of golf's world rankings, is also back on top of Forbes' list of
highest-paid sports figures.
An article posted on the magazine's website this week gives the
rundown of the 2013 list, which will appear in the June 24 issue.
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Tiger Woods |
Woods had topped the Forbes list from 2001-2011 -- staying there
despite the loss of some sponsors in the wake of the sex scandal that
engulfed him in November of 2009.
But he fell to third last year, behind boxers Floyd Mayweather and
Manny Pacquiao.
Forbes calculates he is back on top, raking in $78.1 million over the
12 months from June 1, 2012 through June 1, 2013 from prize money,
endorsements, appearance fees and golf course design work.
His resurgence on the course has seen him double his prize money from
the previous 12 months.
According to Forbes, Woods's victories have further boosted his
income thanks to bonuses tied to wins from sponsors Nike and Rolex,
while his course design business is improving after some setbacks.
Swiss tennis great Roger Federer ranks second on the list with
earnings of $71.5 million, while Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant is
third at 61.9 million.
Miami Heat star LeBron James, the NBA Most Valuable Player whose team
is battling to repeat as champion this season, came in fourth with $59.8
million and New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees completed the top
five with $51 million.
Mayweather dropped from first to 14th this year -- tied with Filipino
fight king Pacquiao.
Mayweather had earnings of $34 million from his fight with Robert
Guerrero in May, while in the period covered for the 2012 list he fought
twice.
AFP
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