TIGER WOODS IS once again the world’s most valuable athlete, according to American finance publication Forbes.
‘Brand Woods’ has an estimated worth of $30million, a $6m dip on his 2014 estimation.
NBA star LeBron James ($27m) had led the way last year, although a drop in worth has seen him overtaken by Woods and another golfing great, Phil Mickelson ($28m).
Roger Federer ($27m) and India cricket captain MS Dhoni ($21m) round out the individual top five, as they did 12 months ago.
The New York Yankees lead the way in the team stakes once again, having boosted their brand worth by over $100m in a year alone from $521m to $661m.
Spain’s great footballing rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona had followed in 2014, but they have slipped to fifth and seventh respectively, with their key players also suffering a similar trajectory.
Cristiano Ronaldo was seventh a year ago and, despite releasing a new clothing range, he is now eighth, while Lionel Messi – ninth in 2014 – does not feature in the athletes’ top 10 at all.
Rory McIlroy and Floyd Mayweather Jr enter the top 10, the undefeated boxing champion having signed several lucrative endorsements before his July fight with Manny Pacquiao.
Forbes’ top 10 most valuable athletes:
1. Tiger Woods – Worth $30m
2. Phil Mickelson – $28m
3. LeBron James – $27m
- Roger Federer – $27m
5. MS Dhoni – $21m
6. Usain Bolt – $18m
- Kevin Durant – $18m
8. Cristiano Ronaldo – $16m
9. Rory McIlroy – $12m
10. Floyd Mayweather Jr – $11.5m
Forbes top 10 most valuable sports teams:
1. New York Yankees – $661m
2. Los Angeles Lakers – $521m
3. Dallas Cowboys – $497m
4. New England Patriots – $465m
5. Real Madrid – $464m
6. Manchester United – $446m
7. Barcelona – $437m
8. Bayern Munich – $375m
9. Los Angeles Dodgers – $373m
10. New York Knicks $361m
