Mayweather Among ‘Fortunate’ US athletes

9:42 PM // 0 comments // Ian Purugganan // Category: Mayweather //

Sports Illustrated also released its Fortunate 50 list of the top-earning American athletes with golfer Tiger Woods leading the pack with $90,508,163. (Read: Tiger's endorsements down $22 million - report)

His fellow golfer, Phil Mickelson, was at No. 2 with $61,660,757 while undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather, Jr. came in at No. 3 with $60,250,000.

Mayweather, who was supposed to figure in a super showdown with Pacquiao, returned to the Top 5 with earnings from fights with Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez on September 19 and compatriot Shane Mosley on May 1.

Just like Pacquiao in the international athletes ranking, Mayweather was the only boxer in the 2010 Fortunate 50 list.

Other top-earning American athletes came from the National Football League (15), National Basketball Association (16), Major League Baseball (13) and NASCAR (3).

LeBron James, now of the Miami Heat, was at No. 4 ($45,779,912), Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees was at No. 5 ($37 million), and free agent Shaquille O’Neal was at No. 6 with ($36 million).

O’Neal even earned more than his former teammate, Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, who came in at No. 7 with ($33,034,375).

At No. 8 was Derek Jeter of the Yankees ($31 million), followed by No. 9 Peyton Manning of Indianapolis Colts ($30.8 million) and No. 10 Dwyane Wade of the Heat ($27,779,912).

The complete list of the Fortunate 50 is available on the Sports Illustrated website.

[Boxing News Source: Jonah Freedman, SportsIllustrated.com]