The Highest Paid Athlete the Year You Were Born
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The Highest Paid Athlete the Year You Were Born
Christian Petersen - Getty Images - 2/42
1979: Rod Carew
Getty Images - 3/42
1980: Nolan Ryan
Photo File - Getty Images - 4/42
1981: Dave Winfield
Focus On Sport - Getty Images - 5/42
1982: Mike Schmidt
MLB Photos - Getty Images - 6/42
1983: Mike Schmidt
John Williamson - Getty Images - 7/42
1984: Marvin Hagler
Anthony Barboza - Getty Images - 8/42
1985: Magic Johnson
Dimitri Iundt - Getty Images - 9/42
1986: Magic Johnson
Focus On Sport - Getty Images - 10/42
1987: Patrick Ewing
Bruce Bennett - Getty Images - 11/42
1988: Patrick Ewing
Bruce Bennett - Getty Images - 12/42
1989: Patrick Ewing
Lutz Bongarts - Getty Images - 13/42
1990: Mike Tyson
Focus On Sport - Getty Images - 14/42
1991: Evander Holyfield
Michael Brennan - Getty Images - 15/42
1992: Michael Jordan
Focus On Sport - Getty Images - 16/42
1993: Michael Jordan
BRIAN BAHR - Getty Images - 17/42
1994: Michael Jordan
Jonathan Daniel - Getty Images - 18/42
1995: Michael Jordan
Focus On Sport - Getty Images - 19/42
1996: Mike Tyson
Focus On Sport - Getty Images - 20/42
1997: Michael Jordan
Focus On Sport - Getty Images - 21/42
1998: Michael Jordan
Andy Lyons - Getty Images - 22/42
1999: Michael Schumacher
Andreas Rentz - Getty Images - 23/42
2000: Michael Schumacher
Sandra Behne - Getty Images - 24/42
2001: Tiger Woods
Michael Kienzler - Getty Images - 25/42
2002: Tiger Woods
Danny Gohlke - Getty Images - 26/42
2003: Tiger Woods
Andrew Redington - Getty Images - 27/42
2004: Tiger Woods
Getty Images - Getty Images - 28/42
2005: Tiger Woods
Steve Grayson - Getty Images - 29/42
2006: Tiger Woods
Stan Badz - Getty Images - 30/42
2007: Tiger Woods
Montana Pritchard/PGA of America - Getty Images - 31/42
2008: Tiger Woods
ROBYN BECK - Getty Images - 32/42
2009: Tiger Woods
Mark Dadswell - Getty Images - 33/42
2010: Tiger Woods
Rob Tringali - Getty Images - 34/42
2011: Tiger Woods
Mike Ehrmann - Getty Images - 35/42
2012: Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Al Bello - Getty Images - 36/42
2013: Tiger Woods
Andrew Redington - Getty Images - 37/42
2014: Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Alex Menendez - Getty Images - 38/42
2015: Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Alex Menendez - Getty Images - 39/42
2016: Christiano Ronaldo
Alex Caparros - Getty Images - 40/42
2017: Christiano Ronaldo
TF-Images - Getty Images - 41/42
2018: Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Jerritt Clark - Getty Images - 42/42
2019: Lionel Messi
Power Sport Images - Getty Images
Boxers, golfers, and NBA players have all made it to the top of the list at some point.