Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images
For this year’s list of the world’s highest-paid athletes, Forbes tracked income collected between May 1, 2021, and May 1, 2022, based on conversations with dozens of industry insiders, in some cases including agents and representatives for the athletes themselves.
The on-field earnings figures include prize money, salaries and bonuses. In cases where players continue to receive paychecks beyond May for a regular season that is concluded by then—as in the NBA and European soccer—we assign the full season of salary. Playoff bonuses are included for the 2021 MLB and NFL seasons and the 2020-21 NBA season.
The off-field earnings figures are an estimate of sponsorship deals, appearance fees and memorabilia and licensing income for the 12 months leading to May 1, 2022, plus cash returns from any businesses in which the athlete has a significant interest. Bonuses from the PGA Tour’s Player Impact Program are included in off-field income. Forbes does not include investment income such as interest payments or dividends but does account for payouts from equity stakes athletes have sold. The off-field earnings figures are rounded to the nearest half-million, except when under $1 million.
Forbes does not deduct for taxes or agents’ fees. The list includes athletes active at any point during the 12-month time period.
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Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brettknight/2022/05/18/the-methodology-behind-the-2022-list-of-the-worlds-highest-paid-athletes/