Forbes: Pacman is world's sixth highest-paid athlete

CEBU, Philippines – Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao is listed by Forbes magazine as the world’s sixth highest-paid athlete with 40 million dollars in earnings during the past 12 months. He is tied on the list with golfer Phil Mickelson and reigning NBA Most Valuable Player LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Forbes.com explained that its list is based on the earnings derived from salaries, bonuses, prize money, endorsements and licensing income between June 2008 and June 2009 and does not deduct for taxes or agents’ fees.

The prestigious business magazine reported in its online edition that Pacquiao earned $30 million combined in two blockbusters fights against Oscar de la Hoya and Ricky Hatton. The Pacman knockout both in stunning fashion to cement his status as the world’s pound-for-pound king.

Pacquiao generated the rest of his income from lucrative endorsement deals with giant companies such as Nike and San Miguel Beer among others.

De la Hoya is 13th on the list in a tie with baseball star Alex Rodriguez. They both made $32 million.

Despite being sidelined for eight months due to a knee injury, golfing phenomenon Tiger Woods stayed as the best paid sportsman for the eighth straight year with $110 million the past year.

“Woods’ knee injury caused his prize money to drop to $5 million from $25 million, but his overall earnings only fell $5 million thanks to an expansion of Woods’ non-playing financial empire,” stated Forbes.com.

Los Angeles Lakers’ top gun Kobe Bryant, NBA legend Michael Jordan and Formula One daredevil Kimi Raikkonen shared the second spot with $45 million.

Bryant recently piloted the Lakers to their 15th NBA championship, his fourth overall with the LA franchise. Aside from his $21 million salary with the Lakers, the ‘Black Mamba’ also ammassed huge sum of money from endorsing Nike, Upper Deck, Activision and VitaminWater.

Jordan, though already retired as a player, remained as the most popular athlete in the US.

Aside from being part owner of Charlotte Bobcats, the Jordan Brand is approaching $1 billion in sales for Nike.

Although he finished just third in the F1 World Championships last year, Raikkonen stayed as the highest earner among F1 drivers.

Fifth on the list is football great David Beckham with $42 million. At ninth is motorcycle racing superstar Valentino Rossi with $35 million followed by NASCAR’s most popular driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. with $34 million.

Rounding up the 20 highest-paid athletes in the world are tennis wonder Roger Federer and NBA celebrity Shaquille O’Neal both with $33 million, golf prodigy Vijay Singh with $31 million, NBA icon Kevin Garnett, NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon, soccer star Rolandinho, and baseball hero Derek Jeter with $30 million. – THE FREEMAN