Highest-paid Olympians at Tokyo 2020 revealed with Naomi Osaka, Novak Djokovic and Rory McIlroy – but who is No1?
BASKETBALL stars dominate the list of highest-paid athletes as the Tokyo 2020 Olympics gets underway.
According to a study by Forbes, five of the top nine earners going to the Games will represent the United States in their quest for a 16th gold medal in the men's tournament.
A squad of NBA stars will begin the defence of their crown on Sunday with Kevin Durant out to break the Olympic record for points scored.
Just 26 points will take the 32-year-old past Carmelo Anthony's all-time best and further boost the profile of one of sport's highest-paid stars.
Double Olympic and NBA champion Durant's earnings between May 2020 and May 2021 topped £54million, the most of any athlete in Tokyo.
In second at £43m is tennis player Naomi Osaka, who at 23 is fast turning into one of the most well-known athletes around the globe.
Endorsements from the likes of Google and Louis Vuitton have boosted her profile further, as would a first Olympic medal when she battles world No1 Ashleigh Barty in Tokyo.
FILM STAR
Separating Osaka from fourth-placed Novak Djokovic is Damian Lillard with a year's takings of £29.5m.
The Portland Trailblazers basketball ace boasts his own shoe line with Adidas as part of a £72m, ten-year deal signed in 2014 – plus a role in the new film, Space Jam: A New Legacy.
Djokovic, 34, is certainly one of Serbia's best hopes for an Olympic medal this summer.
The tennis champ's £25m earnings in the past year arrived via deals with the likes of Lacoste and Peugeot, although he has fared poorly at the Games since his 2008 bronze.
Rory McIlroy is the fifth highest-earning Olympian after a year of getting paid £23m, ahead of representing Ireland.
A role in founding the subscription service GolfPass has helped the Belfast-born player's coffers.
HOME HERO
Tied for sixth place on £22m are basketball player Devin Booker and Japanese tennis ace Kei Nishikori.
At 24, Booker is one of the youngest names on the list having helped the unfancied Phoenix Suns to the NBA final – bagging him sponsorship deals with Nike and Call of Duty.
While Nishikori, 31, will be one of the big home favourites at the 2020 Olympics, with most of his earnings coming via Japanese brands.
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Rounding off the top nine are basketball stars Khris Middleton, on £19.5m, and Jrue Holiday, on £16.5m.
Middleton has just won the NBA championship with Milwaukee Bucks, who handed him a new £130m, five-year contract in 2019.
And Holiday is the other Bucks player on the US roster in Tokyo, and is signed to deals with Nike, Microsoft, Panini, and more.
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