Tyson Knocks Down Biggest Of Big Bucks Boxer Shatters Earnings Record For An Athlete, Magazine Reports

Forget those big-money contracts in baseball, basketball, football and hockey. Boxer Mike Tyson fought just three times in 1996 and, according to Forbes Magazine, earned $75 million, more money in one year than any athlete ever.

Tyson knocked NBA star Michael Jordan out of the top spot in the Forbes Super 40 list of highest paid athletes announced Sunday.

However, Jordan, No. 1 for four straight years, could be poised for a comeback in 1997. His $30 million contract - the largest one-year salary in sports history - will factor in more next year.

Then there is box office, merchandise and video income from his movie “Space Jam,” that could push his earnings past $100 million for next year. Forbes computes Jordan’s 1996 income at $52.6 million, $12.6 in salary and $40 million from other sources such as endorsements.

German auto racer Michael Schumacher, who was paid $25 million to drive for Ferrari’s Formula One team and made another $8 million in other income, is No. 3. Shaquille O’Neal, who signed a $120 million free agent contract with the Los Angeles Lakers last summer, moved up from No. 5 to No. 4 with his total income computed at $24.4 million.

Emmitt Smith is the highest paid football player at No. 5 with $16.5 million, $13 million of it from the Dallas Cowboys.

The list includes nine basketball players, seven boxers, six football players, five baseball players, four auto racers, four golfers, three tennis players and two hockey players.

Smith is one of a dozen athletes new to the list for 1996.

Total income for the Forbes Super 40 went up 13 percent this year.