Jordan Sports’ Richest Basketball Great Earns $43.9 Million; Bledsoe 12th On List At $13.9 Million

Michael Jordan was the top earner among athletes for the fourth consecutive year, increasing his annual income to $43.9 million from $30.01 million.

The Chicago Bulls’ basketball star earned $3.9 million in salary and $40 million in outside income, Forbes estimated in its Dec. 18 issue. The magazine said he earned $36 million in 1993.

Jordan has made $170 million since 1990, the magazine said, and could become the first athlete ever listed in the Forbes 400 of wealthiest people.

Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, out of prison and back in boxing, was second on the list at $40 million - all from winnings. He made $25 million from his one fight and $15 million in signing bonuses.

Deion Sanders, the only two-sport athlete on the list, was third at $22.5 million. The outfielder and cornerback, who was 38th in 1994, made $16.5 million from salary and $6 million in endorsements.

Boxer Riddick Bowe, who wasn’t listed in 1994, was fourth at $22.2 million, followed by basketball’s Shaquille O’Neal at $21.9 million, boxer George Foreman at $18 million and tennis player Andre Agassi at $16 million.

Jack Nicklaus was the top golfer, finishing eighth at $15.1 million, including only $600,000 in winnings.

Auto racer Michael Schumacher was ninth at $15 million and hockey’s Wayne Gretzky 10th at $14.5 million.

Cal Ripken Jr. was the top baseball player, finishing 16th at $11.2 million, including $4 million in endorsement income during the year he broke Lou Gehrig’s streak for consecutive games played.

Last year, the top baseball player was Will Clark, 37th at $5.2 million.

Former Washington State quarterback Drew Bledsoe, now with the New England Patriots, was the top-listed football player, 12th at $13.9 million.

Tennis player Steffi Graf remained the only woman on the list, 30th at $7.5 million.

The list included eight baseball players and eight football players, with Sanders counting for both sports. There were six NBA players, five boxers, five tennis players and four race car drivers.

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: FORBES 40 LIST The 40 athletes who earned the most in 1995, as estimated by Forbes in its Dec. 18 issue. The salary-winnings figure includes salary, prize money and earned incentive bonuses. Endorsements includes licensing money and appearance and exhibition fees. Income from side businesses and equity partnerships is not counted. The magazine does not say how it treats deferred compensation. Figures are in millions.

Name Sport Salary Endorse Total 1. Michael Jordan Basktball 3.9 40.0 43.9 2. Mike Tyson Boxing 40.0 0.0 40.0 3. Deion Sanders Ftbll-Bsbll 16.5 6.0 22.5 4. Riddick Bowe Boxing 22.0 0.2 22.2 5. Shaquille O’Neal Basketball 4.9 17.0 21.9 6. George Foreman Boxing 10.0 8.0 18.0 7. Andre Agassi Tennis 3.0 13.0 16.0 8. Jack Nicklaus Golf 0.6 14.5 15.1 9. Michael Schumacher Auto racng 10.0 5.0 15.0 10. Wayne Gretzky Ice Hockey 8.5 6.0 14.5 11. Arnold Palmer Golf 0.1 14.0 14.1 12. Drew Bledsoe Football 13.2 0.7 13.9 13. Gerhard Berger Auto racng 12.0 1.5 13.5 14. Evander Holyfield Boxing 11.0 2.0 13.0 15. Pete Sampras Tennis 4.7 6.5 11.2 16. Cal Ripken, Jr. Baseball 6.3 4.0 10.3 17. Greg Norman Golf 1.7 8.0 9.7 18. David Robinson Basketball 7.9 1.7 9.6 19. Patrick Ewing Basketball 7.5 2.0 9.5 20. Dale Earnhardt Auto racng 2.4 6.0 8.4 21. Ki-Jana Carter Football 7.9 0.5 8.4 22. Jean Alesi Auto racng 7.0 1.0 8.0 23. Ken Griffey, Jr. Baseball 6.2 1.7 7.9 24. Grant Hill Basketball 2.8 5.0 7.8 25. Frank Thomas Baseball 6.3 1.5 7.8 26. Boris Becker Tennis 3.3 4.5 7.8 27. Hakeem Olajuwon Basketball 5.8 2.0 7.8 28. Michael Chang Tennis 2.6 5.0 7.6 29. Barry Bonds Baseball 6.8 0.7 7.5 30. Steffi Graf Tennis 2.5 5.0 7.5 31. Greg Maddux Baseball 6.8 0.4 7.2 32. Charles Barkley Basketball 4.1 3.0 7.1 33. Pernell Whitaker Boxing 7.0 0.0 7.0 34. Mark Messier Hockey 6.0 1.0 7.0 35. Steve Young Football 4.0 3.0 7.0 36. Joe Carter Baseball 6.5 0.5 7.0 37. Jerry Rice Football 6.0 1.0 7.0 38. Michael Irvin Football 6.2 0.7 6.9 39. Cecil Fielder Baseball 6.4 0.3 6.7 40. Dan Marino Football 4.5 1.7 6.2