Forbes 100 top-earning athletes 2018 contains NO women for the first time ever
Serena Williams was the only woman to appear in the list in 2017, but dropped out this year after missing most of the tennis season due to the birth of her daughter
THE giant gender pay gap in sport was highlighted when Forbes released its annual rich list for athletes on Tuesday - with ZERO women making the top 100.
American tennis star Serena Williams was the only female to appear in 2017, but she missed much of this season to give birth to her daughter and dropped off the list.
Boxing megastar Floyd Mayweather was top of the list again with his £212million ($285m) fortune far greater than any other athlete on the list.
The 41-year-old American boxer was reportedly paid £75m ($100m) to make his final return last June, when he beat Conor McGregor in Las Vegas.
Football's top two earners , Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, are next on the list with the Barcelona star edging out his Real Madrid rival by £2.24m ($3m).
Messi's fortune amounts to £82.84m ($111m) while Ronaldo, winner of this year's Ballon d'Or, is at £80.6m ($108m).
Top 10 highest paid athletes
- Floyd Mayweather - £212.7m (boxing)
- Lionel Messi - £82.84m (football)
- Cristiano Ronaldo - £80.6m (football)
- Conor McGregor - £73.88m (MMA)
- Neymar - £67.17m (football)
- LeBron James - £63.81m (basketball)
- Roger Federer - £57.61m (tennis)
- Stephen Curry - £57.39m (basketball)
- Matt Ryan - £50.67m (American football)
- Matthew Stafford - £44.4m (American football)
Britain's highest paid athlete remains the same, with Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton in pole position again. He is said to be worth £38.06m ($51m).
Hamilton could be surpassed by Britain's boxing sensation Anthony Joshua by next year, although the world champion is currently 25th on the list.
Former world No1 golfer Rory McIlroy is just behind Joshua while fellow the two other Britains in the list are from the footballing world.
Real Madrid's Gareth Bale is 35th while Wayne Rooney is 58th.
