2. LeBron James
James is the “king” of American sports stars when it comes to earnings. James, who led the Cleveland Cavaliers to the 2016 NBA championship in dramatic fashion while coming back from a 3-1 deficit against the Warriors, earned $86.2 million in 2017, with $55 million coming from endorsements.
UPDATE: LeBron James was the highest-paid American athlete for the 2017 year—and now, he could end up as the highest-paid athlete in the world down the line at some point. James has signed a four-year, $153.3 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, meaning he’ll be in the entertainment capital of the world for the time being. Could he leap over Ronaldo in the future? Only time will tell.
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