Indian team cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is richer than the likes of Usain Bolt, Novak Djokovic and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in the latest list of world’s 100 richest sportspersons, released by the Forbes magazine. According to the list, Dhoni is ranked 31st, higher than multiple Grand Slam winner Djokovic (62nd), sprint king Bolt (63rd) and Master Blaster Tendulkar (78th). Star footballers Wayne Rooney and Fernando Torres are also behind Dhoni in the latest list.
According to a report in The Indian Express, boxing champion Floyd Mayweather topped the list with a total earnings of $85 million while Fillipino pugilist Manny Pacquiao, with earnings of $62 million, and Tiger Woods, with $59.4 million, are second and third. Of his total earnings of 26.5 million, Dhoni earns $23 million through endorsements. Tendulkar has earned $18.6 million with 16.5 m from endorsements.
Interestingly, the Indian captain’s earnings through endorsements is more than the world’s most popular footballer Lionel Messi. Although Messi is 11th in the list with total earnings of $39 million — his earnings from endorsements is$19 million, which is 4 million less than that of Dhoni, says a report in The Times Of India, adding that Manchester United’s star striker Rooney is placed 37th with a total earnings of $24.3 million.
Djokovic from Serbia, winner of six Grand Slams singles titles, is 62nd with $20.6 million, while Olympic 100m champion Usain Bolt is 63rd with total earnings of $20.3 million. Maria Sharapova is the richest among women’s sportspersons at 26th with earnings of $27.9 million.