Conor McGregor tops Forbes’ Athletes Rich List for the FIRST time ever edging out Lionel Messi

Conor McGregor has been crowned as sport’s highest-paid athlete for the first time ever by Forbes ahead of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, and he has his ventures outside of the Octagon to thank.

McGregor made a gigantic £127million over the last 12 months which have been plagued by the Covid pandemic, including £112m outside the Octagon thanks mainly to him selling out the remaining stake in his Proper 12 whiskey company.

The Irish UFC star pipped six-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi to top spot with the Barcelona star having raked in £92m over the last year.

Conor McGregor was crowned No 1 on Forbes’ Highest Paid Athletes list for the first time ever

The Argentine international, who has been in the spotlight for much of the last 12 months after trying to leave Barcelona last year while his mega-money contract came to light, set a record for football players with his total of £92m. 

Messi’s great football rival Ronaldo, currently playing for Juventus, comes in at third on the list having earned £85m.

McGregor, as well as selling his whiskey company, also came up trumps thanks to his endorsements, adding DraftKings, video game Dystopia: Contest of Heroes, and the lifestyle brand Roots of Fight to his growing portfolio.

It represents only the third time ever that an athlete has raked in more than £49.5m from outside the sport while competing, following in the footsteps of Tiger Woods and Roger Federer.

McGregor is the first UFC star to have topped the yearly Forbes list, and the first Irishman to do so.

NFL quarterback Dak Prescott (£76m) and NBA great LeBron James (£68m) make up the rest of the top five on Forbes’ Rich List. 

Neymar earned £67m and comes in at No 6, while Roger Federer – who topped the list last year – is one further back in seventh after making £64m.

Meanwhile, seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton stands at eighth after making £58m over the past 12 months. 

The top 10 on Forbes’ Rich List concludes with NFL icon Tom Brady, who added a seventh Super Bowl to his list of achievements, coming in at No 9 with £54m and NBA star Kevin Durant bringing in £53m. 

In fact McGregor, Messi, Ronaldo and Prescott join only five other athletes – Federer, Floyd Mayweather, Neymar, Manny Pacquaio and Woods – to have made more than £71m ($100m) in a single year.

Previously the most £71m+plus earners to appear on one list was three, which was accomplished in 2018, 2019 and 2020. 

More to follow…