The Highest-Paid Athlete Endorsers, 50-26
Need a halftime refresher? No problem! Here are numbers 100-76 and 75-51 of the countdown thus far. This week we keep the countdown rolling with numbers 50-26 of the highest-paid athlete endorsers.
50. Yaya Touré | Premier League | Manchester City Football Club
Yearly Endorsement Earnings: $3,000,000
Twitter Followers: 143,434
Follower Value: $20.92
opendorse reasoning: The Ivory Coast midfielder won consecutive African Footballer of the Year awards in 2011 and 2012. In the 2011-12 season, his dominant midfield play helped Manchester City win their first Premier League title since 1967-68. His Puma endorsement includes an agreement to distribute gear to underprivileged children in Africa.
49. Zlatan Ibrahimović | Ligue 1 | Paris Saint-Germain
Yearly Endorsement Earnings: $3,000,000
Twitter Followers: 212,972
Follower Value: $14.09
opendorse reasoning: This Swedish striker is one of the best finishers in the world. His video game like goals are likely why he was just recently named the new ambassador for Xbox One in France. Zlatan can be seen wearing Nike boots on the pitch thanks to his endorsement with the brand.
48. Russell Westbrook | NBA | Oklahoma City Thunder
Yearly Endorsement Earnings: $3,000,000
Twitter Followers: 1,372,054
Follower Value: $2.19
opendorse reasoning: On the court, this three-time All-Star plays with his own sense of swag which has led to endorsements with Jordan Brand and Foot Locker. Off the court, Westbrook’s original sense of style has led to endorsement deals with Levi’s and boxer-brief company Kings & Jaxs.
47. Pau Gasol | NBA | Los Angeles Lakers
Yearly Endorsement Earnings: $3,000,000
Twitter Followers: 2,351,792
Follower Value: $1.28
opendorse reasoning: Gasol has become one of the most decorated European NBA players having won two NBA Championships, Rookie of the Year in 2002 and being selected to four All-Star Games. When he isn’t carving up defenses, the former medical student spends time assisting surgeries for Dr. David Skaggs. He has endorsements with Nike, EA Sports and Banco Popular in Spain.
46. Chris Paul | NBA | Los Angeles Clippers
Yearly Endorsement Earnings: $3,000,000
Twitter Followers: 2,620,224
Follower Value: $1.14
opendorse reasoning: Paul plays a smart, intelligent and prepared game. In response, State Farm capitalized on his accountability and responsibility traits and his assist first style of play by utilizing Chris and twin brother Cliff to be the face of their “Born to Assist” campaign. Paul also has endorsements with Jordan Brand, Upper Deck, Jeep and Right Guard.
45. Wayne Rooney | Premier League | Manchester United
Yearly Endorsement Earnings: $3,000,000
Twitter Followers: 7,590,669
Follower Value: $0.40
opendorse reasoning: With Rooney on the squad, Manchester United has won the Premier League five times, one FIFA Club World Cup and the UEFA Champions League in 2007-08. His jersey is the top seller in the Premier League over the past 20 years. Watching this amazing goal never gets old. Rooney has endorsements with Nike and EA Sports.
44. Virender Sehwag | ODI | India
Yearly Endorsement Earnings: $4,100,000
Twitter Followers: 2,254,604
Follower Value: $1.82
opendorse reasoning: Sehwag is the best opener in cricket. He holds the record for the most runs made in an inning (319) by an Indian player in Test cricket as well as the record for the most runs made in an inning in ODI with 219. “Veru” has endorsements with Fila, Hero MotoCorp and Royal Challenge.
43. Steven Gerrard | Premier League | Liverpool Football Club
Yearly Endorsement Earnings: $5,000,000
Twitter Followers: Not currently on Twitter
Follower Value: N/A
opendorse reasoning: Gerrard has played his entire career with Liverpool and is the captain of England’s national team. This midfielder has been described as a “tireless runner” making his endorsement with Jaguar seem fitting. His largest endorsement deal is with Adidas.
42. Didier Drogba | Süper Lig | Galatasaray S.K.
Yearly Endorsement Earnings: $5,000,000
Twitter Followers: Not currently on Twitter
Follower Value: N/A
opendorse reasoning: While playing for Chelsea, Didier scored more goals than any other foreign player, and is fourth on the club’s all-time list of goal scorers. In 2012, Chelsea fans voted the Ivory Coast national team captain as the club’s greatest player ever. Drogba is an ambassador for the Truth, Reconciliation and Dialogue Commission which aims to help return peace to his home nation. His involvement led to Drogba being named as one of the world’s 100 most influential people by Time magazine. In 2009, Drogba donated his £3 million signing bonus with Pepsi to help build a hospital in his hometown of Abidjan. He also has endorsements with Nike and Konami.
41. Wladimir Klitschko | Boxing
Yearly Endorsement Earnings: $5,000,000
Twitter Followers: 117,084
Follower Value: $42.70
opendorse reasoning: The Ukrainian is the second longest reigning heavyweight champion of all-time and has the third most successful heavyweight title defenses. In 2002 and 2007, Wladimir and his brother, Vitali, were recognized for their efforts with “Sport for Good”, promoting social change through the power of sport. Wladimir has earned a Ph.D. in Sports Science from Kiev University and is the only boxing champion ever to hold a Ph.D. degree. He is a popular endorser in Europe, with his largest deals coming from Mercedes-Benz and Warsteiner.
40. Sergio Aguero | Premier League | Manchester City
Yearly Endorsement Earnings: $5,000,000
Twitter Followers: 4,805,140
Follower Value: $1.04
opendorse reasoning: On the last day of the 2012 season, Aguero scored a goal in the 94th minute against Queens Park Rangers which clinched Manchester City’s first league title in 44 years. In that same year, fans voted him Manchester City’s Player of the Year. He wears “Kun Aguero” on the back of his jersey because his grandparents nicknamed him “Kun,” due to his resemblance to “Kun Kun,” a character from Aguero’s favorite childhood show. Aguero has endorsements with Puma and Pepsi.
39. Tony Stewart | NASCAR Sprint Cup Series | Stewart-Haas Racing
Yearly Endorsement Earnings: $6,000,000
Twitter Followers: 0
Follower Value: Not Available
opendorse reasoning: Stewart holds three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championships (2002, 2005 and 2011), as well as an Indy Racing League Championship. He became the first driver/team owner to win a championship since 1992. Stewart has endorsements with Bass Pro Shops, Oakley, Mobil 1 and Coca-Cola.
38. Ichiro Suzuki | MLB | New York Yankees
Yearly Endorsement Earnings: $6,000,000
Twitter Followers: Not currently on Twitter
Follower Value: N/A
opendorse reasoning: Ichiro is one of the best hitters in the history of baseball. He set the MLB record for hits in a single season with 262. He also has 10 consecutive years with 200 or more hits in a season; another MLB record. Because of his hitting, Ichiro’s defense sometimes goes forgotten, even though he has won 10 Gold Glove Awards. His success has been credited for opening the door for many other Japanese players. Most of his endorsements are with Japanese brands such as Yunker energy drinks and brokerage firm Nikko Coridal.
37. Jeff Gordon | NASCAR Sprint Cup Series | Hendrick Motorsports
Yearly Endorsement Earnings: $6,000,000
Twitter Followers: 473,090
Follower Value: $12.68
opendorse reasoning: Gordon has amounted the most wins in NASCAR’s modern era. He has won the Daytona 500 three times and is a four-time Sprint Cup Champion. He has endorsements with Pepsi and General Motors. Gordon also has an endorsement deal with DuPont, which constructs the elastomer used to make DVX Sun and Safety Sunglasses; another one of Gordon’s endorsements.
36. Aaron Rodgers | NFL | Green Bay Packers
Yearly Endorsement Earnings: $6,000,000
Twitter Followers: 1,099,727
Follower Value: $5.46
opendorse reasoning: In 2011, Rodgers brought another Super Bowl home to “Titletown, USA” while also receiving Super Bowl MVP honors. He has three Pro Bowl selections and was named NFL MVP in 2011. Rodgers is one of the highest paid Nike endorsers and his Discount Double Check commercials with State Farm have been a huge hit.
35. Kaká | Serie A | Milan
Yearly Endorsement Earnings: $6,000,000
Twitter Followers: 17,412,765
Follower Value: $0.34
opendorse reasoning: In 2007, Kaká was voted FIFA World Player of the Year; beating out Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The Brazilian midfielder has the second most Twitter followers of any athlete in the world! His largest endorsement is with Adidas and he also has a modeling contract with Armani.
34. Shaun White | X-Games & Olympics
Yearly Endorsement Earnings: $7,000,000
Twitter Followers: 1,220,634
Follower Value: $5.73
opendorse reasoning: “The Flying Tomato” has two Olympic gold medals, 10 ESPY Awards and 15 X-Games Gold Medals under his belt. As a snowboarder and skateboarder, Shaun has won the most gold medals and has the highest overall medal count in X-Games history. He has endorsements with Target, Burton, Hewlett-Packard, Oakley, Red Bull, GoPro, Ubisoft and Adio. Shaun White is one of the most authentic endorsers, allowing his endorsements to resonate with his target audience as consistently as he lands some of the most difficult tricks. Just take a ride down the slopes with him and his GoPro endorsed camera and you will see what we mean.
33. Eli Manning | NFL | New York Giants
Yearly Endorsement Earnings: $7,000,000
Twitter Followers: 0
Follower Value: Not Available
opendorse reasoning: Eli won two Super Bowls and was named Super Bowl MVP in each of those games. His endorsements are amongst the funniest of any athlete, allowing him to add an authentic touch to his endorsements. For example, check out Eli and brother Peyton in this DirecTV ad. Eli also has endorsements with Reebok, DirecTV, Citizen Watch Co., Samsung and Toyota.
32. Tom Brady | NFL | New England Patriots
Yearly Endorsement Earnings: $7,000,000
Twitter Followers: 0
Follower Value: Not Available
opendorse reasoning: Brady has led the Patriots to five Super Bowls, winning three of those. The 2000 sixth round draft pick has earned two NFL MVP’s, eight Pro Bowls, two Super Bowl MVP’s and was named Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year in 2005. Brady’s success and style have led to endorsements with UGG, Under Armour and Dodge.
31. Jimmie Johnson | NASCAR Sprint Cup Series | Hendrick Motorsports
Yearly Endorsement Earnings: $7,000,000
Twitter Followers: 502,989
Follower Value: $13.92
opendorse reasoning: Johnson is a six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion and a two-time Daytona 500 winner. In 2009, he became the first driver to win the Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year. At only 38 years old, Johnson has already cemented himself as one of the best drivers in NASCAR history. JJ has endorsements with Gatorade and of course Lowe’s and Chevrolet.
30. Amar’e Stoudemire | NBA | New York Knicks
Yearly Endorsement Earnings: $7,000,000
Twitter Followers: 960,667
Follower Value: $7.29
opendorse reasoning: Stoudemire is a six-time NBA All-Star and currently plays in one of the most high profile cities in the world. Off the court, he signed a contract with Scholastic Press to write a series of children’s books. His largest endorsement is with Nike. Amar’e also has endorsements with Sheets Brand Energy and ZICO coconut water.
29. Dwight Howard | NBA | Houston Rockets
Yearly Endorsement Earnings: $7,000,000
Twitter Followers: 4,610,359
Follower Value: $1.52
opendorse reasoning: Howard is a defensive force having been named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team four times. He is a two-time NBA blocks leader, a five- time NBA rebounding leader and a seven-time NBA All-Star. At the 2008 NBA Slam Dunk contest, “Superman” took flight and entertained the crowd en route to winning the contest. Court vision is important in basketball which is why Howard wears and endorses Acuvue contacts. The big man also has endorsements with Adidas and Gatorade.
28. Venus Williams | Women’s Tennis Association
Yearly Endorsement Earning: $8,000,000
Twitter Followers: 1,048,864
Follower Value: $7.63
opendorse reasoning: Venus has five Wimbledon, one French Open, one Australian Open and five U.S. Open titles. Together with her sister Serena, she has won 13 Grand Slam doubles titles. Venus has been ranked World No. 1 on three separate occasions and is considered one of the greatest female tennis players ever. In 2009, Forbes ranked her number 77 on their list of the Top 100 Most Powerful Celebrities. Venus has her own clothing line, EleVen. Her sense of style has also led to an endorsement deal with interior design firm V-Starr. She also has endorsements with Wilson and Jamba Juice.
27. Manny Pacquiao | Boxing
Yearly Endorsement Earnings: $8,000,000
Twitter Followers: 1,111,864
Follower Value: $7.20
opendorse reasoning: Pacquiao is the first and only fighter to win titles in eight different weight divisions. The Boxing Writers Association of America named Manny Fighter of the Year three times and Fighter of the Decade for the 2000’s. In 2010, Pacquiao was elected to the House of Representatives in the 15th Congress of the Philippines, where he represents the province of Sarangani. “Pac-Man” has endorsements with Nike, Hennessey and Hewlett Packard.
26. Derek Jeter | MLB | New York Yankees
Yearly Endorsement Earnings: $9,000,000
Twitter Followers: Not currently on Twitter
Follower Value: N/A
opendorse reasoning: The Yankee’s captain has done it all throughout his career piling up five World Series championships, 13 All-Star selections and five Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Awards. He is the most recognizable baseball player over the last 15 years and the sport’s top endorser as well. Jeter has long standing endorsements with Nike, Gatorade, Movado, Avon, Ford, Rawlings and 24 Hour Fitness.
End of 3rd Quarter
We’ve made it through the first three quarters of the countdown. Next week we will finish the countdown with numbers 25-1 of the highest earning athlete endorsers.
Until then, you can sign up for free with opendorse and start creating your own athlete endorsements!
