Kylian Mbappé recently stunned the world with reports of his daily earnings—estimated at over KSh 91 million per day. With such astronomical figures, many ask: Is Mbappé the highest paid athlete in 2025? This article explores the world of elite sports salaries, comparing Mbappé’s income with other top earners across football, basketball, boxing, baseball, and American football.
Kylian Mbappé’s Massive Earnings
In 2025, Mbappé is said to be earning around $90 million annually from his contract and endorsements. That’s over:
- $7.5 million per month
- $1.73 million per week
- $246,000 per day
(Roughly KSh 91 million daily at current exchange rates)
This puts him among the highest-paid footballers in the world, especially after mega-offers from clubs like Al-Hilal and his subsequent move to Real Madrid.
Who Is the Highest Paid Athlete in 2025?
According to the latest Forbes 2025 Highest-Paid Athletes list, Cristiano Ronaldo takes the crown again:
| Rank | Athlete | Sport | Total Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Football | $275 million |
| 2 | Stephen Curry | Basketball | $156 million |
| 3 | Tyson Fury | Boxing | $146 million |
| 4 | Dak Prescott | American Football | $137 million |
| 5 | Lionel Messi | Football | $135 million |
| 6 | LeBron James | Basketball | $133.8 million |
| 7 | Juan Soto | Baseball | $114 million |
| 8 | Karim Benzema | Football | $104 million |
| 9 | Shohei Ohtani | Baseball | $102.5 million |
| 10 | Kevin Durant | Basketball | $101.4 million |
(Source: Forbes 2025 Athlete Rankings)
Per-Day Comparisons
Let’s break it down by daily earnings:
| Athlete | Annual Income | Daily Earnings (USD) | Daily in KSh (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cristiano Ronaldo | $275 million | $753,424 | KSh 111 million |
| Stephen Curry | $156 million | $427,397 | KSh 63 million |
| Tyson Fury | $146 million | $400,000 | KSh 59 million |
| Kylian Mbappé | $90 million | $246,575 | KSh 91 million |
Ronaldo is the only athlete consistently earning more per day than Mbappé, especially due to lucrative sponsorships and commercial deals, including partnerships in Saudi Arabia.
Why Are Some Athletes Paid More?
Several factors influence athlete salaries:
- Commercial Value – Ronaldo and Messi have global brands.
- Contract Type – Some athletes get massive signing bonuses or profit shares.
- Media Rights – Sports like American football and baseball benefit from billion-dollar TV deals.
- Sponsorships – Players like LeBron James and Curry earn millions from Nike and Under Armour.
Mbappé’s earnings are driven largely by club salary, image rights, and personal brand—especially after Saudi clubs entered the transfer market aggressively in recent years.
Is Mbappé Set to Overtake Ronaldo?
With age on his side (Mbappé is just 26), marketing appeal, and performance consistency, he is poised to dominate athlete income rankings in the near future. However, he currently lags behind Cristiano Ronaldo, Stephen Curry, and Tyson Fury in total earnings.
While Kylian Mbappé may earn KSh 91 million per day, he is not the highest paid athlete in 2025. That title still belongs to Cristiano Ronaldo, whose total earnings dwarf all others. Still, Mbappé’s rise signals a shift in power—where youth, brand value, and smart contracts are redefining wealth in sports.
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