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Top Ten Highest Paid Athletes Of 2007-08
 1.
Tiger Woods Sport: Golf Estimated Earnings: $115 million Tiger chalked up another monster year on and off the course in 2007. He won his ninth PGA Player of the Year award and a seventh Vardon Trophy (given to the PGA Tour's leader in scoring average) and was the top money winner for the eighth time. |
 2.
David Beckham Sport: Soccer Estimated Earnings: $50 million Coming to America paid off for England's soccer sensation despite the injuries that plagued his first season with the Los Angeles Galaxy. His base salary with the team was only $5.5 million, but that figure more than doubled with his cut of the team's ticket, merchandise and sponsorship revenues. |
 3.
Michael Jordan Sport: Basketball Estimated Earnings: $45 million The Jordan brand is now an $800 million a year (in sales) business for Nike--and the royalty checks from that provide the bulk of Jordan's income. Now he's head of basketball operations for the Charlotte Bobcats. |
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 4.
Phil Mickelson Sport: Golf Estimated Earnings: $45 million Playing in the shadow of Tiger continues to be lucrative work for the world's second-ranked golfer. He won $10 million on the course in the last year and pulled in $35 million from appearances and sponsorship deals. |
 5.
Kimi Raikkonen Sport: Auto Racing Estimated Earnings: $44 million The "Iceman" became the highest-paid driver in Formula One after Ferrari signed him to a three-year deal before the 2007 season. He rewarded Ferrari by winning the Formula One World Driver's Championship. |
 6.
Kobe Bryant Sport: Basketball Estimated Earnings: $39 million Last year the Lakers' shooting guard became the youngest player in NBA history to score 20,000 career points. His endorsements include Sony and Vitamin Water, but his biggest check comes from Nike. |
 7.
Lebron James Sport: Basketball Estimated Earnings: $38 million James added an NBA scoring title and his second All-Star Game MVP award to his list of accolades this season. He also got a boost from a new State Farm Insurance deal and the renewal of one with Coca-Cola. |
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 8.
Ronaldinho Sport: Soccer Estimated Earnings: $37 million The Brazilian soccer star was sold to AC Milan in July for $33 million. The two-time FIFA player of the year maintains lucrative sponsorship deals with Nike and Pepsi-Cola. |
 9.
Valentino Rossi Sport: Motorcycle Racing Estimated Earnings: $35 million Rossi finished 2007 ranked third in the world standings, probably distracted by the Italian tax authorities' investigation into the $160 million in undeclared income. He eventually agreed to pay $53 million in back taxes. |
 10.
Roger Federer Sport: Tennis Estimated Earnings: $35 million The world's top tennis player won $10 million in prize money in 2007--and another three grand slams. He recently signed up for 10 more years with Nike, one of the biggest deals ever for a tennis star. |
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