Which athlete earned the most money from businesses outside of sport in 2022?

Not only is he one of the best tennis players ever born, Roger Federer has also proven to be a very good businessman.

While elite-level athletes typically earn plenty of money before they retire, as sporting careers are generally very physical in nature the length of the career of a professional can be relatively short.

It is, therefore, becoming increasingly necessary for pros to have business interests outside of sport to ensure they can earn an income when it is time to retire.

The following sportspeople are not only among the best in the world at their given discipline, but they have also proven to be very astute businesspeople as well.

Roger Federer's unmatched sponsor portfolio netted him a cool $90 million in 2022 and earned him the title of the world's highest-paid athlete in 2020. Interestingly, Roger Federer made just $0.7 million from his tennis tournament winnings last year. Federer's off-court earnings include a ten-year deal with Uniqlo, earning him $30 million a year. While his off-court earnings are also pretty impressive, his biggest payday may still be on its way. Federer has a stake in Swiss company On, which went public in 2021.

With an estimated net worth of $1 billion, LeBron James is one of the highest-earning athletes of today. Over 2022, James earned $80 million from off-court business ventures and endorsements, taking him to a total lifetime off-court earnings of $900 million. LeBron James has deals with PepsiCo, Walmart, Beats by Dre, and Blaze Pizza, alongside a lifetime sponsor with Nike.

Despite sustaining serious injuries in a car accident in 2021, Woods made a return to competitive golf at the Masters in 2022. While in the hospital, Woods secured a lucrative deal with the PGA Tour 2K video game franchise to add his likeness to the game. Since he began his career in 1996, Woods has earned a massive $1.7 billion from endorsements, appearances, and off-course business endeavours. Woods earned a healthy $68 million off-course in 2022. Woods also has his own signature set of irons, released in 2019.