The 10 highest-earning American athletes

These players have hit a level of income surpassing what they actually make playing their sport. Michael Jordan even after his second retirement still makes an unbelievable income from his market ability! What makes the number one players never end up in bankruptcy court? The ability to surround themselves with a good supporting cast! No matter how much money you make, if you manage your income well you can and have a good supporting cast, anything is possible! These guys just proved it...
1

Tiger Woods

Pro Golf
Last Year's Rank: 1
$22,902,706
$105,000,000
$127,902,706
With close to $800 million in total earnings on and off the course over his 13-year career, Tiger should become the first billion-dollar athlete in the next two years -- and he's still only 32.
2

Phil Mickelson

Pro Golf
Last Year's Rank: 3
$9,372,685
$53,000,000
$62,372,685
Lefty's numbers jump thanks to an extra $2 million in FedEx Cup points in '07 and lucrative appearance fees for his first participation on the Asian Tour in Singapore and Shanghai.
3

LeBron James

Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA)
Last Year's Rank: 6
$12,455,000
$28,000,000
$40,455,000
King James has earned $167 million during his five seasons in the NBA, and has his eyes on serious entrepreneurship: He counts billionaire Warren Buffett as a role model and friend.
4

Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Boxing
Last Year's Rank: 22
$20,000,000
$20,250,000
$40,250,000
It's been a monster year for Pretty Boy, who made $20 million in purse and pay-per-view shares for his fight with Ricky Hatton and another $20 million for his foray into professional wrestling.
5

Kobe Bryant

Los Angeles Lakers (NBA)
Last Year's Rank: 5
$19,490,625
$16,000,000
$35,490,625
How's that for a change of tune? He once criticized his teammates; last month Bryant bought each of them $9,000 Swiss watches as a thank you for helping him win his first MVP award.
6

Shaquille O'Neal

Phoenix Suns (NBA)
Last Year's Rank: 4
$20,000,000
$15,000,000
$35,000,000
Shaq finally unloaded his 2.5-acre Miami estate last fall after having it on the market for more than two years. The buyer? Miami-native (and No. 7) A-Rod, for a reported $27 million.
7

Alex Rodriguez

New York Yankees (MLB)
Last Year's Rank: 11
$29,000,000
$6,000,000
$35,000,000
Assuming A-Rod plays out his new mammoth 10-year, $275 million deal, he'll have earned $445 million in base salary alone over the course of what would be a 24-year career.
8

Kevin Garnett

Boston Celtics (NBA)
Last Year's Rank: 7
$22,000,000
$9,000,000
$31,000,000
KG is the highest-paid of the Celtics' Big Three; at a total of $56.1 million in salary this season, the trio makes up 74 percent of the Eastern Conference champs' entire payroll in '07-08.
9

Peyton Manning

Indianapolis Colts (NFL)
Last Year's Rank: 12
$17,500,000
$13,000,000
$30,500,000
Hide the Lombardi Trophy. Football's leading endorser is still king of NFL pitchmen, but little bro Eli -- with whom he now regularly shares screen time in TV ads -- is creeping up fast.
10

Derek Jeter

New York Yankees (MLB)
Last Year's Rank: 8
$22,000,000
$8,000,000
$30,000,000
The Yankee captain cut a deal with the tax man in February that allowed him to avoid paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in back taxes on his $13 million Trump World Tower condo.
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