MS Dhoni is 23rd among Forbes List of highest paid athletes

Indian Cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been ranked at 23rd position in Forbes’ List of 100 highest paid athletes in the world. He is the only Indian sportsman on the list. The top position is maintained by American boxer Floyd Mayweather with earnings of $300 million. The list includes star players like golfer Tiger Woods, tennis star Roger Federer and Portuguese soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo. In 2014, Dhoni was placed at 22nd position. MSD’s total earnings stood at $31 million, including amount from salary/winnings at $4 million and endorsements worth $27 million.

The earnings figures include salaries, prize money and bonuses paid out between June 2014 and June 2015.  Only two women made the 2015 Forbes list after the retirement of Chinese tennis player Li Na last year. Russian professional tennis player Maria Sharapova is the top-ranked women at number 26 with earnings of $29.7 million. American tennis player Serena Williams earned $24.6 million and ranks number 47 on the list.

Pacquiao ranks second on the list with total earnings of $160 million followed by Real Madrid’s Ronaldo with earnings of $79.6 million.

Federer ranks fifth with earnings of $67 million, including $58 million from sponsors, exhibitions and appearance fees.