#1 Roger Federer
Earnings: $54.3 million
Federer tied a record with his seventh Wimbledon singles crown this month. The win elevated him to the No. 1 ranking in the world, where he broke the record for most weeks ranked No. 1 in a career, which was previously held by Pete Sampras at 286. Federer won a gold medal in doubles at the 2008 Beijing Games.
#2 LeBron James
Earnings: $53 million
James is on top of the world after capturing his first NBA title and third MVP award. He is the NBA's biggest endorsement star, thanks to deals with Nike, McDonald's, Coca-Cola, State Farm and Dunkin' Donuts. James is appearing in his third Olympics for the U.S.
#3 Kobe Bryant
Earnings: $52.3 million
Bryant's $25.2 million salary during the 2011-12 season was shaved by almost $5 million after the NBA lockout reduced the number of games by 20%. His jersey was the NBA's top seller in China, Europe and Latin America during the 2011-12 season. Bryant is the old man of the U.S. team roster at 33 years old--four years older than any of his teammates. Bryant averaged 15 points a game during the 2008 Olympics.
#4 Maria Sharapova
Earnings: $27.1 million
Sharapova earned $5.1 million in prize money over the past 12-months as she racked up four tournament wins, including a French Open title that completed a career Grand Slam. She earns four times that off the court from appearances and sponsors Evian, Head, Nike, Samsung and Tag Heuer. This will be Sharapova's first Olympics and she will be the first woman to ever carry the flag for Russia in the opening ceremonies.
#5 Kevin Durant
Earnings: $25.5 million
The three-time NBA scoring champ just finished the first year of his five-year, $85 million contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder. His seven-year deal with Nike generates the bulk of his $13 million annual off-court income. Other partners include Sprint, Gatorade, Panini, General Electric and 2K Sports. This is Durant's first Olympics.
#6 Carmelo Anthony
Earnings: $22.9 million
Anthony's three-year contract with the New York Knicks is worth $61 million. The deal includes a player option in year four worth $24 million. He makes about $8 million a year from endorsements, primarily from Nike's Jordan brand. London will be Anthony's third Olympics.
#7 Usain Bolt
Earnings: $20.3 million
Bolt is expected to be the biggest star of the 2012 Summer Olympics after his triple gold 2008 Olympic performance that saw him set world records in the 100 and 200 meter sprint events. Bolt earns the bulk of his income through endorsements and sponsor bonuses for record race times. Partners include Gatorade, Hublot, Nissan Motor and Visa, but his biggest sponsorship deal is with Puma, which pays about $9 million annually.
#8 Novak Djokovic
Earnings: $19.8 million
Djokovic had one of the most successful years in the history of tennis in 2011. He won three Grand Slam titles and a record $12.6 million in prize money. Djokovic signed a new clothing deal with Japan's Uniglo in May after parting ways with Sergio Tacchini. Djokovic captured a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
#9 Chris Paul
Earnings: $19.2 million
Paul's profile soared with his move from New Orleans to Los Angeles in a December trade to the Clippers. He led the team to its best record in franchise history. His sponsors include: Nike's Jordan brand, Jeep, Powerade and Upper Deck. Paul led the 2008 U.S. Olympic team in assists.
#10 Li Na
Earnings: $18.4 million
Li's 2011 French Open title made her the first Asian-born tennis player ever to win a Grand Slam singles event. Despite the sluggish overall sponsorship market, she signed seven multimillion-dollar endorsement deals after the historic win. Li shills for Babolat, Haagan-Daaz, Nike, Samsung, Mercedes and multiple Chinese companies. This will be Li's third Olympics as she represented China in 2000 at the age of 18 and again in 2008.
