Lewis Hamilton is the most affluent active sports star in Rich List history with a £224 million (Dh1.004bn) fortune, according to the latest annual figures published by the Sunday Times.
Formula One world champion Hamilton's wealth rose by £37m over the past year, thanks to a lucrative ongoing contract with Mercedes, taking him past the £200m mark boasted by David Beckham at the time of his retirement in 2013.
Golfer Rory McIlroy is the only other sports star to make the main Rich List rankings. His fortune rise by £32m to £170m on the back of a return to form and a series of sponsorship deals.
Real Madrid star Gareth Bale and boxer Anthony Joshua – who posted the biggest individual increase in wealth over the past 12 months after his lucrative world heavyweight title rematch win over Andy Ruiz Jr in Saudi Arabia – are among the leading names for sportsmen under 30 years old.
Robert Watts, compiler of the Rich List, said: “Being the best in the world at what you do is well rewarded in any business or profession. Sport is no different, as this year’s Rich List shows once again.
“On the face of it these sports stars are very different to the entrepreneurs and other business leaders who dominate.
"But the biggest names in golf, boxing, motor racing and football have that same capacity for hard work, discipline and sacrifice – that ability to keep pushing when many of us would take a breather.”
British sport's top earners are in the gallery above, in reverse order. To see the next picture, just swipe.
