Forbes Sets May 2025-May 2026 Window for 2026 Highest-Paid Athletes List

3 articles · Updated · Forbes · May 22

Forbes said its 2026 highest-paid athletes rankings cover income earned from May 1, 2025, to May 1, 2026, based on interviews with dozens of executives, agents and insiders, plus salary databases and news reports.
On-field estimates include salaries, bonuses and prize money rounded to the nearest $100,000, with full-season pay counted when seasons had ended by May 1 and playoff compensation added for the 2025 MLB and NFL seasons and 2024-25 NBA season.
Sport-specific adjustments extend to tennis bonus-pool and profit-sharing payments, Ryder Cup stipends, and LIV Golf guarantees that Forbes generally models as annual installments across 4-year contracts.
Off-field earnings cover 12 months of sponsorships, appearances, licensing and cash business returns through May 1, 2026, rounded to the nearest $500,000, while excluding taxes, agents' fees and investment income such as interest or dividends.

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