Floyd Mayweather, nicknamed "Money," has raked in $300 million (£194 million) in the past 12 months to top the Forbes list.
Money's money —
Floyd Mayweather, nicknamed "Money," has raked in $300 million (£194 million) in the past 12 months to top the Forbes list.
Al Bello/Getty Images
Manny Pacquiao's $160m haul took him from 11th last year to second this time.
Manny's money —
Manny Pacquiao's $160m haul took him from 11th last year to second this time.
AP Photo/Bullit Marquez
Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo made $79.6m over the last 12 months.
Madrid's highest-paid —
Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo made $79.6m over the last 12 months.
Denis Doyle/Getty Images
Lionel Messi, who led Barcelona to a trophy treble of the La Liga title, Spanish Cup and Champions League, made $22m of his total $73.8m earnings from off-pitch deals.
Triple celebration —
Lionel Messi, who led Barcelona to a trophy treble of the La Liga title, Spanish Cup and Champions League, made $22m of his total $73.8m earnings from off-pitch deals.
Alex Caparros/Getty Images
Tennis legend Roger Federer made $67m, $58m of it from sponsorship deals with firms including Nike and Rolex.
Federer's finances —
Tennis legend Roger Federer made $67m, $58m of it from sponsorship deals with firms including Nike and Rolex.
Julian Finney/Getty Images
Basketball star LeBron James ($64.8m) occupies sixth place.
Basketball's best —
Basketball star LeBron James ($64.8m) occupies sixth place.
Fellow basketball star Kevin Durant ($54.1m) is in seventh place.
Magnificent seventh —
Fellow basketball star Kevin Durant ($54.1m) is in seventh place.
Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Phil Mickelson, of the United States, made $50.8m. He's pictured in action during the 2015 Masters at Augusta.
In the swing of things —
Phil Mickelson, of the United States, made $50.8m. He's pictured in action during the 2015 Masters at Augusta.
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Tiger Woods was ninth on the list, despite a wretched run of form on the course, with $600,000 of his $50.6m coming from golf earnings.<br />
Tigerish persistence —
Tiger Woods was ninth on the list, despite a wretched run of form on the course, with $600,000 of his $50.6m coming from golf earnings.
Kobe Bryant's $64.8m haul included $23.5m in salary and winnings.
Basketball haul —
Kobe Bryant's $64.8m haul included $23.5m in salary and winnings.
Russia Maria Sharapova is the highest placed of only two women on the list, with her $29.7m putting her in 26th.
Sharapova shines —
Russia Maria Sharapova is the highest placed of only two women on the list, with her $29.7m putting her in 26th.
MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP/Getty Images
Serena Williams poses on court after triumphing in the 2015 French Open final in Paris. Her 20th Grand Slam title put her earnings for the 12 months at $24.6m, leaving her 47th on the Forbes list.
Parisian style —
Serena Williams poses on court after triumphing in the 2015 French Open final in Paris. Her 20th Grand Slam title put her earnings for the 12 months at $24.6m, leaving her 47th on the Forbes list.
Julian Finney/Getty Images