Just scrolled through the list of the world's richest athletes and I have to say, the numbers are wild. Michael Jordan leads with $3.6 billion — the man still makes a ton through branding even after his active career.

What surprised me: Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are in the top 5 of the world's richest athletes, but LeBron and Tiger Woods have also made a lot of money. The wealth doesn't just come from player contracts but much more from investments and endorsements.

The entire list actually shows that the really big names in sports achieve true wealth. Roger Federer, David Beckham, Lewis Hamilton — all of them understand how to monetize their brand. It's also interesting that many are from the USA, but the richest athletes in the world are spread internationally.

Note: The figures are estimates and rounded; unfortunately, some are no longer with us. Source: Celebrity Net Worth