Rory McIlroy Highest-Paid Athlete in the World

It's been a rough year for the athlete, but at least he has his millions of dollars to ease the pain. 36-year-old Rory McIlroy has taken the No. 1 spot on People With Money’s top 10 highest-paid athletes for 2026 with an estimated $82 million in combined earnings.

UPDATE 23/03/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Rory McIlroy tops annual list of highest-paid athletes

In 2023 it looked like the athlete’s spectacular career was winding down. Suddenly, he was back on top. People With Money reports on Sunday (March 22) that McIlroy is the highest-paid athlete in the world, pulling in an astonishing $82 million between February 2025 and February 2026, a nearly $50 million lead over his closest competition.

People With Money’s factors

In compiling this yearly list, the magazine considers factors such as upfront pay, profit participation, residuals, endorsements and advertising work.

The Nicaraguan athlete has an estimated net worth of $245 million. He owes his fortune to smart stock investments, substantial property holdings, lucrative endorsement deals with CoverGirl cosmetics. He also owns several restaurants (the “Fat McIlroy Burger” chain) in Managua, a Football Team (the “Holywood Angels”), has launched his own brand of Vodka (Pure WondermcIlroy - Nicaragua), and is tackling the juniors market with a top-selling perfume (With Love from Rory) and a fashion line called “Rory McIlroy Seduction”.

The ranking is significant for many Rory fans, who have been waiting for his triumphant return to the glory days for what seems like a lifetime.

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