Floyd ‘The Money Man’ Mayweather has done it again. Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao topped Forbes list of the world’s 100 highest-paid celebrities released yesterday, on the heels of their lucrative boxing clash in Las Vegas few weeks ago.
With an estimated $300 million in earnings over the past 12 months, Mayweather more than lived up to his nickname “Money” and was the undisputed champion. Pacquiao was second, making $160 million over the past 12 months.
Their final earnings from the May 2 bout, which Mayweather won by unanimous decision, have not yet been disclosed. But Forbes’ estimates were based on what experts have described as the richest fight in boxing history.
“Mayweather’s $300 million shattered the record for athlete earnings, which was previously held by Tiger Woods who managed to bank $115 million in 2008,” Natalie Robehmed, of Forbes, said in an interview. “It is above and beyond anything anyone has ever done.”
Singer Katy Perry’s massive Prismatic World Tour helped her nab third place with $135 million, making her the highest earning female. She was followed by British boy band One Direction with $130 million and TV and radio host Howard Stern with $95 million.
Musicians and athletes dominated the top 10 spots which included only two women. Country music star Garth Brooks was No. 6 with $90 million, while pop singer Taylor Swift tied for No. 8 with actor Robert Downey Jr. with $80 million.
Forbes compiled its annual list of the most powerful celebrities from the worlds of sports, television, music and books by estimating pre-tax earnings from June 1, 2014 to June, 1 2015. Management, agent and attorney fees were not deducted.
Reality TV star Kim Kardashian, who earned $28 million in the previous list, nearly doubled her earnings to an estimated $52.5 million, according to Forbes. “I personally think she has been able to monetize fame better than anybody else,” said Robehmed. “A large percentage of her earnings come from her iPhone game.” Kardashian placed just above Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence who was No. 34 with $52 million. Lawrence and Scarlett Johansson, No. 65 with $35.5 million, are the only two film actresses to make the 100 list, compared to 14 male movie stars. The combined women on the list make $809m, compared with $4.35bn for the men. This reflects the gender pay gap among both celebrities and the wider society, according to Forbes “I think that really speaks to the wider Hollywood pay gap. It is a lot more difficult for women to get the kind of roles that they would earn massive profits on the back end of in comparison to male actors,” said Robehmed.
Footballers Neymar (No 82) and James Rodriguez (No 89), both aged 23, are the youngest celebrities on the list, with $31 million and $29 million respectively. Musician Paul McCartney (No 35), aged 73, is the oldest with $51.5 million against his name. Maria Sharapova (No 88) is the only female athlete on the elite list with $29.5 million.
British celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay at No. 21 with $60 million was the highest earning chef ever on the list, which included 38 musicians, 29 athletes, six personalities and two comedians.
