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Conor McGregor becomes world's highest-paid athlete in 2020
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Conor McGregor of Ireland prepares to fight Dustin Poirier in a lightweight fight during the UFC 257 event inside Etihad Arena on UFC Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, January 23, 2021. /CFP

Conor McGregor of Ireland prepares to fight Dustin Poirier in a lightweight fight during the UFC 257 event inside Etihad Arena on UFC Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, January 23, 2021. /CFP

Irish Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter Conor McGregor topped Forbes' World's Top 10 Highest-Paid Athletes list for the first time in his career.

Having made $180 million in 2020, McGregor beat superstars like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and LeBron James to climb to the No. 1 spot on the 2020 list. In January, McGregor fought Dustin Poirier of the U.S. and lost at UFC 257, earning $22 million.

That's the only Octagon revenue of his in 2020. The other $158 million came from endorsements, sale of his whiskey brand Proper No. Twelve, DraftKings, the video game Dystopia: Contest of Heroes, and the lifestyle brand Roots of Fight, according to Forbes.

Lionel Messi of Barcelona looks on in the La Liga game against Levante UD at Ciutat de Valencia Stadium in Valencia, Spain, May 11, 2021. /CFP

Lionel Messi of Barcelona looks on in the La Liga game against Levante UD at Ciutat de Valencia Stadium in Valencia, Spain, May 11, 2021. /CFP

Messi, Ronaldo and Dak Prescott, who are No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 respectively on the list, joined McGregor to become the only three making over $100 million in 2020. $97 million of Messi's $130 million are football revenues. His other income sources include a lifetime deal with Adidas, clothing line designed by Ginny Hilfiger plus endorsement deals with Tata Motors, Pepsi, Gillette and Turkish Airlines.

Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus looks on in the Serie A game against AC Milan at Juventus Stadium in Turin, Italy, May 9, 2021. /CFP

Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus looks on in the Serie A game against AC Milan at Juventus Stadium in Turin, Italy, May 9, 2021. /CFP

Ronaldo is $10 million away from Messi and he made $70 million from the field. Ronaldo enjoyed a lifetime deal with Nike as well as the CR7 business of branded clothing, accessories, hotels and gyms.

Quarterbacl Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys holds the ball in the game against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, U.S., October 11, 2020. /CFP

Quarterbacl Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys holds the ball in the game against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, U.S., October 11, 2020. /CFP

Quarter Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys made $107.5 million, $66 million of which comes from the signing bonus of his four-year, $160-million contract extension with the team. He has endorsement deals with Sleep Number, 7/11 and DirecTV. Furthermore, Prescott announced this month that he had invested in four locations of the restaurant chain Walk-On's in Texas.

LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on in the game against the Sacramento Kings at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, U.S., April 30, 2021. /CFP

LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on in the game against the Sacramento Kings at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, U.S., April 30, 2021. /CFP

No. 5 is LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers. Though James ($96.5 million) made less than the above four, he's the only one winning a major honor of the top 5 leading the purple and gold winning the 17th NBA Championship in franchise history. James' revenue on the court is his $31.5 million salary from the Lakers. Outside basketball, he left Coca-Cola and signed a new commercial deal with PepsiCo. James also invested in Fenway Sports Group that owns the Boston Red Sox.

Neymar of Paris Saint-Germain looks on in the Ligue 1 game against RC Lens at Parc des Princes in Paris, France, May 1, 2021. /CFP

Neymar of Paris Saint-Germain looks on in the Ligue 1 game against RC Lens at Parc des Princes in Paris, France, May 1, 2021. /CFP

Roger Federer of Switzerland celebrates his win over Dan Evans of Great Britain in the Qatar ExxonMobil Open at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha, Qatar, March 10, 2021. /CFP

Roger Federer of Switzerland celebrates his win over Dan Evans of Great Britain in the Qatar ExxonMobil Open at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha, Qatar, March 10, 2021. /CFP

Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes celebrates after winning the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix race at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo, Spain, May 9, 2021. /CFP

Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes celebrates after winning the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix race at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo, Spain, May 9, 2021. /CFP

Quarterback Tom Brady of the Tampa Buccaneers holds the ball in the game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, U.S., February 7, 2021. /CFP

Quarterback Tom Brady of the Tampa Buccaneers holds the ball in the game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, U.S., February 7, 2021. /CFP

Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets handles the ball in the game against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, U.S., May 8, 2021. /CFP

Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets handles the ball in the game against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, U.S., May 8, 2021. /CFP

No. 6 to No. 10 earners are: 

Neymar, $95 million

Roger Federer, $90 million

Lewis Hamilton, $82 million

Tom Brady, $76 million

Kevin Durant, $75 million

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