Gareth Bale has been named as Great Britain’s highest-paid sportsman, ahead of racing driver Lewis Hamilton and golfer Rory McIlroy.
The Welshman became the most expensive footballer in history when he was sold to Real Madrid from Tottenham Hotspur for a reported €100m in September 2013.
This year alone, according to Forbes, he will earn €30m before tax, €20m of which is composed of his salary at the Santiago Bernabeu and the rest generated through advertising and sponsorship deals.
Bale now earns more than Formula 1 World Champion, Lewis Hamilton (€26m) and Rory McIlroy (€20m) as well as Wayne Rooney (€19m) and Steven Gerrard (€16m).
Number one in Forbes’ world ranking is boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. on €85m, with the top five UK earners, according to Forbes, listed as:
1 Gareth Bale €30m
2 Lewis Hamilton €26m
3 Rory McIlroy €20m
4 Wayne Rooney €19m
5 Steven Gerrard €16m
