HIGHEST PAID CELEBRITIES UNDER 30
KYRIE IRVING , AGE 24
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$ 28.5M Kyrie Irving has averaged nearly 21 points per game since he entered the NBA as the No . 1 overall pick out of Duke University in 2011 . Sales of Irving ’ s Nike signature shoes have been on fire since the first one was introduced in December 2014 . Irving makes an estimated $ 5 million from Nike , plus royalties on sales of his kicks .
OLIVER VERNON , AGE 26
$ 32M Olivier Vernon cashed in during the NFL offseason as a free agent with a five-year , $ 85 million contract from the New York Giants . The deal includes $ 52.5 million in guaranteed money , which is tied for the second most ever for a defensive player . The $ 27 million in signing and roster bonuses will be paid by the end of 2016 ( Forbes considers it “ earned ” during our June-to- June time period ).
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CLAYTON KERSHAW , AGE 28
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$ 32M In 2015 the pitcher ’ s salary skyrocketed to $ 30 million from $ 4 million thanks to his $ 215 million contract extension . The threetime Cy Young Award winner also raked in nearly one million in endorsement deals with Under Armour , Wilson , FantasyDraft . com and other brand partners .
USAIN BOLT , AGE 30
$ 32.5M Bolt turned 30 this past August , two months after the end of our scoring period . The Lightning Bolt leaves other track stars in the dust in more ways than one : he ’ s the only track athlete to make the Celebrity 100 , and gives other sports stars a run for their money .
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JAMES HARDEN , AGE 27
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$ 33M The Houston Rockets player has two years left on his fiveyear , $ 79 million contract he inked in 2012 and recently signed a four-year extension worth $ 118 million .