GARETH BALE , AGE 27
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$ 36M Injuries limited the Welsh international to just 21 La Liga starts in the 2015 / 16 season , but he managed to score 19 times , much to the delight of Real Madrid , which paid a whopping $ 118 million to acquire him in 2013 . Bale is also a standout fixture for sponsor Adidas , having inked a six-year contract in 2014 worth an estimated $ 35 million .
NEYMAR , AGE 24
$ 37.5M Neymar has a dozen endorsement deals with brands like Nike , Red Bull , Panasonic , Konami and Gillette . He is currently the only active soccer player earning more off the field than on . Neymar ’ s playing contract is worth $ 75 million over five years .
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RAFAEL NADAL , AGE 30
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$ 37.5M Last year was the first Nadal did not win a Grand Slam event since 2004 , putting an end to his 10-year streak , the longest in men ’ s tennis history . He ’ s still a fan favorite and banked millions for his appearance at the IPTL matches in December . Endorsement partners include Nike , Babolat , KiaMotors , Tommy Hilfiger and more .
DRAKE , AGE 30
$ 38M The Canadian rapper had the best music sales of anyone not named Adele , thanks to new album Views . He juiced his total with live shows and checks from brands including Sprite , Nike and Apple .
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SEBASTIAN VETTEL , AGE 29
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$ 41M Vettel inked a three-year deal to drive for Ferrari in the fall of 2014 . The contract is one of the richest in the F1 and will pay out more than $ 40 million annually , including bonuses if Vettel performs . Vettel tied Michael Schumacher ’ s record for most wins in a season with 13 in 2013 .