Mahendra Singh Dhoni Beat Nadal and Bolt in Recent Forbes List of Highest-Paid Athletes

The captain of the Indian Cricket Team, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, 31, was ranked at the 16th position in the recent Forbes list of highest-paid athletes. Dhoni’s earning stood at 31.5 million US dollar or 180 crore Rupees. The values were calculated between June 2012 and June 2013. 

In the list, he was placed above Rafael Nadal and Usain Bolt. He was also placed above the F1 racer Fernando Alonso, whose rank was 19th. Lewis Hamilton, on the other hand was placed at 26th place, Novak Djokovic at 28th place, Rafael Nadal at 30th and Usain Bolt at 40th rank. In the year 2012, Dhoni’s position was 31st. It is important to note that the only other Indian sportsperson to feature in this list was Sachin Tendulkar at the 31st position and total annual earnings of 22 million US dollar or 125 crore Rupees. 

The basis of the calculation is earnings estimates which include bonuses, salaries and prize money from the national teams and club along with the endorsement income. 

At the first position was golfer Tiger Woods with the annual income of 78.1 million US dollar. He was followed by the tennis player Roger Federer with the earnings of 71.5 million US dollar. Thereafter, it was basketball player Kobe Bryant with the earning of 61.9 million US dollar. 

In the list of highest-paid female athletes, Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova topped the list. She topped the list for the ninth year in the row with the earnings of 29 million US dollar between June 2012 and June 2013. The second on the list was American Serena Williams with the earnings of 20.5 million US dollar, followed by Li Na, the Chinese tennis player with the earning of 18.2 million US dollar and Belarusian Victoria Azarenka with 15.7 million US dollar earnings.