According to Forbes Magazine, the top 100 highest-paid athletes in the world earned a cumulative $3.2 billion over the last 12 months, up 17 percent.
Here are the top 20 highest paid athletes in the world of 2015, according to Forbes.
20) Derrick Rose (Earnings: $34 million)
American professional basketball player currently plays for Chicago Bulls. This 26-year-old player has two seasons left on the five-year $95 million contract he signed with the team at the end of 2011.
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19) Jon Lester (Earnings: $34 million)
This 31-year-old American professional baseball pitcher plays for the Chicago Cubs. His $155 million deal with the team includes a $30 million signing bonus. Nike is his biggest sponsor.
18) Gareth Bale (Earnings: $35 million)
Welsh professional soccer player Gareth Frank Bale plays as a winger for Spanish club Real Madrid and the Wales national team. Real Madrid spent $118 million to get him from Tottenham in 2013.
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17) Fernando Alonso (Earnings: $35.5 million)
Spanish Formula One racing driver Fernando Alonso is currently racing for McLaren-Honda. This 33-year-old double world champion secured a massive payday when he negotiated a return to McLaren. The two-year deal is worth more than $30 million.
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