The Highest Paid Latin America And Caribbean Roots Sports Stars

Lionel Messi. (Photo by Brian Bahr/LatinContent/Getty Images)

By NAN Sports Editor

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. Dec. 9, 2016: The list of World’s Highest-Paid Celebrities is out thanks to Forbes Magazine and 5 sports stars with Latin America and Caribbean roots have made the cut. Here they are in order of top pay:

1: Lionel Messi

In the number one spot is renowned five time FIFA player of the year, Argentine footballer Lionel Messi. Messi, 29, who lives in Spain, has a net worth of USD 81 million and earns a salary of USD 53 million annually.  While he is only the 8th highest paid celebrity in the world, he is the second highest paid sports star globally and definitely the Latin America and Caribbean region’s numero uno!

2: Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton

UK-born, Grenada roots race car Lewis Hamilton is worth a whopping USD 46 million landing him in the second spot on the richest Latin America And Caribbean Roots sports stars. Overall, Hamilton is the 11th highest paid sports star globally, making a whopping USD42 million a year but he is only the 49th highest paid celebrity worldwide.

3: Floyd Mayweather

Boxers Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao engage each other on May 2, 2015 during their welter weight championship boxing match at MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas. Mayweather won moving his winning record to 48 & 0.
PHOTO:Marcel Thomas / MARCEL THOMAS IMAGES

Boxer Floyd Mayweather comes in at third on the list of highest paid Latin America and Caribbean roots sports stars. Mayweather, 39, whose grandfather on his mother’s side was born in Kingston, Jamaica, is worth  USD 44 million.  The Vegas-born Mayweather is the 16th top paid sports star globally, earning some USD32 million in winnings annually. But he is ranked on the world’s highest paying celebrity list as only 54th globally.

4: Usain Bolt

Thirty-year-old Bolt has a current net worth of USD 32.5 million. With some USD 30 million in endorsements and USD 2.5 million in salary, he is the 32nd highest paid sports athlete in the world but only the 91st highest paid celebrity.

5: Carmelo Anthony, Jr.

Rounding out the top five list of highest paid Latin America and Caribbean roots is NY Knicks player Carmelo Anthony. The 32-year-old NBA basketball star is worth about USD 31 million with USD 22.9 million in salary alone annually.  Anthony, whose father Carmelo Anthony, Sr. was born in Puerto Rico also is the 36th highest paid sports star in the world but only made the 97th highest paid celebrity globally.