Regardless of their efforts as sportsmen, some of these athletes at the top ten of ’10 are raking in the dough. When it comes to the world of athletics it is all about marketability. Years after the retirement of Michael Jordan, we still see the guy on the list. Why? He is the most viable name in the market when it comes to basketball, and everyone wants to be like Michael. Still, the other half of these athletes are paid a good deal in wages they get directly from their sport. Either way there is a significant amount of green being brought to the bank from these gods of the sport. 10. Dale Earnhardt Jr. [34 Million] is a classic example of a sportsman who, probably not deserving anything close to the residual income he gets, receives a majority of his dough from retail sales. His sales in the market are twice that of any other competitor, and yet hasn’t won a single race since 2008 (which was only 1 race). 9. Valentino Rossi [35 Million] is one motorcycle racing’s lead champs. He is second in overall wins only to Giacomo Agostini. Yamaha, alone, pays him almost half his salary at 16 million just to ride their bike. 6. Manny Pacquiao [40 Million] is a multi-talented UFC fighter, politician, singer, and actor. No, the author of this piece didn’t number it wrong, the Philippino representative in the United States House is tied for 6th place. 6. Phil Mickelson [40 Million] is one of two golfers on this list (going to show how much money is in the sport). His two wins at the Masters shows how he deserves it. 6. LeBron James [40 Million] is the NBA’s up and comer, yet the lowest paid of the three basketball players in the top 3. 5. David Beckham [42 Million] is the only futbol (soccer) player to appear in the top 10 highest paid athletes of 2010. Although he is far from the best, his prestige lands him deals with the likes of Georgio Armani, Adidas, and Motorola. 2. Kimi Raikkonen [45 Million] is a Finnish Formula One driver who, in 2007, won the Formula One World Driver’s Championship. Many think his career is in a decline, but its hard to say that to the huge wad of dough Ferrari hands him over annually. 2. Michael Jordan [45 Million]: Yeah. Seven years after his (final) retirement, we still see MJ here on the list. The truth is, this guy is the most well known athlete of our generation, and he’s got more endorsements (to include the billion-dollar Jordans) than you can shake a stick at. 2. Kobe Bryant [45 Million] is tied with the legendary Jordan and Formula One driving Raikkonen. Being the highest NBA player alive is quite fun, considering that it only gets him 21 Million annually. His endorsements more than double that figure. 1. Tiger Woods [110 Million] is golf’s legend and brings back enough gold to double the salary of any other athlete that comes close to him. It appears not even all those affairs can bring Woods down! Sources: — GK Men, Top Paid Athletes For 2010 — Yahoo!, The World’s Highest Paid Athletes Category:Home › Other • Pomegranates: A newly discovered superfood • Where did the joke why did the chicken cross the road come from and why is it funny? • Can mothers diagnosed with bipolar disorder make good parents? • Spiritual evolution of human consciousness • Tips for getting a college basketball scholarship • Living with Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) • Caring for the caregiver • Technologys impact on society