For the 10 highest earning international athletes

• 1
  

  Tiger Woods

  Golf

  Last Year's Rank: 1
  1. $2,294,116
  2. $60,000,000
  3. $62,294,116
  Tiger's empire has crumbled, but Rome wasn't built in a day. His Nike and EA deals still keep him on top of the charts while other endorsers -- and his game -- have gone in other directions. But his reign at No. 1 may soon be over. .
  
• 2
  

  Phil Mickelson

  Golf

  Last Year's Rank: 2
  1. $4,185,933
  2. $57,000,000
  3. $61,185,933
  Lefty's hefty sponsorship portfolio isn't flashy -- deals with Callaway, KPMG, Rolex, Barclays Capital, ExxonMobil and Amgen/Pfizer -- but he's one of the most reliable endorsers in pro sports. For more on Phil Mickelson go here.
  
• 3
  

  LeBron James

  Miami Heat (NBA)

  Last Year's Rank: 4
  1. $14,500,000
  2. $30,000,000
  3. $44,500,000
  There's plenty of room for LeBron's talent in his $9 million Coconut Grove mansion. King James' compound features a wine cellar, library, home theater and dock that can fit two 60-foot yachts. But all the money in the world can't buy an NBA title.
  
• 4
  

  Peyton Manning

  Indianapolis Colts (NFL)

  Last Year's Rank: 9
  1. $23,070,000
  2. $15,000,000
  3. $38,070,000
  Who needs a lucrative new contract, anyway? If the Colts place the franchise tag on the four-time NFL MVP again next year, Manning will earn more than $50 million in salary over two seasons.
  
• 5
  

  Alex Rodriguez

  New York Yankees (MLB)

  Last Year's Rank: 5
  1. $32,000,000
  2. $4,000,000
  3. $36,000,000
  If A-Rod's bat catches fire, he could cash in this season on the first milestone bonus written into his contract: another $6 million for passing Willie Mays (No. 4 at 660) on the all-time home-run list.
  
• 6
  

  Kobe Bryant

  Los Angeles Lakers (NBA)

  Last Year's Rank: 7
  1. $24,806,250
  2. $10,000,000
  3. $34,806,250
  Kobe relinquished a pair of back-to-back titles this spring: the NBA championship and his crown as the NBA's top jersey seller worldwide. LeBron's No. 6 Heat top now outsells Kobe's No. 24.
  
• 7
  

  Kevin Garnett

  Boston Celtics (NBA)

  Last Year's Rank: 15
  1. $18,832,044
  2. $14,000,000
  3. $32,832,044
  This could be KG's final appearance on this list, as he's set to earn $21 million next season in the last year of his contract and could retire. He'll have earned more than $300 million over his career.
  
• 8
  

  Matt Ryan

  Atlanta Falcons (NFL)

  Last Year's Rank: NR
  1. $32,250,000
  2. $450,000
  3. $32,700,000
  The bulk of guaranteed money in Ryan's six-year, $72 million contract he signed in 2008 should be paid out this year, when he'll earn a $22 million roster bonus on top of his $10.25 million salary.
  
• 9
  

  Tom Brady

  New England Patriots (NFL)

  Last Year's Rank: T-28
  1. $20,007,280
  2. $10,000,000
  3. $30,007,280
  Brady's four-year, $72 million extension signed last September gives him the highest average annual salary in the NFL. He's due to collect $10 million of his $16 million signing bonus in August.
  
• 10
  

  Dwight Howard

  Orlando Magic (NBA)

  Last Year's Rank: 12
  1. $16,647,180
  2. $12,000,000
  3. $28,647,180
  Any dream of Superman joining Lakers needs a cold dose of reality: Howard would have to accept a huge reduction from $17.9 million he's own next year; Kobe might have to take a pay cut, too.