Peyton Manning Among Top Earning US Athletes
By Zach Ragan
Jan 12, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) against the Baltimore Ravens during the AFC divisional round playoff game at Sports Authority Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Sports Illustrated (with whom Fansided is partnered — yes a shameless plug) recently released their annual “Sports Illustrated Fortunate 50” list.
The list features the top earning United States athletes (must be a US citizen or play in a US based league) and takes into account the following criteria: salary, winnings, bonuses and endorsements.
According to Sports Illustrated they consulted “players’ associations, tour records, online databases, agents and media reports”
The majority of the list consisted of Major League Baseball players, but only two came in the top ten (Alex Rodriguez and Zack Greinke).
Among the 50 players listed was former Tennessee Volunteers quarterback and current Denver Bronco Peyton Manning. The former Super Bowl MVP came in at eighth on the list.
According to the report Manning earned $18 million in salary last season and $13 million in endorsements for total earnings equaling $31 million.
Here’s what Sports Illustrated had to say about Manning.
"Manning’s salary suddenly pales in comparison with Brees’s (and with the new ones signed by Joe Flacco and Aaron Rodgers), but he remains football’s biggest endorser and one of the most marketable athletes in American sports: Reebok, Wheaties, DirecTV, Gatorade, Papa John’s and Buick all see the 37-year-old QB as a sure-thing investment."
Peyton is certainly no stranger to a commercial and is one of the most recognizable NFL players in the game today.
Manning’s little brother, Eli Manning, came in at 48th on the list, with total earnings totaling $18.5 million.
It’s not quite Peyton’s $31 million,but still very impressive.
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