Forbes has included two notable Nigerians, Anthony Joshua and Giannis Antetokounmpo, in its prestigious list of the world's highest-paid athletes for 2023.
Anthony Joshua, the British professional boxer, secured the 28th spot on the list with total earnings of N53 million. On the other hand, Giannis Antetokounmpo, a renowned basketball player, ranked 11th with total earnings of $87.6 million.
Giannis Antetokounmpo's Career Highlights
In December 2020, Antetokounmpo signed a supermax extension with the Milwaukee Bucks, valued at $228 million for five years, allowing him to opt out after the fourth year.
Antetokounmpo has been honored as the NBA's Most Valuable Player (MVP) for both the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons, in addition to being named the Defensive Player of the Year for the latter season.
His first MVP recognition led to substantial bonuses from sponsors, including Nike, who renewed their contract with the Greek Freak in 2017. Nike launched the Zoom Freak 1 in 2019, marking the largest initial release of a signature shoe in Nike basketball history.
In 2020, Disney acquired the rights to produce a film based on Antetokounmpo's life, similar to "The Blind Side." The movie, titled "Rise," premiered on Disney+ in June 2022.
Antetokounmpo boasts a roster of sponsors, including Amazon, Breitling, Come Ready Foods LLC, Epic Games, Google, JBL, Meta, Nike, and Unilever, which contributed to his inclusion on the 2023 Forbes list of highest-paid athletes in the world.
Anthony Joshua's Career Highlights
Joshua achieved an impressive undefeated streak of 22 professional victories and held the world heavyweight championship from 2016 to 2019, until suffering a notable defeat against Andy Ruiz Jr.
In 2019, the British boxer successfully redeemed himself with a unanimous decision, avenging his previous loss. However, Joshua faced two subsequent losses against Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and 2022.
Nevertheless, Joshua regained his momentum with a victory over Jermaine Franklin in April 2023. He boasts a strong social media presence, amassing a remarkable 26 million followers across platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Anthony Joshua's sponsorships include partnerships with Audemars Piguet, DAZN, and Under Armour, contributing to his recognition on the 2023 Forbes list of highest-paid athletes in the world.
