Pictures: top 10 richest sports stars of all time

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Michael Jordan is the highest-paid athlete of all time according to a new sports rich list published by Forbes.

Basketball star Jordan is one of the best players in NBA history but off the court he has proved his business credentials with a number of major endorsement deals with companies such as Nike and Gatorade.

Now the owner of the Charlotte Hornets NBA franchise, Jordan is also part of the group approved to buy Major League Baseball’s Miami Marlins, according to a report in the Charlotte Observer published in September.

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Jordan’s career earnings of $1.85billion (£1.37bn) see him top a list that includes golfer Tiger Woods, Formula 1 icon Michael Schumacher, England footballer David Beckham and recently-retired boxer Floyd Mayweather.

According to Forbes, the earnings estimates include the following:

• Salaries
• Bonuses
• Prize money
• Endorsements
• Licensing
• Fees from books, golf course designs and appearances

Estimates cover the time the athlete turned professional through to 1 June 2017. The figures are adjusted for inflation.

Click the gallery above to see the top 10 richest sports stars of all time.