Johannesburg – Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant has been named as the highest-earning star at the Olympics games by Forbes magazine.
The publication has calculated Durant’s earnings this year at $75 million (R1 billion). Already an owner of two Olympic gold medals, Durant (32) will lead the USA team at this year’s Olympics, set to take place in Japan
According to Forbes, his salary and winnings give him earnings of around $30 million.
He also earns around $35 million from his endorsements which include a major shoe deal with Nike.
Forbes said it had tracked income collected between May 1, 2020, and May 1, 2021, “based on conversations with industry insiders” to arrive at its estimates.
Forbes also ranked Japanese tennis sensation, Naomi Osaka as the highest-earning woman Olympian and second overall on the list.
The 23-year old is said to have pocketed a cool $60 million (R879 million) in the period under review.
Osaka has raked in an impressive array of sponsorships and endorsements since turning professional in 2013.
Her endorsements include French fashion house Louis Vuitton, sports apparel Nike and Swiss watch brand Tag Heuer.
She goes into the Olympics as one of the favorites to win a gold medal for her native Japan, having already won four Grand Slam singles tittles.
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