NBA star Kevin Durant has become a minority owner of Paris Saint-Germain, marking his entry into the football world through an investment with the club’s majority owners, Qatar Sports Investments. This development positions Durant among a number of American sports figures expanding their portfolios into global football, though in terms of earnings, he ranks behind football icon Lionel Messi for 2025.
Kevin Durant’s New Role with Paris Saint-Germain
At 36 years old, Kevin Durant has signed a strategic partnership with Qatar Sports Investments, which holds the controlling stake in Paris Saint-Germain. This collaboration offers Durant opportunities in commercial ventures, investments, and content creation linked to the football club. As one of basketball’s top earners, this move reflects Durant’s interest in diversifying his business activities beyond basketball.
Durant joins other prominent American athletes who have invested in football clubs. Tom Brady holds a minority stake in Birmingham City, a club competing in the English Championship, while J.J. Watt, LeBron James, and Patrick Mahomes have also acquired ownership shares in various football clubs, signaling growing cross-sport ownership trends.
Ranking of the World’s Highest Earning Athletes in 2025
Considering total earnings for 2025—including salaries and off-field income—Kevin Durant’s reported earnings stand at $101.4 million. Various athletes from multiple sports surpass or are close to Durant in the rankings, reflecting both sporting success and lucrative endorsements.
Top 10 Athlete Earnings in 2025
10. Kevin Durant – $101.4 million: Known for his scoring ability and towering presence, Durant is a two-time NBA champion and former league MVP. His current basketball contract has a year remaining worth over $54 million, contributing significantly to his overall earnings.
9. Shohei Ohtani – $102.5 million: The Japanese baseball star’s unique talent as both a pitcher and hitter earned him a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers signed in 2024, underpinning his high earnings.
8. Karim Benzema – $104 million: The French footballer, who boasts five UEFA Champions League titles with Real Madrid and a 2022 Ballon d’Or, recently joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad on a contract worth about $57 million annually.
7. Juan Soto – $114 million: The Dominican baseball player switched to the New York Mets in 2025, securing a $765 million contract over 15 years, though his off-field earnings rank below those of others on this list.
6. LeBron James – $133.8 million: Consistently described among basketball’s all-time greats alongside Michael Jordan, James generates much of his income from endorsements like Nike, in addition to the $50 million salary owed to him by the Los Angeles Lakers for 2025-26.
5. Lionel Messi – $135 million: Often considered the greatest footballer ever, Messi chose to play in Major League Soccer with Inter Miami rather than pursue lucrative deals elsewhere. His combined club salary and endorsements from companies including Adidas sustain his high earnings.
4. Dak Prescott – $137 million: Prescott set NFL records by signing the largest contract in American football history in 2024 with the Dallas Cowboys, becoming the first player in the league to earn over $60 million annually.
3. Tyson Fury – $146 million: The heavyweight boxing champion earned $146 million in 2025, including after a highly publicized unanimous decision loss to Oleksandr Usyk in December.
2. Stephen Curry – $156 million: Curry, celebrated as the greatest shooter in NBA history, is set to earn more than $60 million next season with the Golden State Warriors. His off–court deals with brands such as Under Armour, Callaway, and Subway add significantly to his income.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo – $275 million: Holding five Ballon d’Or awards, Ronaldo commands an enormous salary at Saudi club Al-Nassr and benefits from substantial sponsorship agreements with companies like Nike and Binance.
Durant’s Standing Among Elite Athletes and What Lies Ahead
Kevin Durant’s entry into football ownership via Paris Saint-Germain connects him with a leading sports investment group valued around $450 billion through Qatar Sports Investments. Despite this high-profile alliance, his total earnings place him below some of the top earning athletes worldwide, particularly Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in football, as well as basketball stars like Stephen Curry and LeBron James.
As Durant approaches the final year of his lucrative NBA contract, his involvement with PSG could open new commercial avenues and influence his post-playing career. This partnership signals a growing trend where elite athletes leverage their brand and financial resources to engage in ownership and investment within global football markets, suggesting that more athletes may pursue similar ventures in coming years.