I love Forbes and Time Magazine for always compiling lists that rank athletes according to most paid, most influential, most powerful and so on and so forth.  After all, our society is overly obsessed with debating an athletes place in history among his/her peers. And when you start talking money and salaries, the conversation escalates to another level.  For example, I still have occasional flashbacks when I think about Allan Houston’s $100 million contract and how it handicapped us (the Knicks) for years! And the fact that he’s still on the Knicks payroll as the Assistant GM doesn’t help matters…at all! But I digress…

Let’s refocus and take a look at Forbes’ World’s 50 Highest-Paid Athletes.

Here are the highlights:

• The list takes into consideration salaries, bonuses, prize money, appearance fees, licensing and endorsement income in the 12 months ending May 1. Taxes and agents’ fees are not deducted.
• Despite Tiger Woods losing a number of sponsors, dropping to 13th in the world, and riding out a 20 month losing streak, he still is the highest paid athlete thanks to Nike and EA.  Over the past year, he earned $75 million.  Kobe Bryant came in second place at $53 million.  Not even close.
• The NBA includes the most athletes of any sport, 15.  And some surprises on the list include Vince Carter, Rashard Lewis, and Michael Redd.  Thank God the NBA’s CBA is up for renegotiation!  The fact that they’re included on this list is ridiculous!
• Floyd Mayweather experienced the largest dip in earnings compared to last year.  In 2010, Mayweather ranked #2 on the list at $65 million.  However, he failed to even make the list this year due to not fighting in over 13 months.  Pacquaio, on the other hand, clocked in at number 24 with $25 million.
• Maria Sharapova was the only athlete representing for the ladies, for the second year in a row.

Here’s the complete list:

1. Tiger Woods, Golf, $75 Million

2. Kobe Bryant, Basketball, $53 Million

3. LeBron James, Basketball, $48 Million

4. Roger Federer, Tennis, $47 Million

5. Phil Mickelson, Golf, $46.5 Million

6. David Beckham, Soccer, $40 Million

7. Cristiano Ronaldo, Soccer, $38 Million

8. Alex Rodriguez, Baseball, $35 Million

9. Michael Shumacher, Racing, $34 Million

10. Lionel Messi, Soccer, $32.3 Million

11. Fernando Alonso, Racing, $32 Million

12. Rafael Nadal, Tennis, $31.5 Million

13. Valentino Rossi, Racing, $31 Million

13. Tom Brady, Football, $31 Million

15. Lewis Hamilton, Racing $30 Million

16. Derek Jeter, Baseball, $29 Million

17. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Racing, $28.5 Million

18. Yao Ming, Basketball, $27.7 Million

19. Dwight Howard, Basketball, $27.6 Million

20. Dwyane Wade, Basketball, $26.2 Million

21. Peyton Manning, Football, $26.1 Million

22. Ichiro Suzuki, Baseball, $26 Million

23. Carmelo Anthony, Basektball $25.1 Million

24. Kaka, Soccer, $25 Million

24. Manny Pacquaio, Boxer, $25 Million

26. Jeff Gordon, Racing, $24.9 Million

27. Ronaldinho, Soccer, $24.7 Million

28. Amar’e Stoudemire, Basketball, $24.5 Million

29. Maria Sharapova, Tennis, $24.2 Million

30. Wayne Rooney, Soccer, $24.2 Million

31. Jimmie Johnson, Racing, $24 Million

32. Kevin Garnett, Basketball, $23.8 Million

33. CC Sabathia, Baseball, $23.6 Million

34. Jim Furyk, Golf, $23 Million

35. Vince Carter, Basketball, $21.8 Million

36. Johan Santana, Baseball, $21.5 Million

37. Tim Duncan, Basketball, $21.2 Million

38. Chris Paul, Basketball, $20.9 Million

39. Mark Teixeira, Baseball, $20.8 Million

39. Ryan Howard, Baseball, $20.8 Million

41. Miguel Cabrera, Baseball, $20.3 Million

42. Rashard Lewis, Basketball, $20.1 Million

43. Todd Helton, Baseball, $19.6 Million

43. Ernie Els, Golf, $19.6 Million

45. Joe Mauer, Baseball, $19.3 Million

45. Dirk Nowitzki, Basketball, $19.3 Million

47. Barry Zito, Baseball, $19.2 Million

48. Jahri Evans, Football, $19.1 Million

49. Pau Gasol, Basketball, $18.9 Million

50. Michael Redd, Basketball, $18.8 Million

Go here to read the full article and additional details surrounding each athletes lucrative deals.