The Top 20 Highest-Earning American Athletes

Sport’s Illustrated “Top 50 highest-earning American Athlete list” has been released. The list is compiled by salary, winnings, endorsements and appearance fees. The total list features 19 NBA players, 17 baseball players, eight NFL players, three NASCAR drivers and three golfers.

A few things stand out in looking at the Top 20; Playing in a small market doesn’t have to cripple the endorsement dollars you can earn (See Dwight Howard at #10 ahead of Knicks stars Amar’e Stoudemire & Carmelo Anthony) but it does effect your “exposure level” outside of the game. You know, the social stuff. Even though Tiger Woods hasn’t won a golf tournament in forever, he still remains at the top of the list.  Vince Carter and Rashard Lewis are in the top 30 ahead of Kevin Durant, Paul Pierce and Chris Bosh. Think about that for a second… And, in case you were curious, no women made the list.

To view the first 20 check out below:

Tiger’s empire has crumbled, but Rome wasn’t built in a day. His Nike and EA deals still keep him on top of the charts while other endorsers — and his game — have gone in other directions. But his reign at No. 1 may soon be over. For more on Tiger go here.

Lefty’s hefty sponsorship portfolio isn’t flashy — deals with Callaway, KPMG, Rolex, Barclays Capital, ExxonMobil and Amgen/Pfizer — but he’s one of the most reliable endorsers in pro sports. For more on Phil Mickelson go here.

There’s plenty of room for LeBron’s talent in his $9 million Coconut Grove mansion. King James’ compound features a wine cellar, library, home theater and dock that can fit two 60-foot yachts. But all the money in the world can’t buy an NBA title.

Who needs a lucrative new contract, anyway? If the Colts place the franchise tag on the four-time NFL MVP again next year, Manning will earn more than $50 million in salary over two seasons.

If A-Rod’s bat catches fire, he could cash in this season on the first milestone bonus written into his contract: another $6 million for passing Willie Mays (No. 4 at 660) on the all-time home-run list.

Kobe relinquished a pair of back-to-back titles this spring: the NBA championship and his crown as the NBA’s top jersey seller worldwide. LeBron’s No. 6 Heat top now outsells Kobe’s No. 24.

This could be KG’s final appearance on this list, as he’s set to earn $21 million next season in the last year of his contract and could retire. He’ll have earned more than $300 million over his career.

The bulk of guaranteed money in Ryan’s six-year, $72 million contract he signed in 2008 should be paid out this year, when he’ll earn a $22 million roster bonus on top of his $10.25 million salary.

Brady’s four-year, $72 million extension signed last September gives him the highest average annual salary in the NFL. He’s due to collect $10 million of his $16 million signing bonus in August.

Any dream of Superman joining Lakers needs a cold dose of reality: Howard would have to accept a huge reduction from $17.9 million he’s own next year; Kobe might have to take a pay cut, too.

Not to be outdone by LeBron, D-Wade spent nearly $11 million for his own new Miami mansion. It’s just blocks from the house purchased by the third member of Heat’s Big Three, Chris Bosh.

The Rams signed last year’s No. 1 draft pick to the largest rookie deal in NFL history, with the bulk of money being paid out over 2011: an $18 million option bonus and an $8.4 million roster bonus.

It’s amazing that a driver who hasn’t won a race in more than three years is still his sport’s top earner. The Earnhardt empire still accounts for around one-third of all merchandise sales in NASCAR.

The three-time Pro Bowl corner reportedly wants $20 million a year. His 2011 haul is a good start: He’ll make $24 million in salary and bonus payments based on his renegotiation from last September.

Furyk’s winning putt at last September’s Tour Championship earned him a $1.4 million prize and a $10 million FedEx Cup bonus. The club? A $39 purchase at a discount pro shop in Easton, Mass.

Carmelo may be the Knicks’ bigger prize pickup over the past year, but Amar’e is actually scheduled to outearn his All-Star teammate by more than a quarter-million over the next four seasons.

Would CC leave $92 million on the table? The Yanks’ ace can opt out of his mammoth contract after this season. Considering Cliff Lee landed a five-year, $120 million deal, there’s speculation he might.

Mauer’s eight-year, $184 million deal is the largest ever for a catcher by far. His $23 million salary, along with that of first baseman Justin Morneau, eats up a third of Twins’ total payroll this season.

Like Earnhardt, Gordon’s best days on the track are in the past. But his brand is strong, with big deals with Pepsi, Dupont and Nicorette, and he’s raised more than $11 million for children’s charities.

The good news for the Angels, whose payroll shot to fourth in baseball with the acquisition of Wells: His salary tops out this season and “drops” to a mere $21 million a year from 2012 to 2014.