LEWIS HAMILTON is on the verge of entering the sporting world’s top-ten highest earners ahead of a potential £180million deal with Mercedes.
With the Formula 1 world champion’s contract up at the end of the year, he is today meeting Merc bosses to thrash out an extension.
Lewis Hamilton is currently the 13th highest earner, but will rocket into the top 10 if he signs a new deal with Mercedes
Ferrari are reportedly floating around waiting to pounce if he becomes available, increasing the pressure on the German marque to secure his services.
A mega £60m-a-season, three-year deal is in the works that would rocket Hamilton up the Forbes sporting rich list.
The honour roll currently has the racer, 35, in 13th place and tied with fellow British world champ Anthony Joshua.
Hamilton is thought to earn £42.5m annually, made up of £34.8m in money from his F1 exploits and £7.7m in endorsements.
But his new deal would see him hit a total pay packet of £67m, pushing him up to ninth in the Forbes list.
And he would be within touching distance of the top five, occupied by boxer Canelo Alvarez (£73m) and tennis legend Roger Federer (£73m).
Hamilton romped to his sixth world title in 2019Credit: Getty Images – Getty
The biggest names in football sit on the podium of the existing rich list with Lionel Messi in top spot for the first time in his esteemed career, thanks to takings of £98m-a-year.
Cristiano Ronaldo (£84m) follows behind with Brazilian ace Neymar (£81m) in third.
A handful of American sporting heroes complete the top ten with NFL quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers ahead of basketball stars LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant.
Hamilton is already by far the leading motor racing earner with Ferrari’s four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel back in 30th place on £31m.
Lewis Hamilton buys adorable British Bulldog Roscoe new shoes and beloved pooch melts hearts trying to walk in them
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
