Over the years, athletes have earned a fortune from big contracts, endorsement deals and sponsorship, and South African athletes haven’t been spared from the global norm.
South Africa boasts a wealth of talented athletes who have achieved global recognition and financial success.
TOP TEN RICHEST SOUTH AFRICAN SPORTS STARS
Many South African sports stars have won big, from rugby and soccer fields to cricket pitches and golf courses. Against their big wins, The South African dives into South Africa’s richest sports stars.
However, the list also includes some retired athletes still involved in the sporting world in different verticals.
GARY PLAYER – R4.5 BILLION
Despite retiring, celebrated golfer Gary Player is considered one of the richest sports stars from South Africa, with a net worth of around R4.5 billion.
He is considered one of the greatest golfers of all time. Gary Player boasts nine major championships on the regular tour.
He also has six Champions major victories and is one of the only five golfers to complete a career Grand Slam.
Apart from his big wins on the course, he is also interested in real estate and marketing golf equipment and apparel.
ERNI ELS – R1.5 BILLION
Golfer Ernie Els is also on the list, with an estimated net worth of R1.5 billion.
The former World number one, affectionately known as ‘The Big Easy,’ has four major championships and several international wins.
However, the celebrated South African sports star has made a fortune from golf, ambassadorial gigs, and his wine business.
JACQUES KALLIS – R980 MILLION
Jacques Kallis is often considered the greatest all-rounder in cricket history.
He excelled as a batsman and bowler, scoring over 10,000 runs and taking over 250 wickets in Test and One-Day international cricket. His rumoured net worth is around R980 million.
Apart from earning a fortune from cricket, he has made considerable money from endorsement deals with brands like Adidas and Slazenger.
Despite retiring, the celebrated South African sports star is still active across all verticals. Reports suggest he has been acting as a batting consultant for big nations, including England.
BRYAN HABANA – R614 MILLION
Springboks legend Bryan Habana is also among South Africa’s richest sports stars. He has an estimated net worth of R614 million.
The Springbok Rugby World Cup winner earned a substantial income from his playing career.
Like those before him, a considerable chunk of his fortune comes from endorsements and post-retirement business ventures.
Surprisingly, he is still very involved in rugby and has been active across all verticals, including as an analyst.
STEVEN PIENAAR – R523 MILLION
Former Bafana Bafana star Steven Pienaar, who has an estimated net worth of R523 million, is also on the list. He secured the bag thanks to his illustrious career in Europe.
Pienaar has also been involved in youth development as a coach and has been in charge of several European Youth Academies.
Other South African athletes who complete the top ten list include:
- Louis Oosthuizen (Golf) – R496 million
- Charl Schwartzel (Golf) – R457 millon
- Benni McCarthy (Football) – R290 million
- Jacques Fourie (Rugby) – R286 million
- AB de Villiers (Cricket) – R265 million.
However, one should not forget that these net worth figures are based on aggregated reports by several media outlets. Several athletes on the list haven’t openly confirmed their net worth.
IS GOLF THE HIGHEST-PAYING SPORT IN SOUTH AFRICA?
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