Dhoni only Indian in world's highest paid athletes' list
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India's cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the lone Indian sportsman to figure in Forbes' list of the world's 100 highest paid athletes.
The list is topped by American boxer Floyd Mayweather and includes golfer Tiger Woods and tennis stars Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Dhoni is ranked 22nd, with total earnings of $30 million and endorsements worth $26 million.
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Image: Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni lifts the trophy at the Taj hotel the day after India defeated Sri Lanka in the ICC Cricket World Cup final in Mumbai on April 3, 2011
Photographs: Philip Brown/Reuters
'India's best captain of all-time'
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His salary and winnings total $4 million as of June 2014, Forbes said.
"Dhoni cemented his legacy as one of India's best captains of all time when he led the Indian national team to victory in the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy and became the first national captain to ever win all three ICC trophies," the publication said.
Dhoni-signed bat sponsorship deals with leading brands like Spartan Sports and Amity University in late 2013 was reportedly worth a combined $4 million annually, up from the $1 million Reebok was paying previously, it added.
The earning figures include salaries, bonuses, prize-money, appearance fees, as well as licensing and endorsement income paid out during the last 12 months between June 2013 and June 2014.
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Image: Mahendra Singh Dhoni
Photographs: Dinuka Liyanawatte/Reuters
Boxer Mayweather tops the Forbes list
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Mayweather earned $105 million during the past year for 72 minutes of work in the ring for fights against Canelo Alvarez and Marcos Maidana.
The payday puts Mayweather at the top of Forbes' annual list for the second time in three years.
Mayweather is the first athlete, besides Woods, to crack the $100 million earnings threshold.
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Image: Floyd Mayweather celebrates after defeating Marcos Maidana by majority decision in their WBC/WBA welterweight unification fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 3, 2014 in Las Vegas
Photographs: Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Ronaldo leads a group of soccer players
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Real Madrid and star Portugal footballer Cristiano Ronaldo leads a group of 15 soccer players in the top 100.
Ronaldo ranks second overall with total earnings of $80 million.
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Image: Cristiano Ronaldo
Photographs: Lars Baron/Getty Images
LeBron James third
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American basketball player LeBron James ranks third with earnings of $72.3 million, followed by Argentine footballer Lionel Messi who ranks fourth at $ 64.7 million.
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Image: Miami Heat's LeBron James
Photographs: Mike Segar/Reuters
Woods's golf course-design business has picked up
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Woods is ranked sixth on the list with earnings of $ 61.2 million.
Forbes said Woods's golf course-design business has picked up after multiple blowups.
Developers plan to open a new course in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico this year which will be the first completed Woods-designed course.
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Image: Tiger Woods of the US Team reacts
Photographs: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
'Federer continues to be among the world's best players'
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Federer, who holds the record for most singles Grand Slam wins (17) and career prize-money ($ 81 million), is ranked seventh on the list with earnings of $56.2 million.
"Federer continues to be among the world's best players 16 years after he turned pro. His sponsors collectively pay him more than $ 40 million annually," Forbes said.
Nadal is ranked ninth on the list with earnings of $ 44.5 million.
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Image: Roger Federer of Switzerland
Photographs: Matthias Hangst/Getty Images
Sharapova, Serena also in the list
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The list also includes tennis player Novak Djokovic at 17th, with earnings of $ 33.1 million, tennis star Maria Sharapova (34), Jamaican runner Usain Bolt (45), tennis player Serena Williams (55) and German Formula One racing driver Sebastian Vettel (83).
Image: Maria Sharapova of Russia celebrates
Photographs: Vincent Kessler/Reuters
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