By Chrysanthus Ikeh
The striker, who signed a new five-year, £300,000-a-week deal at United in February 2014, earned £60 million over the last year, making him the highest-paid player in the Premier League’s history.
According to the Sunday Times’ richest sportsmen list, Rooney, with £60m (up from £51m last year), was ranked third behind Mercedes F1 driver Jenson Button £63m (up from £58m) while fellow formula one star Lewis Hamilton was named the richest British sportman with £68m (up from £60m)
Manchester United’s Rio Ferdinand is fifth on the sportsmen list, making him the second richest footballer in England with earnings of £44 million, up by £2 million from last year.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard and Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard share seventh place with £37 million.
Below is the list of Britain’s ten richest sportsmen:
- 1. Lewis Hamilton (F1) – £68m (up from £60m)
- 2. Jenson Button (F1) – £63m (up from £58m)
- 3. Wayne Rooney (football) – £60m (up from £51m)
- 4. Steve Nash (basketball) – £56m (up from £53m)
- 5. Rio Ferdinand (football) – £44m (up from £42m)
- 6. Andy Murray (tennis) – £40m (up from £32m)
- 7. Steven Gerrard (football) – £37m (up from £33m)
- 7. Frank Lampard (football) – £37m (up from £34m)
- 9. Luol Deng (basketball) – £36m (up from £28m)
- 9. Ryan Giggs (football) – £36m (up from £34m)
