Fortune Magazine in collaboration with Sports Illustrated have just released the 2014 Fortunate 50. According to David Roberts description of the criteria, the list ranks U.S. citizens who play or participate in a U.S.-based league or sport. The monetary accumulations for each athlete are taken from reports of pre-tax salary, endorsement deals and bonuses. The 2014 list is topped by boxer Floyd Mayweather who earned $105,000,000 last year. He was also ranked number one on the Fortunate 50 list last year. The highest earning baseball player, Zach Greinke, ranks 15th, earning $24,000,000 as a part of his monster deal signed in 2012.
Three Phillies made the Fortunate 50 list, Ryan Howard, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels. Howard is ranked 17th overall with $26,100,000 in total earnings. His 25 million dollar salary is supplemented by 1.1 million in endorsements from Subway and Scholastic publishing, where he is set to co-author a children’s book series with his wife.
Cliff Lee lands 23rd overall with total earnings of $25,270,000. Lee’s dollars include his 25 million salary and accumulated endorsement deals from AT&T, Rawlings and Holman Automotive in New Jersey.
Lastly, Cole Hamels comes in at 37 totaling $22,850,000. Hamels earns $350,000 from deals with Big League Chew, New Balance and Marucci on top of his 22.5 million dollar salary.
The Phillies are currently in last place in the National League East. They sit 5.5 games back from the Atlanta Braves, who they will face in game two of a three games series in Atlanta tonight.