Hamilton enters Forbes top-10 highest-paid athletes list

Three-time world champion Lewis Hamilton is now among the highest paid athletes in the world according to Forbes' annual rich list.

The Mercedes driver clocked in with an estimated $38M salary and $8m in endorsements, thanks mainly to L'Oreal, Monster Beverages and Bombardier.

Ham's revenue is still a far cry however from the earnings enjoyed by the man who heads the list, football player Cristiano Ronaldo who rakes in a $58M retainer from Real Madrid and a lavish $35M in endorsements.

Hamilton has two of his F1 colleagues on the Forbes list, with Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel sitting 14th and Fernando Alonso climbing to 20th.

Vettel's $38M salary at the Scuderia equals Hamilton's retainer at Mercedes, but the German earned just a measly $500,000 in endorsements last year.

Vettel is actually at the bottom of the endorsements list when looking at the top-30 athletes.

At the other end of the spectrum, tennis player Roger Federer comfortably leads the field with a gigantic $58M in personal sponsorship deals

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.