Three F1 drivers on Forbes' top-earning athletes list

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Three mega stars of Formula 1 have unsurprisingly made it to the Forbes 2018 Top 100 highest-paid athletes list, and the names are equally predictable.

Among the world's top boxers, soccer, basketball and football players, Lewis Hamilton clocks in #12 on the list with estimated earnings of $51M split up between a $42M retainer from Mercedes and $9M worth of personal endorsements.

At the top of the standings is Floyd Mayweather with a staggering $285M pay year, an amount the boxer earned in just 36 minutes in the ring last year while fighting Irishman Conor McGregor.

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Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo complete the podium with $111M and $108M respectively.

Further down the order, ranking #18, Sebastian Vettel took in $42.3M courtesy of the House of Maranello.

That's actually the same amount as Hamilton, but the German is outraced by his arch-rival in terms of endorsements, his personal sponsorship deals estimated at just $300K.

The third driver included on the Forbes rich and happy 100 list is predictably Fernando Alonso, who enjoyed a $32M paycheck from McLaren and $1M in endorsements.

And by the way, in case you're wondering, to make the Forbes 100 cut, it was necessary to earn $22.9M, which is the amount generated by the last man on the list, Charlotte Hornets basketball player Nicolas Batum.

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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.