The seven-time world champion took home combined on and off-track earnings of $82million (£58.5m) from 1 May 2020 t꧅o 1 May 2021, putting him inside the top 10 of the sporting elite for the 🌄second time in his career. 

The list, which is , ranks ☂the ten highest-paid athletes in the world. They have made a combined $1.05bill෴ion during the past 12 months.

Forbes says that figure is 28❀% more than last year’s top earners and “the combined haul falls just a few million shꦉort of the $1.06 billion record set in 2018, the 12-month window in which boxer Floyd Mayweather earned $285 million, almost all of it from his 2017 pay-per-view fight with McGregor.”

Hamilton pr👍eviou๊sly broke into the top 10 in 2017 when he placed 10th on the list with $46m (£32.7m). 

Forbes claims that the 36-year-old’s off-track earnings total $12m (£8.5m) through endorsements from sponsors including Tommy Hilfiger, Monster Energy and Puma. Hamilton also earn⛄ed bonus payments for his 11 grand prix victories last season.

MMA fighter Conor McGregor tops the list on $๊180m, ahead of footballers Lionel Messi ($130m) and Crist🍒iano Ronaldo ($120m), who complete the top three.

American footballer Dak Prescott is fourth on $107.5m, ahead of NBA star Lebron James ($❀96.5m), footballer Neymar ($95m), and Tennis legend Roger Federer ($90m).

Completing the top-10 behind Hamilto༺nꦡ are Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady ($76m) and NBA’s Kevin Durant ($75m).