Lewis Hamilton has entered the top ten of Forbes' 🔯highest-earni𒀰ng athletes list for the first time in his career having accumulated an annual pay packet of approximately $46 million.

The triple F1 world champioཧn is currently in the midst of a three-year contract with Mercedes, with the deal understood to be valued in the region of $38 million ($30m) per season, excluding endorsements.

Though this doesn't represent🔥 an increase year-on-year, Hamilton has nonetheless climbed⛦ from 11th to 10th on the list of the world's highest-earning athletes, according to Forbes'.

Hamilton is one of three F1 drivers inside the top 100, with Sebastian Vettel rising from 19th to 14th despite earnings/winnings dropping from $41m to $38m, while Fer🌃nando Alonso climbs into the top 20 with annual earnings of $36m.

Significantly, the Forbes list reveals Ferrari pays Vettel the same Mercedes pays Hamilton , but earns only a further $500,000k in endorsements on top🐻 of that, compared with Hamilton who gets an additional $8m from the likes of Monster, Bombardier and L'O🔯real.

To put into perspective, Ve𝄹ttel is the only athlet🍌e in the top 30 to earn $500k or less in endorsements.

The list is topped by footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, who receives $58m from Real Madrid before adding a further $35m in endorsemenꦓts. Roger Federer is the most endﷺorsed athlete competing having accumulated a mammoth $58m worth in the last year.