近日，《富比士》發佈現役運動員的場外收入排行榜，引發體育界廣泛關注。其中，最引人注目的是兩位運動員——NBA球星史蒂芬·庫里和洛杉磯道奇隊的“天才二刀流”棒球選手大谷翔平（Shohei Ohtani）。據估算，僅靠場外活動，這兩位巨星的收入均突破一億美元。他們的收入來源包括品牌代言、公開活動、紀念品銷售以及授權費等，而大谷翔平的場外收入被估算為約1.025億美元。

這一成就在現役運動員中極為罕見。根據的統計，在庫里和大谷之前，僅有三位運動員曾達到類似水準：分別是綜合格鬥選手康納·麥格雷戈（Conor McGregor）在2021年的收入1.58億美元，高爾夫球手老虎·伍茲（Tiger Woods）在2009年的1.05億美元，以及網球巨星羅傑·費德勒（Roger Federer）在2020年的1億美元。值得注意的是，庫里和大谷翔平與沙烏地阿拉伯並無已知商業關聯，這使得他們在高收入運動員中顯得與眾不同。

近年來，沙烏地阿拉伯在體育界的商業活動備受矚目，尤其是通過LIV高爾夫賽事及各類巨額贊助協議吸引國際頂尖運動員參與。今年的榜單中，有四位運動員與沙特存在密切聯繫。例如，拳擊手泰森·富裡（Tyson Fury）排名第三，場外收入約1.46億美元，他曾在利雅德與烏西克進行兩場拳賽；足球巨星利昂內爾·梅西（Lionel Messi）排名第五，場外收入1.35億美元，其中7500萬美元來自擔任沙特旅遊推廣大使的巨額贊助協議；而法國球星卡裡姆·本澤馬（Karim Benzema）則全職效力於沙特職業聯賽伊蒂哈德俱樂部，排名第八，場外收入1.04億美元。

總的來看，庫里和大谷翔平憑藉自身全球影響力和品牌號召力，在無需依賴沙特市場的情況下，仍能躋身場外收入最高的運動員行列。這不僅體現了他們在體育領域的頂尖成就，也顯示了其在全球商業市場的獨特價值和吸引力。

Recently, Forbes released its ranking of active athletes by off-field earnings, drawing widespread attention in the sports world. Two names stood out prominently: NBA star Stephen Curry and Los Angeles Dodgers’ two-way baseball sensation Shohei Ohtani. Both athletes reportedly earned over $100 million from off-field activities alone, including brand endorsements, public appearances, merchandise sales, and licensing fees. Ohtani’s off-field earnings were estimated at approximately $102.5 million by Forbes.

This achievement is extremely rare among active athletes. According to Forbes, only three athletes before Curry and Ohtani have reached similar off-field income levels: MMA fighter Conor McGregor, who earned $158 million in 2021; golfer Tiger Woods, who earned $105 million in 2009; and tennis legend Roger Federer, who earned $100 million in 2020. Notably, both Curry and Ohtani have no known business ties to Saudi Arabia, making them unique among high-earning athletes.

In contrast, Saudi Arabia has become a major player in international sports business in recent years, attracting top athletes through initiatives like the LIV Golf series and high-value sponsorship deals. In this year’s list, four athletes have close connections to Saudi Arabia. For example, boxer Tyson Fury ranked third with $146 million in off-field income, having held two fights against Oleksandr Usyk in Riyadh; football superstar Lionel Messi ranked fifth with $135 million, with $75 million of that from his role as a Saudi tourism ambassador; and French footballer Karim Benzema, ranked eighth, plays full-time for Saudi club Al-Ittihad, earning $104 million off the field.

Overall, Curry and Ohtani demonstrate that, leveraging their global influence and brand appeal, they can achieve top-tier off-field earnings without relying on the Saudi market. Their success highlights not only their elite status in sports but also their unique value and marketability on a global scale.