Forbes.com released its annual rankings of the world’s top 100 celebrities. Jennifer Lopez claimed the #1 spot, but guess which ATHLETE came out on top?!
Even though his days of dominating the PGA Tour appear over and his image has been tarnished, Tiger Woods still retains the title of world’s most powerful athlete.
Per Forbes:
“Despite the setbacks, Woods is still the world’s most powerful athlete. He ranks No. 12 overall on the Forbes Celebrity 100 in 2012, down from No. 6 in 2011. He is the top athlete for the 11th straight year (Michael Jordan is the only athlete ever to rank ahead of Woods–MJ ranked No. 1 overall in our inaugural celeb ranking in 1999). Woods’s annual income dropped to $58 million from $75 million due to continued sponsor defections like Tag Heuer and Gillette, but he remains one of the highest paid athletes in the world thanks to his lucrative Nike deal. Only boxers Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather earn more on a yearly basis.”
Forbes notes that when Woods does get hot on the golf course he still generates instant TV ratings, like the 78% boost that occurred during his final-round 62 at the Honda Classic, and the 129% bump when he won the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Forbes also says no other athlete is mentioned more often on TV and radio, and that he’s No. 6 among all celebrities.
