South Africa’s Top-Earning Athletes

Over the decades South Africa has delivered on great sporting legends. Heroes we love and support, people who provide high odds in the sports betting industry and whose private lives we often find intriguing. People who we follow because we are fascinated with their skills, their talent, their personality, what they represent and also with how much they are worth. So, who is on the list of the richest of the rich in the local sports industry?

Steven Pienaar

The 37-year-old was born in Johannesburg. During his career, he captained our national team and also played overseas. The soccer legend was active on the field for Borussia, Everton, Dortmund, Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland, before returning to SA where he played for the Bidvest Wits. During his career in English Premier League Club, he played more than 150 times for Everton. A net worth of R523 million places him as fifth richest South African athlete.

Bryan Habana

During his successful career, Habana became the top try scorer of the Springboks with 67 tries to his name. He was also named as the IRB Rugby Player of the year and was in the World Cup Winning team during 2007. During his local playing career, he was playing for the Lions, Bulls and Stormers. Then he left South Africa for a 5-year contract to play in Toulon. The French Top 14 club made him a lucrative offer which strengthened his net worth of R614 million.

Retief Goosen

Two US Open titles, as well as a total of 41 tour victories, made “The Goose” famous in the international arena of golf. For 252 weeks Goosen was under the top ten of global golfers. Endorsements by Grey Goose and Rolex added to his riches. The Goose delivers on a net worth of R654 million.

Jacques Kallis

Kallis is the only player of cricket that managed to deliver 10 000, yes ten thousand runs and to take 250 wickets in both one-day and test format. Not only did he play for South Africa, but also played and managed within the Indian Premier League. The Indian Premier League is a very lucrative option to be involved in, and that added to his riches of R980 million, placing Kallis as the second richest athlete in South Africa.

Ernie Els

With two Opens and two US Opens behind his name, it is no surprise that “The Big Easy” is at number one in SA. Els is also the victor of 79 tours and was the former number 1 in the World. He is still very active in the World of golfing and is continually adding to his brilliant net worth of R1.3 billion. The wealthiest sports star in South Africa.