Verstappen achieves top five ranking in illustrious Forbes rich list

Max Verstappen is the world's third-richest athlete under the age of 25, according to Forbes.

Thanks to his recent successes in F1, with back-to-back Drivers' Championships under his belt, and a bumper new deal with Red Bull tying him to the drinks-backed squad until 2028, Verstappen earned $64 million from May 2022 to May 2023, according to the American publication.

However, the Dutchman is some way behind table-topping Kylian Mbappe. The France and Paris Saint-Germain footballer was said to have earned $120 million over the same period, of which $20 million came from off-field earnings such as sponsorship deals and appearance fees.

Sandwiched between Mbappe and Verstappen is NFL star Kyler Murray, who trousered $70.5 million over the last 12 months. The top five is rounded out by Manchester City striker Erling Haaland ($52 million) and the Dallas Mavericks' Luka Doncic ($47.2 million).

A previous Forbes analysis from November 2022 ranked Verstappen as the highest-paid F1 driver, with the Dutchman wresting that particular crown from Lewis Hamilton, who had been ranked the series' top earner every year since 2013.