Usain Bolt’s Earnings Top Several Government Ministry Budgets

Usain Bolt’s 2017 earnings have been estimated to be higher than several Jamaican Government ministries total budgets.

Olympic sprint legend Usain Bolt has entered a top tier of sports figures, after he was recently ranked number 23 on Forbes highest paid athletes list, raking in a mammoth US$34.2 million or approximately J$4.4 billion.

To put things into context, the sprinter’s total estimated earnings for the calendar year even supersedes the allocated budgets for several Jamaican government ministries, including the island’s Tourism Ministry.

According to Forbes, a majority of Bolt’s earnings actually come from endorsement deals, with the superstar boasting more than a dozen major sponsors, including Puma, which pays him more than US$10 million annually.

The Jamaican is the only track and field star to make the illustrious Forbes list this year, which is headed by Real Madrid footballer Christiano Ronaldo and superstar basketball player Lebron James.

On Saturday the legendary sprinter ran his last competitive race on Jamaican soil at the JN Racers Grand Prix track meet, as he is scheduled for retirement following the World Championships in London in August.