SI's Fortunate 50 features NBA Starpower

Sports Illustrated has released its 2008 list called "The Fortunate 50". The list is composed of athletes from all sports who are earning the most between their endorsements and actual sports salaries. Topping the list this year easily was Tiger Woods, the pro golfer who's also seen pitching products on almost every commercial break. Tiger's endorsements make up $105, 000, 000 of his overall total.

Several NBA stars made it into the top 10, thanks to their hefty contracts. Lebron James comes in at #3 thanks to a high NBA salary and his endorsements from the likes of Nike, Vitamin Water and Powerade. Also included on the list are both Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett who will appear in the 2008 Finals starting Thursday evening. Kobe still makes a decent amount of endorsements despite his legal trouble in the past. Kobe's former pal in Los Angeles, Shaq trails him by about a half a million dollars on the list.

Here's the top 10 highest paid athletes (total earnings in parentheses):

1. Tiger Woods ($127,902,706)
2. Phil Mickelson ($62,372,685)
3. Lebron James ($40,455,000)
4. Floyd Mayweather, Jr. ($40,250,000)
5. Kobe Bryant ($35,490,625)
6. Shaquille O'Neal ($35,000,000)
7. Alex Rodriguez ($35,000,000)
8. Kevin Garnett ($31,000,000)
9. Peyton Manning ($30,500,000)
10. Derek Jeter ($30,000,000)

See the entire article and rest of the list here at Sports Illustrated's website.