Several Current, Former Boston Athletes Land On Forbes' Highest Paid List
BOSTON (CBS) -- The grass may not always be greener on the other side, but the money sure is.
Just ask Jon Lester, Adrian Gonzalez, Jacoby Ellsbury and Carl Crawford.
That quartet of former Boston baseballers appeared on Forbes' list of highest-paid athletes, ahead of any current Boston athlete.
Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. topped the list, bringing in an absolutely absurd $300 million in the past year. Manny Pacquiao, Mayweather's opponent back in early May, came in at No. 2 with a $160 million haul.
Of the four traditional American sports, LeBron James ranked highest at No. 6 overall, earning $64.8 million. Kevin Durant ranked seventh ($54.1 million), with Kobe Bryant ($49.5) coming in at No. 10.
Ben Roethlisberger ranks highest among NFL players, ranking No. 11 with $48.9 million, and Jon Lester ranks as the highest-paid baseball player at No. 19 overall ($34.1 million).
To find the next Boston connection, you have to go all the way to No. 69, where former Red Sox first baseman and current L.A. Dodger Adrian Gonzalez sits with a $21.5 million payday. Jacoby Ellsbury is one spot behind Gonzalez, earning $21.4 million from the Yankees. Carl Crawford, who was shipped to L.A. along with Gonzalez back in August 2012, ranks 77th with $20.7 million. (Gonzalez and Crawford are still making bank on the deals which they signed as Red Sox.)
The highest-paid current Boston athlete is Hanley Ramirez, who ranks 79th with a $20.3 million salary. David Ortiz ranks 87th ($19.7 million), and Patriots safety Devin McCourty just made the list at No. 93 ($19.3 million, thanks to a $15 million signing bonus).
Check out the complete list over at Forbes.com, and you'll learn a few things. One, you should probably aspire to play soccer at a high level. Two, if you want to make a ton of money, you'll apparently have to leave Boston.
