The Richest Athletes in the World

Ion Tiriac, Net Worth: $2.2 Billion

Unlike number two Michael Jordan, the richest athlete of all time - by a landslide - is a name that you probably haven’t heard before. Ion Tiriac is a retired Transylvanian Olympic ice hockey player and professional tennis player who went on to become a renowned coach. After competing in the 1964 winter Olympic Games, Tiriac decided he was tired of ice hockey and took up tennis instead, where he enjoyed a respectably successful career. After retiring from playing and coaching, he became the President of the Romanian National Olympic Committee.

The eccentric Tiriac, who is known for his unique facial hair and propensity to wear stylish shades indoors and in all kinds of weather, goes by the colorful (and admittedly predictable) nickname “Count Dracula.” All of these interesting endeavors did not make him a billionaire, however; that is owing to his extremely successful business ventures in Romania, including airlines, auto dealerships, and private banks.