Tiger Woods Tops List of Best-Paid Athletes in U.S.

While baseball is the most popular sport in Korea, with an average annual salary of W86.87 million per player it is not the highest paying (US$1=W1,205). That honor goes to basketball, where players earn an average of W132.18 million each.

What about the world's largest sports market, the U.S.? In a list by Sports Illustrated of America's 50 highest-earning athletes, 16 of them play in the National Basketball Association, 15 are in the National Football League, and 13 Major League Baseball players.

LeBron James, who recently moved to the Miami Heat, was the top earner in the NBA and fourth overall with income of US$45.8 million last year. Three other NBA players made it in the top 10 -- Shaquille O'Neal (6th), Kobe Bryant (7th) and Dwayne Wade (10th).

Only two baseball players, Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, both of the New York Yankees, placed in the top 10.

The richest among the rich was Tiger Woods, having pulled in $90.51 million last year despite his extramarital affair scandal, edging out fellow golfer Phil Mickelson who took home $61.67 million.