£6m Beckham among top earners

13 April 2012

David Beckham has today been named as the world's second highest paid footballer, with total earnings estimated at £6.6 million a year.

And that is before the England captain signs a new contract with Manchester United that will send him shooting above French superstar Zinedine Zidane to the top of soccer's financial league table, according to the latest survey.

Zidane, Real Madrid's midfield genius, is said to be earning £8.7 million a year in a top 20 table compiled by France Football, the magazine that awarded Michael Owen the Golden Ball as European Footballer of the year.

Beckham, 27, is reported to be on the receiving end of wages of almost £2 million, bonuses of around £350,000 and commercial income of some £4.5 million from sponsors such as adidas, Pepsi and Sony.

However, his weekly wage is set to rise from £27,000 to £75,000 once he signs his new contract at Old Trafford. He is also being offered £20,000 a week for his "image" rights and last week his business advisers secured yet another sponsorship deal to promote Castrol oil, worth an estimated £1 million over two years,

Another three-year contract with Marks & Spencer is also believed to be worth £1 million and he has secured a third £1 million deal to advertise Police sunglasses.

Other known Beckham sponsorship deals include £1.4 million a year from adidas to wear their Predator boots and undisclosedamounts to promote Sony PlayStation and Golden Wonder's " Golden Balls" snack.

Today's findings show Beckham is one of three Manchester United players to make soccer's rich list.

The others are Irish captain Roy Keane, in 14th place with £4.4 million (despite the fact that his basic wage is higher than Beckham's) and Argentinian midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron, 18th with £3.6 million.

The table also includes three more Premiership players. Arsenal defender Sol Campbell gets closest to Beckham in 10th place with £5.6 million, almost totally made up of wages and bonuses after his Bosman free transfer from Spurs last summer.

The others are Liverpool's Michael Owen, in 12th place with £5 million and Arsenal's striker Thierry Henry, 16th with £3.8 million.

Beckham and his Spice Girl wife, Victoria, certainly know how to spend their fabulous riches.

They own a palatial home in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, popularly known as "Beckingham Palace" which has seven bedrooms and 25 acres.

The couple bought it in 1999 for £2.6 million and have spent £70,000 on woodland so they have more security. After a reported £3 million refit, even Posh admits that the interior is "camp".

The house now has a £300,000 recording studio and gym.

The latest addition to their possessions is a birthday gift for David of a new £165,000 Bentley.

TOP 10 FOOTBALL EARNERS
1	Zidane (Real Madrid)	£8.7m
2	Beckham (Man Utd)	£6.6m
3	Batistuta (Roma)	£6.5m
4	Nakata (Parma)	£6.1m
5	Ronaldo (Inter)	£5.9m
6	Vieri (Inter)	£5.7m
7	Raul (Real Madrid)	£5.5m
8	Recoba (Inter)	£5.5m
9	Figo (Real Madrid)	£5.4m
10	Campbell (Arsenal)	£5.4m

£6m Beckham among top earners

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