Despite the coronavirus pandemic curtailing sports leagues and forcing athletes to go on hiatus for much of 2020, the combined earnings of 2021’s top 10 highest paid sports stars fell just short of the all-time record set in 2018.Despite the coronavirus pandemic curtailing sports leagues and forcing athletes to go on hiatus for much of 2020, the combined earnings of 2021’s top 10 highest paid sports stars fell just short of the all-time record set in 2018.