PITCHING WEDGE

RORY MCILROY has been revealed to have a net worth of a mega £225million.

But that’s not enough for the golf superstar to be the top British sportsperson in the Sunday Times’ 40 Under 40 Rich List.

McIlroy, 35, has hit the headline this week after announcing his shock divorce from wife Erica Stoll after seven years of marriage.

The Northern Irishman is said to have racked up earnings exceeding £65m in 2023 – despite it marking TEN YEARS without a Major win – with the bulk of his wealth coming from sponsorship deals with the likes of Nike, Omega and TaylorMade.

Despite struggling with his game, the Belfast-born golfer did pocket £1.3m for winning the Scottish Open last summer which was his biggest windfall on the course.

McIlroy’s form has seen an upturn so far in 2024, and he scooped £2.8m with a victory at the Wells Fargo Championship just last week, although that haul will does not count towards the figures.

World No2 McIlroy – who sits 13th in the overall Sunday Times list – is in the rear-view mirror of another high-profile sports star.

Seven-time Formula One world champion Sir Lewis Hamilton tops the list after amassing his own vast fortune.

Hamilton, 39, saw his net worth increase to £350m after announcing he was joining Ferrari from Mercedes for next season.

That ranks him as the country’s wealthiest sports star under 40, and NINTH among all people on the list.

His fortune also sees him make the main list of ALL Brits, which includes billionaires such as Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

He has sponsorship deals with Bose, Electronic Arts, Monster Energy, Tommy Hilfiger and Puma among others.

Hamilton also has ties into the movie industry – with his F1 movie starring Brad Pitt becoming one of the costliest in history – and has found himself put into the popular Fortnite video game.

The ex-McLaren ace ranks ninth overall in the list and narrowly edges out Ipswich fan and shirt sponsor Ed Sheeran who is worth £340m.

Former heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua is third among sport stars and is joint 17th with Harry Styles with a worth of £175m.

Joshua is punching his way back to into title contention in boxing and has increased his wealth by getting to grips with property acquisitions in Mayfair, Bond Street and BP’s former HQ in Hertfordshire.

The majority of his wealth, £129.2m to be exact, is held by Sparta Promotions and shows he earned £28.3m from boxing purses and £8.9m from commercial deals.

Two-time Wimbledon champion Sir Andy Murray ranks way lower in the list – 27th overall – with a value of £100m.

The 37-year-old has won more than £50m on the tennis court throughout his career while his income has been boosted by sponsorship deals with the likes of Head, Standard Life and American Express.

Murray also has a stake in sportswear brand Castore worth £35m and owns the Cromlix hotel in Stirlingshire. England captain and Bayern Munich star Harry Kane is next with a fortune of £75m.

The 30-year-old reportedly pocketed a £30m signing on fee and also earns £400,000 a week.

Kane also now owns a £30m mansion in Munich.

Fellow England international Raheem Sterling is next with a worth of £72m. – Sun.