Schumacher Tops European Sporting Earners' List

Racing driver Michael Schumacher heads a list of Europe's 100 highest-paid sports stars who earned nearly $600 million dollars between them in 1999, according to October's EuroBusiness magazine.

The list, which includes only two women, puts the average annual earnings of the top 100 stars from wages, sponsorship and endorsements at $5.8 million, and estimates their combined wealth at $2.66 billion.

Ferrari's Schumacher tops the list with estimated earnings of $54.4 million dollars a year, over three times the pay packet of second-placed heavyweight boxing champion Lennox Lewis of Britain ($15.6 million).

Formula One world champion and championship leader Mika Hakkinen is 19th on the list with earnings of $8.9 million. After Schumacher the highest-paid racing driver is his brother Ralf who is seventh on the list.

The report said 43 of Europe's 100 top earners were footballers.

Netherlands and Arsenal striker Dennis Bergkamp is top with an annual income of $11.2 million, although his career earnings of $43.3 million fall short of England midfielder David Beckham's $45 million.

The Manchester United star earns $10.4 million a year, the report said.

French playmaker and former world player of the year Zinedine Zidane earns $4.83 million and has career earnings of $23.4 million.

Russian tennis player Anna Kournikova is 12th - and the youngest on the list - with an annual income of $10.5 million, despite having never won an ATP singles title.

Switzerland's Martina Hingis is fifth on the list with a yearly income of $11.4 million.