Highest Paid Extreme Enthusiasts On The 2008 Forbes List
February 18, 2009 – 11:48 pm PT by MikeTags: Forbes Magazine, Kelly Slater, Ryan Sheckler, Shawn White, Tony Hawk, Travis Pastrana —
Shaun looks like a millions bucks!!!
In the most extreme world of extreme sports, the extreme enthusiasts who take part in these extreme sports (i.e. snowboarding, rollerblading, skating, roller and boarding, boogie boarding, extreme walking) have evolved from obscure nobody’s, to some of the most admired and esteemed household names. In the 80’s, my parents would never allow me to admire Shaun White or to a more intense level, ARLO EISENBERG. Looking up to “characters” like these were out of the question. My parents made me look up to people like YO-YO-MA.
Two decades and a few bad haircuts later, these so-called “bad boys of the streets” stuck to what they know best. Being EXTREME. And because they stuck to what the love no matter what anybody said to deter them from their passion, they are now making big bucks. More money than managers who work at MCDONALDS. How big? Well the good old boys club from FORBES MAG put together a list of the highest paid ACTION SPORTS STARS.
It’s a new day when our ambassadors from the Action Sports world would get some recognition from the same people viewed them as little rats just a few years ago. Excluded from the list are some of my favorite stars.
WILLY AND LESTER LANCASTER - $13,000
VLADIMIR ABRAMOVICH - $25,000
EXTREME SINGING - $200
1. Tony Hawk - $12 million
2. Shaun White - $9 million
3. Ryan Sheckler - $5 million
4. Travis Pastrana (tie) - $3 million
4. Kelly Slater (tie) - $3 million
6. Laird Hamilton - $2.5 million
7. Paul Rodriguez - $2 million
8. Danny Kass (tie) - $1 million
8. Dave Mirra (tie) - $1 million
8. Travis Rice (tie) - $1 million
Oh, and if you’re wondering, the top earners among women were snowboarders like Torah Bright, Gretchen Bleiler and Hannah Teter — est. earnings: $750K.
