By Cork Gaines
We all know that athletes like Alex Rodriguez and Peyton Manning and Serena Williams are among the highest-paid in their sports. But the biggest contracts are not always reserved for the superstars.
If we take a closer look, there are many athletes that you might be surprised to learn either made a ton of money in their career, or rank very high among their peers despite flying under the radar of the casual American sports fan.
Data via the respective sports leagues, Sports-Reference.com, or Spotrac.com. All sports are career earnings. Totals for NBA players include guaranteed money remaining on current contracts.