9 time motorcycle world champion Valentino Rossi is the fourth highest earning sportsman of 2009, recent figures have revealed.According to financial experts Forbes.com, the Italian maestro is among the highest paid earners in the world, pocketing just under £29 million in 2009 for his endeavours.The highest listed earner is Tiger Woods. The legendary golfer (and swordsman) raked in £62 million, followed by British footballing ace (and former swordsman) David Beckham's £40 million.Golfer, Phil Mickelson (swordsman status unknown) rated third, taking home £31.5 million.                                                                                                                                                                             

    Thoroughly desrved too in my opinion!!!  He works harder for it than those idiots with little sticks knocking balls about or experts of the magic sponge who do the same !!!   Tis but a pittance !!!                                                                                                                                                                                  

I work harder than any of them!   Except  when I am browsing Biker Match of course!                                                                                                                                                                             

it IS a pittance considering he risks his life every time he goes to work!!!                                                                                                                                                                             

Stella your right he does but he does choose to do it, personally i think most sportspersons are overpaid, i love me footie, but think thier wages are riduclous.   But then again i think fair play if you get it why not !!!                                                                                                                                                                             

I'm not sure anyone deserves those kind of figures, but Rossi certainly deserves to be near the top of the pile.   Unlike those who earn a living by falling over / crying a lot. It'd be called cheating in any other sport                                                                                                                                                                             

HFG...I risk my life every time I go to work too. The A34 through Walsall is horrific!!  For a lot less than £29,000,000. Still, don't begrudge it him, i'm just jealous lol

fair play to rossi....                                                                                                                                                                             

  I can't see why folk need to know what anyone earns, to me it's a private matter, however I do find it unacceptable that sports people earn so much when our emergency service workers get so little.   I do understand that if their wages were as high as sports people's then the profession would attract folk who weren't necessarily dedicated to the welfare of others; even so I still think they don't get paid what they are worth.