The 50 highest-earning American athletes

Not to be outdone by LeBron, D-Wade spent nearly $11 million for his own new Miami mansion. It's just blocks from the house purchased by the third member of Heat's Big Three, Chris Bosh.

The Rams signed last year's No. 1 draft pick to the largest rookie deal in NFL history, with the bulk of money being paid out over 2011: an $18 million option bonus and an $8.4 million roster bonus.

It's amazing that a driver who hasn't won a race in more than three years is still his sport's top earner. The Earnhardt empire still accounts for around one-third of all merchandise sales in NASCAR.

The three-time Pro Bowl corner reportedly wants $20 million a year. His 2011 haul is a good start: He'll make $24 million in salary and bonus payments based on his renegotiation from last September.

Furyk's winning putt at last September's Tour Championship earned him a $1.4 million prize and a $10 million FedEx Cup bonus. The club? A $39 purchase at a discount pro shop in Easton, Mass.

Carmelo may be the Knicks' bigger prize pickup over the past year, but Amar'e is actually scheduled to outearn his All-Star teammate by more than a quarter-million over the next four seasons.

Would CC leave $92 million on the table? The Yanks' ace can opt out of his mammoth contract after this season. Considering Cliff Lee landed a five-year, $120 million deal, there's speculation he might.

Mauer's eight-year, $184 million deal is the largest ever for a catcher by far. His $23 million salary, along with that of first baseman Justin Morneau, eats up a third of Twins' total payroll this season.

Like Earnhardt, Gordon's best days on the track are in the past. But his brand is strong, with big deals with Pepsi, Dupont and Nicorette, and he's raised more than $11 million for children's charities.

The good news for the Angels, whose payroll shot to fourth in baseball with the acquisition of Wells: His salary tops out this season and "drops" to a mere $21 million a year from 2012 to 2014.