Athlete brands are calculated by subtracting the average endorsement income of the top 10 athletes in a particular sport from what the athlete earns from endorsements. The intent is to capture the value premium the athlete's name has on Madison Avenue versus the other top endorsers in the same sport.
Top 10: Sachin Tendulkar
Brand Value: $10 million
Tendulkar is widely considered cricket's all-time greatest batsman and could earn much more than the $16.5 million he raked in from endorsements last year were it not for his refusal to pitch alcohol or tobacco. His biggest backers are Adidas, Coca-Cola, Castrol and Toshiba.