Scott Dixon's second Indy Racing League title has confirmed his status as one of New Zealand's highest-earning sports-men.
But the driving ace still has a long way to go to catch former Otago sailing great Russell Coutts, who appears to be the highest-paid athlete we've got.
Dixon will pocket about $6 million this year after winning the IRL series and racing to a memorable Indy 500 win in May.
Coutts came into serious money when he signed for Switzerland-based America's Cup team Alinghi five years ago, and his salary is now believed to be about $15 million at an Oracle team bankrolled by American billionaire Larry Ellison.
If Coutts can help Ellison take the Auld Mug from Alinghi next year, he can probably expect a pay rise.
New Zealand football captain Ryan Nelsen secured his future when he signed for English club Blackburn Rovers four years ago.
Nelson is ranked one of the best defenders in the Premier League and his new contract pays him about $9 million a year - or $173,000 a week.
Brad Butterworth replaced former sailing partner Coutts at Alinghi and is believed to pull in about $8 million a year, while former US Open winner Michael Campbell has seen his earnings plummet but can still count on about $4 million, thanks to endorsements.
Celtic football player Chris Killen and New Orleans Hornets basketballer Sean Marks are hardly stars for their respective teams, but most of us would be happy to take their $1.5 million salaries.
The highest-earning New Zealand-based sportsmen include cricketers Brendon McCullum and Daniel Vettori, with their earnings boosted by the new Indian Premier League, and rugby stars Richie McCaw and Daniel Carter.
Many would have Steve Williams, caddy for world No 1 golfer Tiger Woods and earner of between $10 million to $14 million, on the list.
I don't - he's associated with a sportsman, but not a sportsman himself.
Coutts, Dixon and company trail far behind Woods, the world's richest sportsman.
Woods banked about $180 million between June 2007 and June 2008, followed by English football player David Beckham ($85 million), golfer Phil Mickelson ($70 million) and Formula 1 driver Kimi Raikkonen ($65 million).
