He was the best-paid footballer of his time – but it turns out that retirement is far more lucrative for David Beckham than his glory days on the pitch . The former England captain , 39 , made £50.5million last year , despite having hung up his football boots in 2013 . US magazine Forbes puts him second in a list of the highest-earning retired athletes after basketball star Michael Jordan , 52 , who took £67million in 2014 . Scroll down for video . David Beckham at a photocall during the filimg of a Diageo advert from its new single grain whisky , Haig Club , which the former footballer endorses . After Beckham ended his 20-year football career , his earnings were ‘ supercharged ’ by two deals that netted him more than £13.5million last year . It says : ‘ Beckham was the top-paid player in soccer , including endorsements , for most of the last dozen years of his career . ‘ But in his first full year of retirement , Beckham posted the highest earnings of his career with $ 75 million [ £50.5 million ] in 2014 . His previous high was $ 51 [ £34.3 million ] in 2012. ’ One was with drinks giant Diageo to launch Haig Club whisky . The other was with the Global Brands Group in Hong Kong to create his own branded products such as clothes and luxury goods . The former England captain has also fronted a campaign for H & M underwear , right , and has a partnership with Coty , which sells Beckham fragrances . Forbes said : ‘ The deals also have significant potential thanks to Beckham ’ s ownership stake in the ventures . ‘ Beckham remains one of the top product pitchmen in sports , with a dozen deals to his name , including four in China. ’ Other endorsements include Adidas , Sky Sports , Breitling watches and Samsung . He also has a partnership with the cosmetics firm Coty , which sells Beckham-branded fragrances such as Instinct worth more than £67million a year . Forbes said the contract , which runs into 2017 , makes an estimated £4million annually for Beckham . The former footballer in an advert for Armani . His earnings were ‘ supercharged ’ by two deals that netted him more than £13.5million last year . It added : ‘ Beckham partnered with Swedish retailer H & M in 2012 for a line of bodywear . The venture expanded with swimwear in 2014 . ' A new line of menswear this year will expand product offerings , as well as Beckham ’ s take . Doing business with Brand Beckham tends to be good business for everyone involved. ’ Marc Ganis , president of consultancy Sportscorp , told Forbes : ‘ These athletes created brands for themselves before people focused on brands . Bechham starring in an advert for Pepsi alongside Modern Family star Sophia Vergara in the US . ‘ Their brands received a tremendous amount of free publicity every time they were on TV or reporters wrote about them . Some of them converted that brand into a lot more than a free car at the local dealership. ’ Beckham earned a £1.95million-a year base salary with US club LA Galaxy in 2012 . He retired from the sport in May 2013 after five months at French club Paris Saint-Germain , where he donated his £170,000-a-week salary to a children ’ s charity . Beckham has also famously posed in his underpants for fashion house Giorgio Armani , and has lucrative promotional contracts with companies including Adidas , clothing chain H & M and Sky Sports .
Beckham made £50.5million last year despite hanging up his boots in 2013 . Forbes rate him second on the list of the highest-earning retired athletes . Has deals with drinks firm Diageo as well as Adidas , Sky Sports and Samsung .