Yi Jianlian (易建聯)

Sport: Basketball

Age: 26

2012 earnings: 13 million (US$2.08 million)

2011 ranking: 2

Born in October of 1987 in Guangdong, Yi Jianlian is one of the most revered basketball players in China. In 2004, Yi was enrolled into the Chinese national basketball team; that following year, he became the youngest MVP in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).

In the 2007 NBA Draft, Yi was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks as sixth overall pick. In June 2008, Yi was traded and transferred to the New Jersey Nets, and afterwards went on to the Washington Wizards in 2010. On Jan. 6, 2012, Yi was signed by the Dallas Mavericks on a one-year contract. But eight months later, he announced that he would return to China and play for his former hometown club Guangdong Southern Tigers during the 2012-2013 season.