China's Li Na ranks 14th at $14 million among the world's richest retired sports stars. [Photo/Agencies]

NBA legend Michael Jordan and English soccer superstar David Beckham are the world's richest retired sports stars, according to a Forbes magazine study.

Jordan, a six-time NBA champion in the 1990s with the Chicago Bulls who now owns the league's Charlotte Hornets, made $110 million last year to top the magazine's list. He retired in 2003.

With his Nike brand still a top money-spinner along with other endorsement deals, Jordan, 53, is worth $1.1 billion and will make at least $30 million more than any other athlete in the world this year, active or retired, the magazine said.

Beckham, leading an investment group in the early stages of launching a Major League Soccer expansion team in Miami, ranked second at $65 million. Major endorsement deals in Britain and China helped boost the 40-year-old's position.

Golf legend Arnold Palmer, 86, ranked third at $40 million. His Bay Hill resort hosts a PGA Tour event and his iced tea-lemonade drink is a top-selling US brand.

Topping the women's charts in 14th was China's tennis star Li Na, 34, at $14 million. She retired two years ago but remains an iconic endorsement figure in her homeland. She won the 2011 French Open and 2014 Australian Open titles.

Junior Bridgeman, who played mainly as a reserve for 12 years in the NBA before retiring in 1987, was fourth at $32 million, thanks to a owning a diverse lineup of restaurant franchises, with 1950s National Football League player Jerry Richardson, owner of a restaurant chain and the NFL Carolina Panthers, fifth on $30 million.

Jack Nicklaus, who won a record 18 major golf titles, was sixth on $26 million, largely due to his course design business.

He was followed by former NBA big man Shaquille O'Neal on $22 million, former race car driver turned car dealer and team owner Roger Penske at $20 million, South African golf legend Gary Player on $19 million and NBA legend Magic Johnson at $18 million.

Among other top international athletes was Australian golfer Greg Norman, 12th overall at $15 million thanks to course design and the sale of a sports management business, and Brazilian soccer icon Pele at $14 million.