Sunday, August 15, 2010
Tiger Woods has nothing on Gaius Appuleius Diocles. While the famed golfer closes in on earning a billion dollars playing his sport, Woods would still have a long way to go before his winnings come close to Diocles, ancient Rome’s most famous charioteer.
During the days of Circus Maximus, Diocles (104-146) established himself as the greatest competitor of Rome’s chariot races. Some have estimated he won 35,863,120 sesterces in prize money over 24 years of racing—or $15 billion by today’s standards, according to Peter Struck at Lapham’s Quarterly. Diocles, a Spainiard who died at the age of 42, is said to have won 1,463 of his 4,257 races and finished second 861 times.
-Noel Brinkerhoff
Greatest of All Time (by Peter Struck, Lapham’s Quarterly)
Ludi Circenses (Societas Via Romana)
The 50 Highest-earning American Athletes (by Johan Freedman, Sports Illustrated)
The 20 Highest-earning International Athletes (by Johan Freedman, Sports Illustrated)
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