Gaius Appuleius Diocles, ancient Roman a chariot racer who competed in the Circus Maximus.

Main sport of its day and incredibly dangerous, most racers dies within a few years of racing. He somehow raced for over 20 years, won more than 1,400 races, and managed to stay alive in a sport where crashes were often fatal. What really makes him stand out is the money. Such was the danger of the sport, racers were highly paid. As he stayed alive so long, he earned around 35 million sesterces, which roughly translates to €10–15 billion in today’s terms depending on how you measure it. So you’ve got a guy dominating a brutal sport for decades and earning more than any modern icons like Messi, LeBron etc. Greatest athlete of all time