After years of legal and legislative wrangling, college athletes finally began making money off their own names, images and likenesses (NIL) in July 2021.

In the years since, we've seen many young stars who once could have been suspended for accepting a free meal or pair of sneakers become legal, legit millionaires.

When we originally ran this list in 2024, colleges were still not allowed to pay athletes directly, but that has changed with a recent court ruling.