Sports Illustrated's list of the highest-paid athletes offers a light to anyone who has their career path darkened by the economy recently.

Check out No. 17 on SI's "Fortunate 50" list: Stephon Marbury.

True, NBA gigs tend to be difficult to come by but Marbury, who hasn't been a viable NBA player in four years, was paid $18.6 million not to play basketball by the New York Knicks last season. (Note: the Knicks are the same franchise that once paid Larry Brown $18.5 million not to coach.)