more than a decades ago , carl lee stepped on the threshold of what was to become the greatest athletes career in record . he had just broken two of the legendary jesse james ' student marks , but no believed he should get a corporate giant , the result of hundreds of dozens of dollars in advertising . his career was therefore nominally professional . fifteen olympic and ncaa championship gold medals and 21 world records later , lewis has become the richest man in the history of track and field - - a multi - millionaire .
Carl Lewis won eighteen gold medals and set 21 world records.