Usain Bolt has signed a sponsorship deal that will make him the best-paid athlete in history before the London 2012 Olympics.
The exact value of the three-year deal with Puma has not been disclosed but a source said it was comparable with footballer Cristiano Ronaldo's contract with Nike, worth $32.5 million (£21 million) over four years.
Puma chairman and chief executive Jochen Zeitz said Bolt, 24, would be the "best-paid athlete in track and field history".
"It's good, man. I'm happy. I'm very happy with the figure," said Bolt, who has been signed to the German sportswear firm since he was 16.
Bolt is cutting short his season this year, missing the Commonwealth Games in India in October, because of his injured back but is looking forward to defending his sprint titles at the 2011 worlds and the 2012 London Olympics.
"I'm trying to make myself a legend," he said. "People are really looking forward to me breaking records. I'm going to go run hard to win, that's my aim. And every time I go out there and run hard to win, I get records."
Bolt's announcement on his shortened season came days after he lost a 100-metre race in Stockholm to American Tyson Gay. It was his first loss in an individual race in two years - his last defeat also coming in the Swedish capital.
"Stockholm is not my favourite place," said Bolt, adding that it was good for the sport for him to lose occasionally. "Tyson was in good shape. He really wanted to beat me."
Mr Zeitz said Puma would make Bolt a centrepiece in its Olympic marketing program and use him to help develop footwear and other apparel.
"He's not just an athlete that promotes performance products but he's also an athlete that transcends well beyond his sport into lifestyle, and that's where we see the opportunity," the Puma chief said.
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Bolt faced criticism this month for pulling out of the Aviva London Grand Prix at Crystal Palace, saying he would have been hit badly by British tax law, which stipulates that foreign sports stars have to pay taxes on their worldwide endorsements.
Former Olympic heptathlon champion Denise Lewis said: "We have had global stars come in and out of this country for many years so I don't know why it's an issue all of a sudden. It does baffle me a little bit."
