Search
Close this search box.
Search
Close this search box.

What Sports Create The Wealthiest Athletes?


Professional sports are big business. The different sports and leagues that are popular around the world generate billions of dollars in revenue every year. Naturally, this in turn creates some very wealthy athletes that command very lucrative contracts. Between their salaries and sponsorship deals, it’s not uncommon for professional athletes to become multi millionaires through the course of their careers. This begs the question, which professional sports create the wealthiest athletes overall? 

Basketball

Basketball may have had humble beginnings as a game created in a school gymnasium, but it has since become a global pastime. The NBA is the biggest professional league and the average salary here is around $7.7 million dollars. 

Throughout the years, we have seen the sport of basketball create many famous and wealthy individuals. Oftentimes, the wealthiest individuals like Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal have also had an exceptional career outside of the sport as well, and this is what most of their net worth is attributed to. For instance, Michael Jordan is said to only have been paid $90 million in the NBA, but today he is worth around $1.6 billion. 

For an example of an active player that is commanding a massive contract, you can look at Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors. When he started with the team in 2017, he signed a massive 5-year $200 million dollar contract. 

In past seasons, The Golden State Warriors were one of the best teams in the league. Curry has certainly been the main factor in this success, and was clearly worthy of his title of the NBA’s highest paid player. This season, the Warriors are starting to get back into the groove, and this is reflected in the NBA betting odds. Many basketball teams rely on the strength of one standout player, and Curry certainly fills that role for the team. Overall, basketball is a very lucrative sport for athletes.

Football Playing
Photo Credit: https://unsplash.com/photos/xyDkHkvDYp4

Football

Of course, it would seem that everyone knows football is a massive sport worldwide that seemingly creates millionaires overnight. Almost every country is involved in major league football, and thus the competition for the world’s top talent is fierce. Football clubs are willing to pay millions of dollars to get the right players to help them win championships. 

If you refer to a list of the world’s highest paid athletes, you will see many footballers have made the list. While they may be a far cry from the world’s richest man, names like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Neymar are synonymous with wealth and success. When a club like Real Madrid is valued at an astounding $4.2 billion, you can be assured that the players are doing alright as well.

Between 2019-2020, Ronaldo reportedly generated over $100 million in income. This was highly publicized, as sports journalists love to discuss the ongoing rivalry between Ronaldo and Messi. On that note, Messi’s current contract has been revealed, and is an impressive £492 million, 4-year deal with Barcelona. While these may be two of the highest paid figures in the sport, you have to consider that there are seemingly thousands of others that are making top dollar as well, making football among the highest paid professional sports. 

American Football

American football journalists love to discuss the eye-popping figures that the highest paid players can receive. While we often see these massive contracts thrown around, the average salary is much more modest. According to one source, the average NFL player makes around $860,000. It’s important to consider that many of these players belong to the practice squad, or are backup players that never see a lot of play time. 

Then there are the big contracts. Quarterback Carson Wentz of the Philadelphia Eagles made headlines recently when he signed a 4-year, $128 million contract, with over $100 million guaranteed if he were to get injured. Kirk Cousins of the Minnesota Vikings also recently signed a 2-year, $66 million contract. 

These are not uncommon either. Quarterbacks will regularly make at least $20 million and over each year, and other positions also do very well. While there are many other lucrative sports like tennis or golf, American football consistently has very high paid athletes across the board. 


Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Related Articles

Top Trending

NFTs and Blockchain Protect the Authenticity of Italian Wine
From Italian Vineyards to the Global Market: NFTs and Blockchain Protect the Authenticity of Italian Wine
Struggling to Land a Job
Struggling to Land a Job? Uncover Why Many Americans Are in the Same Boat
CISSP Training and Certification
Why Cybersecurity Aspiring Pros Need CISSP Training and Certification This Year?
Personal Injury Claim to Trial
Reasons for Taking Your Personal Injury Claim to Trial
Tax Saving Fixed Deposit
Complete Guide on Tax Saving Fixed Deposit (FD) Under Section 80C Deduction of Income Tax

LIFESTYLE

Best Perfume for Each Zodiac Sign
Find Your Scent: Best Perfume for Each Zodiac Sign
How to Become a Better Thinker
Tips to Train Your Brain: How to Become a Better Thinker?
Prince William Kate Middleton Controversies
Prince William & Kate's Top Controversies: A Royal Saga Unfolded
leanne morgan daughter cancer
Leanne Morgan's Daughter's Inspiring Journey To Overcoming Cancer
lee zeldin wife ethnicity
The Truth About Lee Zeldin's Wife's Ethnicity [Ethnic Background]

Entertainment

Rosalind Eleazar Hands
The Emotive Power of Rosalind Eleazar's Hands: A Journey through Theatre and Emotion
purple cartoon characters
Exploring the Fascinating World of 20 Top Purple Cartoon Characters
emo anime characters
Exploring 10 Top Emo Anime Characters in Japanese Animation
call of duty lobby leaks
The Aftermath of Call Of Duty Lobby Leaks on the Dark Web
frederick heschel bialik stone
Discovering the Life and Legacy of Frederick Heschel Bialik Stone

GAMING

call of duty lobby leaks
The Aftermath of Call Of Duty Lobby Leaks on the Dark Web
Technology Evolution Gaming
How Does the Evolution in Technology Redefined the Gaming Industry?
Bonuses at Online Casinos
Emerging Trends in Bonuses at Online Casinos: A Comprehensive Overview
Space Exploration Slots
Space Exploration Slots: Winning Big in the Final Frontier
NYTimes Legal Action Wordle Clones
NYTimes Cracks Down on Wordle Copycats: Legal Actions Underway

BUSINESS

Tax Saving Fixed Deposit
Complete Guide on Tax Saving Fixed Deposit (FD) Under Section 80C Deduction of Income Tax
gina sasso
Remembering a Beloved Figure Gina Sasso and Her Achievements
Entrepreneurship Program
3 Essential Elements of a Great Entrepreneurship Program
Most Powerful Women in the World
20 Most Powerful Women in the World in 2024
Freelancer Retirement Planning Tips
A Freelancer's Guide To Future-Proofing Retirement Plans

TECHNOLOGY

CISSP Training and Certification
Why Cybersecurity Aspiring Pros Need CISSP Training and Certification This Year?
Linkedin Adding Gaming Features
LinkedIn Levels Up: Introducing Gaming for Professional Networking
Gemini AI Racial Bias Alert
Gemini AI Racial Bias Alert: A Wake-Up Call on Tech Giants' Influence
FTC Reddit AI Probe
FTC Investigates Reddit's AI Deals: What's at Stake?
Google Play Store Pricing CCI Investigation
CCI Investigates Google Play Store's Pricing

HEALTH

Male vs Female Brain
Male vs Female Brain: Exploring the Neurological Divide
Covid 19 IQ Impact
New Study: Severe COVID-19 Linked to IQ Decline, Impacts Intelligence
jason beghe parkinsons disease
The Truth About Jason Beghe and Parkinson's Disease [Latest Update]
Left Brain vs Right Brain Test
Left Brain vs Right Brain Test: Uncovering Your Dominant Mind Power
Addiction Recovery
Introduction to Addiction Recovery: 7 Essential Concepts for Your Journey to Wellness