Highest Paying Sports of all Time

Efe Ikhenaode

Sports is not only a popular source of entertainment, but also one of the biggest industries of this era to make money from. Athletes not only bring name and fame for their countries, but also earn for themselves in millions. Usually, sportsmen get paid depending on the terms and conditions of their contracts, performances, sign-on bonuses, and even their popularity. The highest-paid sport in the world has millions, if not billions, of fans worldwide. If you are passionate about sport and would love to earn while following your passion, then one of these ten sports is for you.

Cycling ranks among these sports. Legendary cyclist, Lance Armstrong, was ranked at 9th place in the list of Richest Players in 2010 released by Forbes with a total income of $28 million. Lance is also one of the highest-paying sports players in 2024. Cycling is now considered one of the world’s most active sports ever since the innovation of cycles and other vehicles.

With about 500 million fans worldwide, baseball is among the top five highest-paying sports in the world today. Record has it that the highest-paid baseball player gets paid $38 million a year. Major League Baseball is the most famous baseball league in the world, and it is home to many of the top baseball players.
For Ice Hockey, National Hockey League

players can earn significant salaries, especially star players who are often signed to long-term contracts that pay millions of dollars per year. Ice Hockey is the national winter sport of Canada and is also popular in the USA, Russia, and Australia.

Tennis is also in the top 10 highest paid sports in the world, with $90 million as the maximum amount paid to a player. The sport is managed by the International Tennis Foundation (ITF).

American Football is not left out of the list. The National Football League (NFL) is the most popular league based in the United States which manages one of the highest paid sports of the world, American Football. Roger Staubach, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Steve Young, Drew Brees, etc are some of the most popular and richest players of the sports.

Football/Soccer is undoubtedly the most popular sport in the world. It is played by almost every country in the world, it has a huge fan base of more than 4 billion fans worldwide. Soccer started in the 1950s and is very popular now in Europe, Africa, and Asia. Brunei Prince Faiq Bolkiah is the world’s richest soccer player with a networth of more than 20 billion which was earned through endorsements and salary.

Golf, though mostly played recreationally by (wealthy) people, is fast growing to be a widely played game. Contrary to the impression that only wealthy people are interested in golf, golf courses are increasing in number around the world, thus making it more accessible and easy to play. Professional players are known to earn a lot through prices and endorsement deals, with top players earning tens of millions annually.

Auto-racing, first performed in 1867, is one of the least unsafe forms of recreation, and its daringness is undoubtedly a reason it is globally adored. Just like several other sports mentioned, it is well backed by sponsors, thereby making it possible for the racers to earn very high. The richest auto racer, Michael Schumacher, is worth over $600 million networth, and is also one of the richest athletes in the world.

Also, there is Basketball which is one of the highest paid sports in the world. The National Basketball Association (NBA) is known to offer some of the highest player salaries in professional sport. It has produced many great legendary players of all time including Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, etc.

Boxing is one of the oldest sports in human history. It is widely known for its high purses as players are known to earn multi-billion prizes for their fights along with multiple brand deals and endorsements. Boxing is the highest paid sport in the world, with Floyd Mayweather Jr. reportedly being paid a whopping $600 million for a fight against Conor McGregor.

Ultimately, the question of what sport makes the most money is an intriguing one. It’s not just about the players’ money, but about the entire economy surrounding the sport, from broadcasting rights to merchandise. Each sport, in its unique way, contributes to the fascinating and dynamic world of sports revenue.