Best Paid Sports

What are the best paid Sports?

Normally at "What A Game" we like to clearly define the term we are talking about. One may think this topic is pretty clear and not much thinking is required. Isn't it as simple as what is the average salary per sport per year?

The problem with average when talking about how much each player earns in their respected sport is that the average is inflated by the few sporting stars receiving much more then their counterparts. The solution and the more appropriate measurement is median, the middle salary.

Now that we know about average and median let's get into it.

What are the best paid sports?

• Well this depends on 3 major variables:
  • What type of sport is been played.
  • Where the sport is been played.
  • What gender is playing the sport.

Let's look at gender first.

Basically males are way ahead of their female counterparts.

In Fobes highest paid athletes 2021 there are only 2 females in the top 50 best paid athletes. If we extend this to the top 100 athletes from Sportico there are still only 2.

• Naomi Osaka with 55 Million at number 12 from Fobes and number 15 from Sportico.
• Serena Williams with:
  • 40 Million at number 28 from Fobes
  • 35.5 Million at number 44 from Sportico
• Most of this money come from endorsements (+90%) as apposed to prize money

It always good to compare at least 2 different sources. As we can see they have slightly different numbers.

So for the ladies if you want to earn yourself a few dollars try Tennis.

Let's look at the type of sport and where the sport is been played next as they go hand-in-hand.

Men if you want to get rich playing Football (Soccer), you must play it in Europe. Otherwise you are heading to the USA to play a typical American sport.

If we look at the top 50 Fobes highest paid athletes 2021 again.

There are 3 Foolball (Soccer) players in the top 10 or 8 players in the top 50.

• 2. Lionel Messi, Barcelona, $130M
• 3. Cristiano Ronaldo, Juventus,$120M
• 6.  Neymar, Paris Saint-Germain,$95M
• 31. Kylian Mbappe, Paris Saint-Germain, $40M
• 36. Mohamed Salah, Liverpool, $37.5M
• 43. Paul Pogba, Manchester United, $35.5M
• 48. Andres Iniesta, Vissel Kobe, $34M
• 48. Robert Lewandowski, Bayern Munich, $34M
• Note: These figures include salary plus endorsements

Next let's take a look at those all American sports:

• Average NBA (Basketball) salary:
  • $8.3 million, with a median salary of $3.5 million
• Average NFL (Football) salary:
  • $3.3 million, with a median salary of $1.0 million
• Average MLB (Baseball) salary:
  • $4 million, with a median salary of $1.5 million
• Average NHL (Ice Hockey) salary:
  • $2.7 million, with a median salary of $2.0 million

With these all American sports all is not what it seems. First of all they are played in other countries however, the most significant fact is the average and median is very different. This indicates the very top players are paid a lot more than the rest.

Another interest fact about a couple of these sports in particular the MLB (Baseball) and the NFL (Football) your position in the team can affect your salary immensely.

For example in the MLB (Baseball) there are two types of players earning a lot more than everyone else:

• The designated hitter whose average and median salary is approximately the same at 14 million. Which means they all get a similar salary.
• The pitcher however is a very specialist position. At any point in time there could be 15 earning more than $20 million each, while their median salary is about 3 million.

With the NFL (Football):

• The Quarterback is the best paid often earning a salary up to $30 million. Given the median salary of all players is $1 million they are way out in front.

To summarize the Fobes highest paid athletes 2021 again.

NBA (Basketball) has 13 in the top 50:

• 5. LeBron James, $96.5M
• 10. Kevin Durant, $75M
• 11. Stephen Curry $74.5M
• 14. Russell Westbrook, $59M
• 16. James Harden, $51M
• 19. Giannis Antetokounmpo, $47M
• 20. Klay Thompson, $44.5M
• 22. Kyrie Irving, $44M
• 30. Damian Lillard, $40.5M
• 31. Chris Paul, $40M
• 35. Jimmy Butler, $38.5M
• 38. Paul George, $37M
• 40. Anthony Davis, $36M
• Note: These figures include salary plus endorsements

NFL (Football) has 18 in the top 50:

• 4. Dak Prescott, $107.5M
• 9. Tom Brady, $76M
• 15. Patrick Mahomes, $54.5M
• 17. David Bakhtiari, $48.5M
• 18. Ronnie Stanley, $47.5M
• 22. Joey Bosa, $44M
• 24. Jalen Ramsey, $43.5M
• 24. Trent Williams, $43.5M
• 26. Myles Garrett, $43M
• 33. DeAndre Hopkins, $39M
• 33. Leonard Williams, $39M
• 36. Marlon Humphrey, $37.5M
• 38. Chris Jones, $37M
• 40. Aaron Donald, $36M
• 40. Matt Judon, $36M
• 43. Deshaun Watson, $35.5M
• 45. Shaquil Barrett, $35M
• 46. J.J. Watt, $34.5M
• Note: These figures include salary plus endorsements

MLB (Baseball) has 0 in the top 50 (4 in the top 100)

NHL (Ice Hockey) has 0 in the top 50 (0 in the top 100)

Other sports that rate a meantion in the top 50:

• 1. Conor McGregor, Mixed Martial Arts, $180
• 7. Roger Federer, Tennis, $90M
• 8. Lewis Hamilton, Auto Racing, $82M
• 27. Max Verstappen, Auto Racing, $42.5M
• 46. Novak Djokovic, Tennis, $34.5M
• 48. Canelo Alvarez, Boxing, $34M
  

Therefore to wrap it up the best chance you have of earning a lot of money from sports is

• Become a quarterback in the NFL (American Football)
• Try your hand in the NBA (American Basketball)
• or give Football (Soccer) a go in Europe
• If your a lady Tennis is your game.

Thanks for taking the time to have a read. I hope you enjoyed the artical.