Are you searching for the ‘highest paid sport’? Do not worry, you are at the right spot. Here we will look at some of the sports that are some of the biggest money-maker in the industry.
From race-cars to nine irons. We will discuss everything. So get your popcorn, put your phones on silent, and lets go!
Top 5 highest-paid sport in the world.
According to several reports, with the advent of the Internet and OTT platforms that stream sports, the industry has become one of the most lucrative in the entertainment sector.
Each year, fans pour in to see their favorite athletes competing. Therefore, to sustain this huge industry, money is the most important factor out there. Money controls everything, from acquiring players to merchandising, sponsorship, etc.
All these factors are closely linked with imaging and fan engagements. Therefore, let us look at the top 5 highest-paid sports in the world:
Auto Racing:
One of the highest-paid sports and top sporting events in Europe and the United States of America. It is a very risky sport, where high-performing machines operate at break-neck speeds.
Teams pour time and money into their machine as well as drivers. According to sources, the driver of one of the highest-paid automobile races got a hefty sum of around $18 million.
Michael Schumacher, a prominent athlete in the following sport, is estimated to be valued at around $800 million. This makes him one of the wealthiest athletes in the world at present.
Golf:
A peaceful and serene sport that does not rely on the demonstration of speed or strength. The game is all about accuracy. However, make no mistake by thinking golfer are not paid well for their efforts.
Sources have estimated that golf would be the highest-paid professional sport in 2023. The game is rapidly growing in popularity, especially amongst the wealthier classes. As a result, you would see golf courses all across the world.
Even if a golfer does not win a match, he would still be compensated handsomely. This amount can range somewhere from around $25,000 to $1.5 million. Apart from the salary, golfers are known to earn money from sponsorship.
In 2020, Tiger Woods earned around $60 million from sponsorship. Therefore, this makes it apparent why golf is on this list.
NFL:
According to a survey, around 37% of Americans reported that American football is their favorite sport. Therefore, as is apparent from the numbers, NFL is a hugely popular sport. Thus, it makes sense why NFL players are compensated so well.
On average, NFL players earned a figure of around $3.3 million during the 2019-2020. When you compare this sum with $90,000, a sum that players earned during the 1980s, you will see how the industry grew.
Kirk Cousin is one of the top dogs of the game. By 2020, he had earned around $60.5 million, more money than most of us can imagine.
Soccer:
Soccer is one of the most popular sports in the world. With over 200 countries taking part in the sporting event, it has transcended to a position of religion.
Similarly, players, too have transcended their position and are lauded as gods. A soccer player’s average salary is mostly dependent on the league they are playing in. However, the average salary ranges from $1 million to $1.5 million.
But, the highest salaries are for athletes who compete in the English Premier League, where they make around $3.1 million a year. The highest-paid athlete in soccer is Christiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo makes a whopping $105 million with around $45 million coming from endorsements. Ronaldo is also one of the most profitable soccer players whose potential is just “limitless.” As a result, soccer is the highest-paid sport when you speak globally.
Basketball:
With only 30 teams in the league, the NBA has built an empire and is the current Kingpin in the sports industry.
NBA has successfully created a complex system of revenue generation through television, sponsorships, merchandising, and ticket sales.
Just imagine the money players are making. Lebron James is currently valued at around $88.2 million, a hefty sum if you ask us. However, he is nowhere close to Kevin Garnett.
Conclusion:
In summation, I regret not playing sports. Just imagine the amount of money these players and their respective sponsors or clubs are making every year.
However, it is not unnatural, the players are the resources that keep their respective sports alive. Therefore, it is quite obvious why these individuals are swimming in ‘dollas.’
So, next time somebody criticizes you for throwing balls with your friends. Just let them know how much your favorite athlete is playing. Ciao!
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