Athletes from all around the world compete in these huge sporting events, which are organized by several nations and cost billions of dollars to put on, like the last Olympics hosted in Tokyo.
The wealthiest athlete has an estimated net worth of over $2 billion, which boasts the industry’s profitability. The ability to pursue a great career in athletics is truly a dream come true. But pursuing a profession in athletics requires a lot of effort and persistence.
What is the highest paying sport in the world?
You should absolutely take a look at our list of the highest paying sports in the world if you decide to pursue a career in sports for yourself or your children.
1: Basketball
The highest paying sport is basketball. The NBA contains 30 teams and is the most lucrative basketball league in the whole wide world.
As basketball players started making huge sums of money by playing the games during the 1970s, it drew attention from all corners of the world.
In Canada and the USA, it is also the sport that is most watched. NBA basketball players are pretty tall, which is an attractive feature of them.
Almost every basketball aspirant wants to be a player for the NBA. Michael Jordan, who was a former NBA athlete, earned $343 million annually.
2: Boxing
One of the planet’s oldest sports, boxing was first practiced in 688 BC, more than 2700 years ago. It is now ranked second on the list of highest paying sports in the world. In Europe, the United States, Africa, and Asia, boxing is particularly well-liked.
Boxing is a combat sport performed inside a ring, making it a game with high risk and great profit. The top boxer received a record $333 million for a single battle.
American boxer Floyd Mayweather, whose value is believed to be $450 million, is the wealthiest athlete in the world.
3: Football
Millions of fans in the USA watch American football, usually referred to as football, making it the highest-paying sport in the world. The 32-team National Football League (NFL) is the most well-known American football league worldwide.
The majority of football players’ greatest desire is to play in the league. Among all professional sports leagues, the NFL has the highest average attendance worldwide.
4: Golf
Golf is regarded as one of the most difficult sports to master, yet it is regarded as a costly sport in the world. Although golf was first played in the 15th century, it wasn’t until the 17th century that it really took off in the USA and Europe.
A top player in Gold earns approximately $127 million annually. The richest golf player is Tiger Woods with a whopping net amount of $800 million. This rich golfer broke the records of Forbes’s list of wealthiest golfers, which is a solid achievement of all time.
5: Soccer
With approximately 4 billion supporters globally, soccer is without a doubt the most popular sport in the world and the highest paying sport too. Since its inception in the 1950s, soccer has grown in popularity throughout Asia, Africa, and Europe.
Football players have the highest salary among all the sports, which is approx $127 million. You might have heard of Cristiano Rinaldo, who is a Portuguese soccer player and is the richest soccer player in the world. He has a net worth of $1 billion, and most of that comes through endorsing brands and game salaries.
6: Tennis
With millions of spectators worldwide, tennis is indeed a popular and highest paying sport in the world. The most popular and renowned tennis competitions and events are the US Open, French Open, and Grand Slams.
This sport attracts participants of both genders. It’s interesting to note that women tennis players are also on the list of the highest-paid athletes. Tennis is authorized by the ITF, and the highest paying Tennis player makes approximately $106 million a year.
7: Ice Hockey
The highest paying sport in the world, ice hockey is also one of the most popular and widely seen in the USA. An ice rink is necessary for you to play ice hockey whether you treat it as an indoor or outdoor sport.
If you are a fan of ice hockey, you must know that the richest player in this sport earns a lump sum salary of $99 million per annum. This is Canada’s national winter sport, but it is also well appreciated in other countries such as Australia, the US, and Russia.
8: Baseball
Baseball is the highest paying sport in the world, and like many other sports, it is particularly popular in Japan, South Korea, and the USA. The largest annual salary was $38 million, which was received by a baseball player.
Initially performed in the 18th century. The regulatory organization that oversees the choices and execution of baseball’s rules is the International Baseball Federation or IBAF for short.
Numerous MLB players have long been regularly included in the Forbes list of the wealthiest athletes. The wealthiest baseball player is an American former professional named Alex Rodriguez, who has a net worth of $400 million.
9: Car Racing
In Europe and the USA, car racing is an extremely popular and high-paid sport. It is one of the most entertaining sports in the universe, but it also has its fair share of risks. It comes pretty far on our list of expensive sports.
It might shock you to find out that the largest cash prize was awarded to a car racer, and it was a whopping amount of $18 million. Since the introduction of the vehicle, there has been auto racing, with the first race being held in 1867.
10: Cycling
Charles Minthorn Murphy was the first cyclist to complete a mile in less than a minute more than 120 years ago, in 1899. Since the invention of bicycles and other vehicles, cycling is today regarded as one of the most active sports in the world.
Numerous cycling competitions are hosted all over the world and are regarded as some of the most paid competitions. Not only do well-known cyclists profit from competitions, but they also promote brands’ goods and services.
Signing Off
The fan base and popularity of a sport in a particular area have a big impact on how rich a report is. A well-known athlete makes more money than a lesser-known athlete. Because their goal is to reach as many people as possible, brands prefer to sign a contract with one that has a larger fan base.
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