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Top 10 Highest Paying Sports in The World 2024 – Highest Paid Sports

Last Updated on January 28, 2024

Top 10 Highest Paying Sports in The World

Which are the highest paying sports in the world?

Sports is one of the biggest industries in the world in the current era. Millions of males and females around the world are professionally attached to different sports. Some of the sportspersons are earning really high from their profession. The richest athlete in the world has a net worth of more than $2 billion.

Here in the below list, we are going to discuss the ten highest paying sports in the world right now. Why these sports are paying very high? There are some reasons behind this for that we have to understand the ways of earning of different sports.

From where does a sportsperson earn? Who pays him/her? Why some athletes are paid very high?

One of the biggest athlete earning sources is endorsements contracts. Advertising companies around the world pay very high for endorsing their brands.

Top 10 Highest Paying Sports in The World 2023 – Highest Paid Sports

Fan following and popularity region of a sport play an important role in the richness of s aport. A popular sportsman earns more than a less popular one. Brands prefer to sign a contract with one with more fan following because of their aim of reaching more and more people.

Popularity region is also an important factor in the earning of a sport. Here we can take an example of two sports Cricket and Basketball, one of them (cricket) is more popular in the Asian and African regions and the other (basketball) is popular in the USA, Canada, and European region. The richest cricketer has a net worth of $111 million, on the other hand, the richest basketball player has more than $2 billion net worth.

For these excellent athletes, in addition to giving them high bonuses, meaningful gifts can also be given to them as spiritual rewards. For example, custom medals. We can use athletes’ names or photos to customize exclusive medals for them at GS-JJ. These medals are stylish in design and high in quality, making them great gifts for athletes.

This is how the popularity region plays a vital role in the worth of a sport and athlete. Let’s have a look at the following highest-paying sports in the world.

10. Wrestling

highest paid sports

Wrestling is one of the most popular sports in the USA. It is the tenth highest-paying sport in the world right now. The higher-paid wrestler, Broke Lisner is paid $12 million which made him the highest-paid wrestler right now.

Wrestling was first played in the 19th century and started getting fame in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. With the passage of time, it became one of the most popular sports in the world. Wrestling is watched and liked all over the world by millions of fans.

Wrestling is also one of the hardest sports because of its high power, energy, and stamina demands.

9. Auto Racing

Auto Racing

Auto racing is also a popular sport in the USA and European region. This incredible sport is one of the most dangerous sports making it very interesting and daring. The highest-paid car race driver got $18 million, which places it at number nine on the list of highest-paid sports.

Auto racing is first played in 1867 and started getting famous in Europe and the USA soon. The richest player Michael Schumacher has a net worth of $800 million. He is one of the richest athletes in the world right now. 

Auto racing is the most expensive sport in the world because it needs a lot of money to maintain a racing car. Most of the auto racing competitions are highly sponsored.

8. Baseball

Baseball highest paid sports

Baseball is another highest paying sport that has the same popularity region as wrestling and auto racing. The highest paid baseball player ever has got $38 million a year. Baseball is the eighth highest paying sport following ice hockey.

Baseball was also first played in the 18th century and still, it is played with some variations in the rules. Major League Baseball is the most popular baseball league in the world. Baseball players all around the world prefer to join the league because it pays high.

7. Ice Hockey

Ice Hockey

Ice hockey is also one of the most popular and most watched sports in the USA. This highest paying sport has helped its highest paid player to earn $99 million a year. The popular winter sport has millions of fans in the world.

Ice hockey was first played in the 19th century and now it is governed by International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). Its popularity region is also Canada, the USA, and Australia.

6. Tennis

Tennis highest paying sports

Tennis is one of the most popular sports in the world right now. It has millions of fans across the world. Tennis is one of the most women-liked sports. It is also paying very high to even women players. That is why most on the list of highest paid female athletes are female tennis players.

The highest paid tennis player earned $106 million a year making tennis the 6th highest paying sport in the world. Its governing body is International Tennis Federation. Tennis players have some of the most expensive endorsement deals with popular advertising brands across the world. Roger Federer is the richest tennis player in the world right now.

5. Soccer

Soccer - highest paid sports

Soccer is the most popular sport in the world with more than 4 billion fans all over the world. It is also the most played sport in the world in almost every country in the world. The largest community in the sports world is now one of the most valuable industries.

Starting in Mid 19th century, soccer is now popular worldwide, including in Europe, Africa, and Asia. The highest paid footballer has earned $126 million making the soccer fifth highest paying sport in the world. Cristiano Ronaldo is the richest soccer player in the world, he is the first billionaire footballer in the world.

A new research shows soccer is also one of the hardest sports in the world because of its high sprint demands.

4. Golf

Golf - highest paid sports

Golf, an apparently easy-to-learn sport is one of the hardest sports to get mastery. Golf is also one of the most popular sports in the USA. The highest paid golfer has earned $127 million a year.

Golf was first played in the 15th century and started getting fame in the USA and Europe in the 17 century. It is now the fourth-highest-paying sport in the world. The richest golfer, Tiger Woods is one of the richest athletes in the world right now.

3. American Football

American Football - Highest paid sports

American football is one of the most watched sports in the USA. It has millions of fans across the country. NFL is the most popular American football league in the world. Players from all around the world prefer to join the league because it is paying very high.

The highest paid footballer in the NFL has earned $253 million a year making it the third-highest-paying sport in the world. Most popular sports product brands have some of the most powerful contracts with American football players.

2. Boxing

Boxing - Highest paid sports

Boxing is the 2nd highest paying sport in the world right now. The highest paid fighter has earned $333 million of a match. Floyd Mayweather is the richest boxer in the world right now, he is also one of the richest athletes in the world with a huge net worth.

Boxing is one of the oldest sports on the earth, it was first played in 688 BC. It is also popular in the USA, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao was the most popular and most watched match in the history of boxing.

1. Basketball

Basketball - highest paid sport

Basketball is the highest paying sport in the world. NBA is the most popular and highest paying basketball league in the world. During the 1970s, basketball started paying very high. This attracted the attention of athletes all over the world. Because of this many long heightened athletes started playing basketball. It is the most-watched sport in the USA.

Basketball players all around the world try to reach NBA. The highest paid NBA player earned $343 million a year making it the highest paying sport in the world. The richest athlete in the world, Michael Jordan, is also a basketball player, with a net worth of more than $2 billion.

Summary

The top 10 highest paying sports in the world right now are:

  1. Basketball (NBA)
  2. Boxing
  3. American Football (NFL)
  4. Golf
  5. Soccer
  6. Tennis
  7. Ice Hockey
  8. Baseball (MLB)
  9. Auto Racing
  10. Wrestling (WWE)

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