Today, the sports industry is not only one of the largest in the world, but also one of the most widely enjoyed forms of entertainment. Around the globe, schools now routinely incorporate sports into their curricula.
Athletes not only boost their country’s international profile, but also their personal wealth. When it comes to reaching the pinnacle of their sport, athletes will stop at nothing to ensure their success.
Professional athletes make significant sums of money from endorsement deals in addition to their playing salaries. These deals can be worth tens of millions of dollars over the course of several years. Players are able to make significant sums of money at each tournament they participate in.
Ten of the World’s Highest-Paid Sports for 2022
Athletes from all around the world compete in big sports events like the Olympics, which were just hosted in Tokyo, and many countries spend billions of dollars to organise these competitions. With the wealthiest athlete worth over $2 billion, the sports business is booming.
Making a living doing what you love is a dream come true for many people. A career in sports, however, requires a great deal of dedication and persistence. If you or your children are considering a future in sports, though, you should take a look at our ranking of the top-paying sports in the globe.
And if you’re wondering which sport brings in the most cash, I can tell you that it depends on the aspiring player’s cerebral and physical abilities. In 2022, these are the top 10 sports in terms of salary.
1: Cycling
More than a century and a half ago, in 1899, Charles Minthorn Murphy was the first cyclist to ride a mile in under a minute. He became known as “Mile-a-Minute Murphy” for this achievement.
Since the development of cycles and other vehicles, cycling has been one of the most popular forms of physical activity around the globe. Several cycling tournaments are among the best paying events and are conducted in different regions of the world each year.
Prominent cyclists get money from endorsement deals as well as competition winnings. In 2010, Lance Armstrong, the legendary cyclist, earned $28 million, placing him ninth on Forbes’ list of the Richest Players. As of the year 2022, Lance is among the highest-paid athletes in the world.
2: Auto Racing
In both the United States and Europe, auto racing is a widely followed spectator sport. One of the most dangerous sports, auto racing is also incredibly exciting to watch. The biggest sum ever given to a racing driver was $18 million, placing auto racing at number nine on the list of highest-paid sports.
The first automotive race was held in 1867, just a year after the first automobiles were built. Michael Schumacher, a former German race car driver, is the wealthiest participant in auto racing, with an estimated net worth of $800 million. Michael has set a new standard that has yet to be surpassed for fastest laps and most races won in a season.
3: Baseball
Popular in the United States, Japan, and South Korea, baseball is the eighth highest-earning sport in the world. The highest annual salary ever recorded was $38 million, and it was earned by a baseball player.
Its origins can be traced back to the 18th century. The International Baseball Federation (abbreviated as IBAF) is the organisation responsible for creating and enforcing baseball-related rules and regulations.
It is commonly accepted that Major League Baseball (MLB) is the premier baseball league in the world. Many Major League Baseball players have been regulars on Forbes’ list of the world’s highest-paid sportsmen for years. Ex-American professional baseball player Alex Rodriguez is worth an estimated $400 million, making him the sport’s all-time wealthiest player.
4: Ice Hockey
In addition to being one of the most watched sports in the United States, ice hockey is the ninth highest compensated sport in the world. Played on ice in either an indoor or outdoor rink, ice hockey is a physical contact sport.
The annual salary of the highest paid Ice Hockey player is close to $99 million. Canada’s national winter sport, ice hockey, is also huge in the United States, Russia, and Down Under.
The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) is the governing body of ice hockey, and the National Hockey League (NHL) is the most dominant professional ice hockey league in the world. Wayne Gretzky, a legendary Canadian player, has a net worth of $250 million, making him the wealthiest player in the history of ice hockey.
5: Tennis
Millions of people all around the world watch tennis every week, making it one of the most popular sports in the world and earning it the sixth largest salary. Most tennis fans tune in to watch the US Open, French Open, or one of the other Grand Slam tournaments.
There are also many female participants in this sport. Among the highest-paid female athletes in the world, you may find tennis players. The International Tennis Federation (ITF) is Tennis’s supreme governing organisation.
The annual salary of the highest-paid tennis player is around $106 million. With a net worth of $450 million, Swiss professional tennis player Roger Federer is the wealthiest tennis player in the world.
6: Soccer
Football has a fan base of over 4 billion people, is played by nearly every country, and is the most popular sport in the world. The sport of football, which gained popularity in the 1950s, is today played extensively across Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Football is the world’s fifth highest-paying sport. The highest-paid football player has banked $127 million in earnings. Portuguese professional football player Cristiano Ronaldo has a net worth of over $1 billion thanks to endorsements and salaries.
7: Golf
Even though golf is widely regarded as one of the most accessible sports, reaching mastery of the game is notoriously difficult. Golf was first played in the 15th century, but it wasn’t until the 17th century that it really took off in the United States and Europe.
The best paid golfer in the world makes $127 million a year, placing golf at number four on the list of top paid sports. With a net worth of $800 million, Tiger Woods is the wealthiest golfer in the world. It’s no small feat that this renowned golfer has topped Forbes’ list of the wealthiest players in the game an unprecedented eleven times.
Woods has topped Forbes’ list of the wealthiest athletes on the planet a record eleven times. The United States Open, the British Open, and the PGA Championship are just a few of the many popular sporting tournaments that are held annually around the globe.
8: Football
American football, often known as football, is the most popular sport in the United States and is watched by millions of people each year. The National Football League (NFL) is the premier American football league in the United States and around the world.
Most football players around the world would do anything to be able to play in the league. When compared to other major sports leagues, the NFL consistently draws the largest crowds.
Roger Staubach, a former American football player, earned $253 million in a single season. The National Football League is one of the most popular sports in the United States.
9: Boxing
The United States, Europe, Asia, and Africa all have large boxing fan bases. Boxing is a combat sport where the participants face off against one another inside a ring for the chance at a monetary prize.
Athletes need to be in peak physical condition if they want to make a name for themselves in this field. Many well-known boxers have amassed massive fortunes from fights and competitions. Endorsement deals, betting, and pay-per-view earnings add up to large paydays for boxers.
The highest-paid fighter ever earned $333 million for a single battle. At an estimated $450 million, American boxer Floyd Mayweather is the wealthiest sportsman in the world. The Floyd Mayweather–Manny Pacquiao fight was the most-watched and highly-anticipated boxing battle in history.
10: BasketBall
In the 1970s, the sport of basketball began to capture the interest of sportsmen from all over the world because of the enormous salaries it offered. In North America, it is also the sport with the highest viewership.
In the NBA, players are required to be at least 6 feet 7 inches tall. Every baller has fantasised about making it to the NBA. With an annual salary of $343 million, Michael Jordan is the highest-paid retired NBA player.
Michael Jordan has an estimated net worth of over $2 billion, making him the wealthiest sportsman in the world. Current NBA stars like LeBron James and Steph Curry are among the highest-paid sportsmen of all time, according to Forbes. Basketball is at the top of the list due to the abundance of endorsement deals and the simplicity of branding.
