We can trace the history of sports back hundreds of years to the Olympic Games and the ancient Greeks. Everybody has a sport they enjoy watching, as well as a team they enjoy rooting for during games. Our favorite NBA, NFL, and soccer players often make millions of dollars. This article is about highest paid sports in the world.
The sporting world is one of the most successful industries right now; it’s not only about entertainment. Athletes in many sports make six figures a year and receive big sponsorship deals.
Tiger Woods held the title of world’s richest athlete in the early 2000s. But is golf currently one of the most lucrative sports in the world? Well, you’ll learn at the end of the manual.
The History of Sports
Sports have been around for ages, as we have mentioned. Sports originated from physical activity that has historical ties to entertainment, ritual, and conflict.
We can learn so much more about societal development and the nature of sports by studying the history of sports. It involves the improvement of physical abilities over time while also fostering the development of fundamental human talents.
When it all started centuries ago, sports and military training were closely intertwined. Individuals in the ancient world had to compete to demonstrate that they were useful and suitable for service. It was all about proving one’s toughness through physical challenges.
People had to demonstrate their abilities to fight in the military back then by cooperating as a sports team.
Recently, cave paintings in France’s Lascaux caves were found. The Upper Paleolithic, which was over 15 millennia ago, is depicted in the old painting as having activities like swimming and wrestling.
Another country that has these old paintings is Mongolia. In the nation’s Bayankhongor province, Neolithic-era cave drawings have been discovered.
A wrestling bout is depicted in the old picture, and people are standing all around the arena.
Other ancient paintings have been discovered in countries like Egypt and Japan. Sports including swimming, archery, and sumo wrestling are depicted in the cave drawings. These historic artworks are all thousands of years old.
Top Ten Highest Paid Sports in the World
The top NBA basketball players make six figures a year. NBA stars are not the only professional athletes who earn enormous sums of money annually.
There are some high earners in sports as well. Soccer players Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, for instance, both make hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.
Don’t forget that athletes who play American football and tennis regularly earn six figures.
Here are the top ten highest paid sports in the world.
#10. Cycling
Cycling is first on our list, ranking in at number ten.
The late 19th century saw the invention of the sport of cycling. Bicycles were also made available to everyone at that time.
Cycling is one of the most popular sports in the world right now. Numerous bicycle competitions have been held in well-known towns all around the world.
The Tour de France is the most well-known cycling competition in the world, drawing some of the top cyclists. The competition has twenty professional teams with nine riders each year.
Although the Tour de France may be the best cycling competition of the year, there are other competitions. Other well-known towns also hold the Tour of Flanders, Strade Bianche, Vuelta a Espana, Milan Sanremo, and other cycling competitions.
Lance Armstrong was listed as the ninth-richest athlete in 2010 on the list. The illustrious cyclist was named among the top earners on a list by Forbes, with an aggregate income of $28 million.
Tadej Pogacar currently receives a $6.6 million contract salary. The Tour de France was won by a Slovenian in 2020 and 2021. Tadej Pogocar, however, has a $5 million net worth.
Another professional cyclist with a $6 million contract salary is Peter Sagan. The Slovakian competes for Total Energies in the UCI Pro Team and has a net worth of $33 million.
#9. Auto Racing
In the United States, auto racing continues to be one of the most popular sports. Additionally, it is a very popular sport throughout Europe.
When you take into account the number of accidents and fatalities, auto racing is one of the riskiest sports in the world. Additionally, one of the most paid sports in the world is auto racing.
Michael Schumacher was one of the best divers to ever race in Formula One. The former German race car driver’s lifetime earnings exceeded $1 billion. Over 1,500 points were earned during his career and he won seven championships.
With 77 fastest laps under his belt, Michael Schumacher today has a net worth of around $600 million.
Several of Schumacher’s records were broken by Sir Lewis Hamilton. Currently, the well-known British driver has a net worth of more than $26 million.
#8. Baseball
Next on our list of highest paid sports in the world is baseball.
Baseball is a very well-liked sport in the US and several Asian countries. Baseball is a popular sport in places like South Korea and Japan.
IBAF (International Baseball Federation) is the authority in charge of baseball, just to FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association).
Alex Rodriguez, a former MLB great, is the wealthiest baseball player. The American presently has a $400 million net worth.
MLB players have been included in Forbes’ list of the wealthiest sports figures. The most well-known baseball league in the world is Major League Baseball, which is played in the United States.
#7. Ice Hockey
Another extremely well-liked sport in North America is this one.
One of the most viewed sports in the US and Canada is ice hockey. Teams of six players compete in the sport indoors.
The organization in charge of the sports is called the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). The National Hockey League in the United States is the largest ice hockey league in the world.
Countries like Russia, Sweden, Finland, the Czech Republic, Germany, France, Slovakia, Japan, and Switzerland are also big fans of ice hockey.
With a salary of $12.6 million per year, Nathan MacKinnon is the highest paid ice hockey player at the moment.
Former Canadian Wayne Gretzky, whose net worth is reported to be $200 million, is the richest ice hockey player.
#6. Tennis
Tennis is an amazing sport that attracts thousands of spectators during major tournaments.
Thousands of people assemble each year to see their favorite tennis player compete at the Australian Open, French Open, United States Open, or Wimbledon. The first Grand Slam Tournament of the year is the Australia Open in January.
Beginning in May is the French Open, which is followed by Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in August and September.
The top female tennis players have competed in a variety of tournaments. Serena Williams, a former female American tennis player, holds the record for most Grand Slam championships with 23.
Rafael Nadal of Spain is the most successful male tennis player, having won 22 Grand Slam tournaments.
With a net worth of more than $500 million, former Swiss professional Roger Federer is the wealthiest tennis player.
The governing body for tennis, the International Tennis Federation (ITF), also manages significant competitions each year.
#5. Soccer
While other parts of the world refer to it as football, Americans refer to it as soccer.
This, in my perspective, is the global sport with the highest viewership. A significant competition that draws spectators from all over the world is the FIFA World Cup. Every four years, 32 teams participate in the FIFA World Cup for the ultimate prize.
Qatar spent more than $200 billion to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The tournament champion will receive $42 million in prize money, while the other teams that advanced to the final eight will also receive monetary awards.
On the Forbes list of top paid athletes, soccer players rank among them. With a $75 million annual wage, Argentine superstar Lionel Messi is currently the wealthiest athlete on the Forbes list.
Third on the list with annual wages of $60 million and $70 million, respectively, are Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar.
Cristiano Ronaldo, on the other hand, became the first athlete in an active team sport to earn more than $1 billion over his or her career. The Portuguese presently have a $500 million net worth.
Due to this, soccer ranks sixth among the sports with the highest salaries worldwide. Soccer is governed by FIFA, which has a confederation for each continent.
#4. Golf
The majority of people concur that one of the hardest sports to master is golf.
Tiger Woods was the world’s richest athlete at the beginning of the 2000s, and he held that title for a while. For a record-breaking eleven times, the American topped Forbes’ list of the wealthiest athletes.
Tiger Woods currently has a net worth of $1.1 billion. The Masters Tournament, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and Open Championship are notable golf competitions.
#3. American Football
The most well-known American football league internationally is the National Football League (NFL). Given its popularity, the NFL continues to rank among the most watched sports in the country.
The Super Bowl in the US draws tens of thousands of spectators to stadiums, and millions more watch on television nationwide. It’s the National Football League’s yearly championship game (NFL).
The league champion will be decided between two clubs, and the victor will receive the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
NFL players have annual wages of millions of dollars. With a $50.3 million yearly contract, Aaron Rodgers is the highest-paid NFL player at the moment. Second on the list with a $49 million yearly pay is Russell Wilson.
#2. Boxing
One of the most popular sports in the world is boxing, and in the 1960s, the greatest “Mohammed Ali” entered the sport and won multiple fights.
Mike Tyson rose to prominence as one of the top athletes to enter a boxing ring in the middle of the 1980s.
In today’s society, boxing has risen to become one of the best paid sports in the world. After winning in the ring, professional boxers competing in several divisions earn enormous sums of money.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. is now the richest professional boxer with 50 victories and 0 losses. The former professional boxer from the United States is worth $450 million. The most boxing pay-per-view (PPV) purchases ever occurred during Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao’s boxing battle.
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#1. Basketball
The NBA tops the list of sports in the world for highest salaries.
One of the most watched sports in the US is basketball, which is a significant sport here.
A professional basketball league in North America is called the National Basketball Association (NBA). Twenty-nine teams from the United States and one from Canada make up the NBA’s thirty franchises.
The only Canadian professional basketball team currently playing in the NBA is the Toronto Raptors, who joined the league in 1995.
LeBron James presently earns $44 million in salary annually, making him the highest paid NBA player. With a net worth of $1.7 billion, Michael Jordon is the richest NBA player.
So there you have it, our list of the world’s highest-paid sports.
Forbes List of the World Highest Paid Athletes
Below is Forbes’s list of the world’s highest paid athletes.
| Name | Total | Salary/Winnings | Endorsements |
| Lionel Messi (Soccer) | $130 million | $75 million | $55 million |
| LeBron James (Basketball) | $121.2 million | $41.1 million | $80 million |
| Cristiano Ronaldo (Soccer) | $115 million | $60 million | $55 million |
| Neymar (Soccer) | $95 million | $70 million | $25 million |
| Stephen Curry (Basketball) | $92.8 million | $45.8 million | $47 million |
| Kevin Durant (Basketball) | $92.1 million | $42.1 million | $50 million |
| Roger Federer (Tennis) | $90.7 million | $0.7 million | $90 million |
| Canelo Alvarez (Boxing) | $90 million | $85 million | $% million |
| Tom Brady (American Football) | $83.9 million | $31.9 million | $52 million |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo (Basketball) | $80.9 million | $39 million | $41 million |
Highest Paying National Basket Association (NBA) Teams
Below is the ranking of the highest paying NBA teams.
| NBA Teams | Average Annual Salary |
| Portland Trail Blazers | $10.03 million |
| Golden State Warriors | $9.9 million |
| Orlando Magic | $9.4 million |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | $9.4 million |
| Denver Nuggets | $9.3 million |
| Miami Heat | $9.2 million |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 9.2 million |
| Houston Rockets | $9.1 million |
| Los Angeles Clippers | $8.6 million |
| Philadelphia 76ers | $8.6 million |
Conclusion
Whether it’s baseball, basketball, soccer, or American football, sporting activities are always thrilling. The planning of the games we want to watch at home costs millions of dollars.
The top athletes in a variety of sports make a ton of money doing what they enjoy. The Forbes list reveals the yearly earnings of these athletes, including endorsements. I think you now know which sports are the highest paid in the globe.
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