Sports are not just a physical activity anymore. With media coverage, brand advertisements and sponsorships, sports are now a huge business with multiple billion-dollar franchises. Profits from these different sports have resulted in the super-rich status of some star players. Here is a look at the top 50 highest-paid sports in the world.
1. Football (Soccer)
Football is the most popular sport in the world and has the richest players. According to Forbes magazine, Cristiano Ronaldo is the world’s highest-paid. He made a whopping $105 million in 2020.
2. Basketball
Basketball is the second most popular sport and has two of the world’s highest-paid players. LeBron James tops the list at $88.2 million, while Stephen Curry is second at $74.4 million.
3. Golf
Golf is one of the oldest sports in the world and has some of the highest-paid professional players. Tiger Woods is the highest-paid golfer in the world, earning an incredible $62.3 million in 2020.
4. American Football
American Football is one of the most popular sports in the United States and the National Football League (NFL) has some of the wealthiest players. The highest-paid NFL player in 2020 is Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who made $45 million.
5. Baseball
Baseball is another popular American sport and several professional players have made a huge fortune. According to a report by Forbes, Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout is the highest-paid major league baseball player, earning $37.7 million.
Here is the List of the Top 50 Highest-Paid Sports in the World:
- Football (Soccer)
- Basketball
- Golf
- American Football
- Baseball
- Cycling
- Tennis
- NASCAR
- Hockey
- Motor Sports
- Boxing
- Cricket
- Rugby
- MMA Fighting
- Athletics
- Wrestling
- Table Tennis
- Gymnastics
- Badminton
- Track and Field
- Surfing
- Swimming
- Marathon Running
- Extreme Sports
- Diving
- Handball
- Field Hockey
- Volleyball
- Skiing
- Snowboarding
- Sailing
- Skateboarding
- Kitesurfing
- Windsurfing
- Biathlon
- Triathlon
- Speed Skating
- Canoeing
- Equestrian sports
- Softball
- Motocross
- Hot Air Ballooning
- Archery
- Gliding
- Clay Shooting
- Wakeboarding
- Cross-country Skiing
- Climbing
- Bobsledding
- Cycling
- Billiards
- Bowling
- Skeet Shooting
- Ice Hockey
- Paint Ball
Sports are a lucrative business and with the right amount of hard work and dedication, you can make a lot of money playing your favorite sport. These are the top 50 highest-paid sports in the world and there are sure to be many more in the years to come.