To name a few, the most-paid sports, such as basketball and football, draw unprecedented love and attention from fans all over the world. The sports industry, which is a lucrative career path, has some of the highest-paid individuals who enjoy fandom and live glamorous lives.
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Sports have been a part of our civilization since the stone age, bringing people instant happiness and thrills. Indeed, sports contribute to the development of strong relationships between countries and the creation of harmony through cooperation. In terms of fame and money, the sports industry currently has a global net worth of around $1.3 trillion.
Of course, this industry is thriving, accounting for approximately 1% of global GDP.Do you know what the richest sport in the world is right now? or which sports are the most profitable? Go through the listicle below to find the top 12 highest-paid / most-paid sports in the world. (And let us know if it surprised you!)
The World’s Top 12 Richest/Most-Paid Sports
The sports industry is rife with entertainment elements, lucrative deals, and well-known players. Here, we’ll look at the wealthiest athletes and the fame and fortune they’ve amassed.
12. Volleyball
- Current Industry value: $273.1 million
- Average salary: $44,680
Volleyball, starting at the bottom of the list, has been a growing sport. Most considered it a “girl’s game,” but it has been expanding in the global market. Volleyball has a global market value of $261.1 million today.
When it comes to professional earnings, volleyball players earn an average of $19,910 to $187,200, with a median salary of $44,680.It is also known as a recreational activity, and nearly 800 million people worldwide enjoy it. It is currently the most popular in Brazil. Ivan Zaytsev is known as “the king of volleyball” because he is the most popular volleyball player.
Meanwhile, top volleyball players include Wilfredo Leon, Jenia Grebennikov, and Matthew Anderson, to name a few.
11. Boxing
- Current Industry value: $348.4 million
- Average salary: $50,000
Boxing has long been one of the most entertaining and well-known sports in the world, thanks to the thrills and excitement it provides. However, its popularity has been steadily declining. Boxing has a global industry value of $348.4 million today. Furthermore, a professional boxer is expected to earn $50,000 on average. Professional fighters earn between $1,000 and $4,000 per fight as amateurs.
Similarly, it gradually rises to a range of $5,000 to $10,000 per fight. Not to mention, boxers receive additional bonuses for the fights they win, as well as separate sponsors and endorsement deals. Today’s fighters include Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, Sugar Ray Robinson, and many others. Overall, it is the most popular in the United States, with Las Vegas serving as its focal point.
10. Auto racing
- Current Industry value: $5 billion
- Average salary: $70,000
With a global market value of $5 billion, auto racing ranks among the top ten. Furthermore, according to projections, the global market value of this field will reach $9.4 billion by 2026. Sponsorship, advertising, ticketing, merchandising, hosting fees, and broadcasting all contribute to this revenue.
Similarly, a professional auto racer is estimated to earn $70,000 on average. It also starts with a median annual salary of $40,904, which equates to $19.67 per hour. It can also earn up to $130,000 per race.
Similarly, it is the most popular at the Monaco Grand Prix, and the sport as a whole draws approximately 87.4 million spectators. Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher, and Ken Block are among the wealthiest auto racers.
9. Cricket
- Current Industry value: $6 billion
- Average salary: $60,000
One of the most well-known sports, with an estimated audience of 2 to 3 billion people, has a global market value of $6 billion. According to viewership ratings, cricket is most popular in India, Bangladesh, the United Kingdom, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
Furthermore, the wage disparity starts at around $20,000. Joe Root, Virat Kohli, Tim Paine, and others are among the greatest and wealthiest cricketers in the world. In terms of overall dominance, cricket has grown steadily over the years.
8. Tennis
- Current Industry value: $6.06 billion
- Average salary: $64,033
Tennis is frequently referred to as a traditional sport that has grown in popularity in recent years. According to statistics, over 87 million people participate in it, with a global market value of $6.06 million. It’s extremely popular in Australia.
Professional tennis players earn an average annual salary of $64,033. It also depicts a median salary of $31,000 and an average career prize money of $300,000. Similarly, they make a good living through endorsement deals and appearance fees. Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka, and Rodger Federer are among the wealthiest tennis players today.
7. Golf
- Current Industry value: $129.9 billion
- Average salary: $51,890
With the outbreak of the global pandemic, golf has emerged as the silver lining in the dark cloud. That stereotypical title as a game for “rich old men” is long gone, as it is enjoyed by people of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Meanwhile, this sport has a global market value of $7 billion, and nearly 30 million people participate in it just in the United States. In terms of earnings, professional golfers earn an average of $51,890 per year. They earn about $24,072 per year or $12 per hour as golf beginners. Despite the low base salary, they make enough money through endorsements and sponsorships.
Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer, and Greg Norman are among the most wealthy golfers today.
6. Cycling
- Current Industry value: $147.24 Billion
- Average salary: $65,454
The Tour de France is without a doubt the most difficult and largest cycling event. Cycling is also well-known in books and in other parts of the world. When only cycling apparel is considered, the global market value is USD 3241.8 million. Cycling once had a staggering global market value of $57.49 billion.
Professional cyclists earn an average of $65,454 per year or $31.47 per hour. Usually, professionals can make up to $171,000. On the UCI World Tour, however, they earn a minimum wage of $2.35 million. Chris Froome, Tadej Pogaar, and Primo Rogli are currently the world’s richest cyclists.
Continue reading about the top ten most dangerous sports of all time by clicking here.
5. Ice Hockey
- Current Industry value: $60 billion
- Average salary: $2.69 million
Ice hockey is one of the top five richest sports, with a fan base of over 2.2 billion people. As the most popular sport, it is spreading globally and has a global market value of $60 billion. The average salary of professional NHL players is expected to be around $2.69 million in 2022.
The starting point for the minimum wage is around $700,000. Meanwhile, they have sponsorship agreements for their equipment and gear. McDavid Connor is currently the highest-paid NHL player, followed by Panarin Artemi. Joe Sakic is currently the highest-paid NHL player.
4. Soccer (Football)
- Current Industry value: $600 billion
- Average salary: $1.5 million
Soccer, also known as football, is played in approximately 200 countries by approximately 250 million people. It is one of the most well-known sports, with a $600 billion global market value. Similarly, the average salary of a professional athlete in this field is $398,725.
Typically, the salary ranges from $14,441 to $384,204. Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Neymar are the three highest-paid soccer players in the world.
3. American Football
- Current Industry value: $200 billion
- Average salary: $860,000
American football, also known as rugby, is a popular sport all over the world. According to the report, approximately 3.5 billion people participated. The American football industry currently has a global market value of $200 billion. The starting salary is $660 thousand, with an average salary of $860,000.
This sport pays $435,000 to a rookie. Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady, and Aaron Rodgers are among the highest-paid NFL players.
2. Baseball
- Current Industry value: $40 billion
- Average salary: $4.17 million
Baseball remains one of the most popular sports in the world, despite fluctuations in viewership and playtime. As a result, it has a global market value of $40 million. According to sources, an MLB player earns approximately $4.17 million, with a minimum average salary of $570.5 thousand. With an annual salary of 37.17 million US dollars, Mike Trout is the highest-paid baseball player on their list.
1. Basketball
- Current Industry value: $90 billion
- Average salary: $7 million
Basketball is the richest sport in the world, with a global market value of $90 billion. It is also one of the top three most popular games worldwide. Its global popularity has surpassed 2 to 2.5 billion fans.
The majority of viewers in this game are from the United States, Canada, China, Japan, and the Philippines. In addition, a basketball player earns an average salary of $44,444, or $21.37 per hour.
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