With players receiving the highest average salaries of any league, the NBA is the highest-paid sport in the world. Basketball players routinely earn the highest salaries, but elite athletes in other sports also land huge contracts.
This analysis looks at where athletes earn money by exploring the highest-paying sports in 2025. It covers league revenues, average player earnings, prize money, and endorsement deals.
Because there is more to sports than skill or awards. It’s also about who makes the most money.
Top 10 Highest-Paying Sports In The World (2025)
These rankings reveal which sports offer the biggest average paychecks to professional athletes around the world in 2025.
| Rank | Sport | Estimated Avg Salary (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Basketball (NBA) | $11.91 million |
| 2 | Baseball (MLB) | $4.66 million |
| 3 | Soccer (EPL, La Liga, etc.) | $4.1 million |
| 4 | Formula 1 / Grand Prix | $4.0 million |
| 5 | Ice Hockey (NHL) | $3.5 million |
| 6 | American Football (NFL) | $2.7 million |
| 7 | Cricket (IPL, Intl leagues) | $2.0 million |
| 8 | Golf (PGA, LIV) | $1.4 million |
| 9 | UFC / MMA Fighting | $150,249 |
| 10 | NASCAR Driving | $112,000 |
Note: Football has the highest total revenue due to global leagues and massive transfer fees, but lower average salaries due to larger team sizes.
Basketball dominates individual athlete compensation due to smaller roster sizes and massive revenue streams.
Soccer generates the highest total global revenue through worldwide league systems and transfer markets.
Individual sports like golf and Formula 1 offer exceptional earnings for top performers, though team-wide averages vary significantly based on competitive depth.
Breaking Down the Top 10 Highest-Paid Sports
What drives athlete earnings isn’t just the sport; it’s a mix of league structure, media rights, endorsements, and how the game markets its stars.
1. Basketball (NBA)
| Factor | Detail |
|---|---|
| Why It Pays Well | Small roster sizes, huge U.S. media rights, and global merchandise sales |
| Revenue Sources | Salary cap system, shoe deals (Nike, Adidas), endorsements |
| Example | Steph Curry earns $50M+ in salary and another $50M+ in endorsements |
Basketball is popular worldwide. This, along with small team sizes, makes NBA players among the highest-paid athletes.
The NBA’s revenue-sharing model and strict luxury tax penalties encourage teams to invest heavily in top talent.
Players also benefit from massive media rights deals, global merchandise sales, and sponsorships.
International expansion and the league’s focus on digital content help increase earnings. This creates multiple revenue streams, which raises player compensation overall.
2. Baseball (MLB)
| Factor | Detail |
|---|---|
| Why It Pays Well | No salary cap, long-term guaranteed deals, tradition of massive player contracts |
| Revenue Sources | Revenue sharing, local TV deals, ticket sales, licensing deals |
| Example | Shohei Ohtani earns $70M+ annually, including endorsements |
Baseball remains one of the highest-paying sports largely due to the absence of a salary cap, allowing teams to spend freely on elite talent.
MLB players enjoy long-term guaranteed contracts. These contracts provide financial security, even if they get injured.
The league’s 162-game season and solid regional TV deals bring steady revenue. This steady income is important and reliable pay for professional baseball players. It comes from collective bargaining agreements.
3. Formula 1
| Factor | Detail |
|---|---|
| Why It Pays Well | Limited elite seats, massive sponsorships, performance-based bonuses |
| Revenue Sources | Team salaries, bonuses, personal sponsorships, prize money |
| Example | Max Verstappen earns $60M+ through salary, race wins, endorsements |
Formula 1 is very exclusive. With only 20 drivers worldwide, it’s one of the highest-paying sports. Each spot holds immense value, driving up salaries and endorsement potential.
Top drivers earn from high-paying team contracts, personal sponsorship deals, and performance-based bonuses. Race winnings and global brand partnerships boost the earnings of F1’s top talent.
4. Soccer (Premier League, La Liga, etc.)
| Factor | Detail |
|---|---|
| Why It Pays Well | Global sport, club rivalries, billion-dollar TV rights deals |
| Revenue Sources | Club contracts, transfer bonuses, international appearances, endorsements |
| Example | Cristiano Ronaldo earns $200M+ with Saudi deal + sponsor deals |
In 2025, soccer is the world’s top sport. It attracts huge global audiences. This popularity drives billion-dollar broadcasting deals and sponsorship contracts.
Players earn from club salaries, international tournament appearances, and transfer-related bonuses.
The sport’s structure includes domestic leagues, continental cups, and the World Cup. This setup provides steady earning opportunities.
Top players have huge fan bases around the world. This makes them appealing to global brands. As a result, they get big endorsement deals that greatly increase their overall pay.
5. Ice Hockey (NHL)
| Factor | Detail |
|---|---|
| Why It Pays Well | Strong market in North America, loyal fan base, exclusive talent pool |
| Revenue Sources | League contracts, performance bonuses, endorsements |
| Example | Connor McDavid earns around $16M+ in salary + endorsements |
Ice hockey has a close community of talent. It also has a strong fan base in Canada and the northern U.S. This support helps boost athlete salaries.
The NHL is the top league in the world. It attracts the best talent from around the globe. With few professional leagues, it offers a unique competitive stage.
Players enjoy generous team contracts, performance-based bonuses, and playoff incentives.
The league has a passionate fan base. It also earns steady money from ticket sales and TV deals. This helps pay top-tier players well.
6. American Football (NFL)
| Factor | Detail |
|---|---|
| Why It Pays Well | Massive league revenue, high viewership, top-tier endorsements |
| Revenue Sources | Salary cap contracts, playoff bonuses, and personal branding deals |
| Example | Patrick Mahomes earns $45M+ in salary and $20M+ in endorsements |
The NFL generates enormous television revenue and maintains cultural significance in American sports.
The NFL is not a non-profit, and it operates as a major commercial enterprise.
Salary caps distribute wealth among players while maintaining competitive balance, creating substantial earning opportunities across team rosters.
7. Cricket (IPL, International)
| Factor | Detail |
|---|---|
| Why It Pays Well | IPL contracts, national team salaries, huge regional fanbase |
| Revenue Sources | League pay, BCCI/board contracts, match fees, brand endorsements |
| Example | Virat Kohli earns $4M from cricket and $30M+ in endorsements |
The Indian Premier League (IPL) has seen explosive success. This, along with strong regional fan loyalty in Asia, drives cricket’s financial growth.
Franchise-based tournaments in the sport give players a chance to earn a lot in a short time. These seasons are brief and pay well.
Top cricketers earn more than just league contracts. They earn regular income from national board salaries, match fees, and international bonuses. This makes cricket a very profitable career for elite players.
8. Golf (PGA Tour / LIV Golf)
| Factor | Detail |
|---|---|
| Why It Pays Well | Elite event payouts, sponsorship-heavy income, and high-stakes tournaments |
| Revenue Sources | Prize money, sponsorships, and appearance fees |
| Example | Rory McIlroy earns $12M+ in winnings and $40M+ in endorsements |
Golf’s individual format has high stakes. It rewards top players with huge prize money. Often, these are winner-take-all setups that can change earnings quickly.
Elite golfers earn money not just from tournament winnings. They also make a lot through sponsorships, appearance fees, and endorsement deals with big brands.
Many also earn long-term income from equipment contracts, golf course design, and media appearances. This turns their success on the course into a profitable career.
9. UFC / MMA Fighting
| Factor | Detail |
|---|---|
| Why It Pays Well | Top-tier fighters get PPV shares; most others have low base salaries |
| Revenue Sources | Fight purses, win bonuses, performance bonuses, brand endorsements |
| Example | Conor McGregor earned $5M+ in fight purses, $100M+ in brand deals |
MMA pays its best fighters well through pay-per-view revenue shares. Star power is a big factor in how much they earn.
Performance bonuses, win incentives, and fight-of-the-night awards increase earnings for top athletes.
Popular fighters with charm often get endorsements, movie roles, and brand deals. This helps them earn much more than just in the octagon and enter larger entertainment and lifestyle markets.
10. NASCAR Driving
| Factor | Detail |
|---|---|
| Why It Pays Well | Strong corporate sponsorship model, limited driver pool |
| Revenue Sources | Race winnings, team contracts, personal sponsors, merchandise sales |
| Example | Kyle Busch earns around $8M in salary and $2–5M from sponsors |
NASCAR drivers make good money thanks to strong corporate sponsorships and loyal fans in their regions. With a limited number of driver slots, each position carries significant value.
Drivers earn money from team contracts, personal endorsements, and performance bonuses.
Merchandise sales, public appearances, and promotional events provide steady extra income. This is especially true for famous and competitive racers.
Sports Where Only The Top 1% Get Paid
Boxing, tennis, golf, and MMA create extreme income disparities where elite performers capture the majority of available revenue.
The top 10 athletes in these disciplines often earn 90% of the total prize money and sponsorship dollars.
Outside championship tiers, prize money becomes scarce, and sponsorship opportunities are limited, making financial survival challenging for developing athletes.
Team sports like basketball and baseball provide minimum salary guarantees that offer six or seven-figure incomes even for reserve players.
Do Endorsements Matter More Than Salary In Sports?
Endorsement deals frequently exceed on-field earnings for elite athletes. Global superstars like Cristiano Ronaldo, LeBron James, Virat Kohli, and Tiger Woods each generate over $50 million annually through brand partnerships alone.
Sports with international marketing appeal often rank higher in total athlete earnings despite lower base salaries, as global reach creates premium endorsement opportunities.
Salary Distribution by League of the Most Well-Paid Sports
These rankings reveal which sports offer the biggest average paychecks to professional athletes around the world in 2025.
| League | Avg. Salary | Total Players | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Basketball Association | $11.91M | 450 | $10.9B |
| Major League Baseball | $4.66M | 1,000+ | $11.6B |
| English Premier League | $4.10M | 600+ | $7.1B |
| National Hockey League | $3.50M | 700 | $6.0B |
| National Football League | $2.70M | 1,700+ | $20B |
Basketball achieves the highest per-athlete compensation through smaller rosters and concentrated revenue distribution.
Football generates massive total revenue but spreads earnings across larger team sizes, reducing individual averages while maintaining substantial minimum salaries.
Why Do These Sports Pay So Much?
The biggest paychecks come from a mix of broadcast money, smart sponsorship deals, and how each sport splits its revenue among players.
1. Television Rights: Broadcasting deals represent the primary revenue driver for major leagues, with the NBA, NFL, and Premier League commanding billion-dollar contracts that translate directly into player compensation.
2. Sponsorship Ecosystems: Global brands seek athlete endorsements for marketing reach, creating secondary income streams that often exceed base salaries for marketable performers.
3. Team Size Matters: Smaller rosters concentrate revenue among fewer players, while sports with larger teams distribute earnings across more athletes.
4. Revenue Distribution Models: The NBA’s soft salary cap with luxury tax creates balanced high earnings, while the NFL’s hard cap dilutes individual compensation across larger squads.
5. Commercialisation: Modern athletes monetise performance through merchandise, digital content, and personal branding beyond traditional competition earnings.
Top 5 Highest-Paid Athletes In The World (2025)
Soccer and basketball dominate individual athlete earnings through a combination of massive salaries and global endorsement appeal.
| Rank | Athlete | Sport | Team | Salary/Winnings | Endorsements | Total Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Football (Soccer) | Al-Nassr | $215 million | $45 million | $260 million |
| 2 | Stephen Curry | Basketball | Golden State Warriors | $53.8 million | $100 million | $153.8 million |
| 3 | Tyson Fury | Boxing | — | $140 million | $7 million | $147 million |
| 4 | Lionel Messi | Football (Soccer) | Inter Miami | $60 million | $75 million | $135 million |
| 5 | LeBron James | Basketball | Los Angeles Lakers | $48.2 million | $85 million | $133.2 million |
These athletes help their sports to become international brands, generating revenue through multiple streams beyond competitive performance.
Conclusion: Basketball (NBA) Tops the List as the Most Well-Paid Sport!
Athletic talent creates opportunities, but marketability determines ultimate compensation.
Basketball leads average salaries in 2025, while soccer generates the highest total global revenue.
Individual sports like boxing and golf can create instant millionaires through single competitions.
Modern athletes function as entrepreneurs, content creators, and global brands rather than purely competitors.
Success in high-paying sports requires business acumen alongside athletic excellence, as commercial appeal often matters as much as competitive.
