World's Highest Paid Sports
The list of ESPN Top Salaries in Sports 2011 had baseball and boxing with the highest individual salary in that year. In another calculation described below, we analyzed the Forbes list of the highest-paid athletes from 1990-2010, and determined which sports were most prevalent on the lists. We found basketball ranked highest.
Calculation Method
Forbes magazine has been publishing lists of the highest paid athletes since 1990. The athletes come from a range of sports, but which are the highest paid? We determined which sports were most prevalent on the Annual Forbes list of the highest-paid athletes in the world, by taking the results of all the top 10 lists and looking at the sport that the athlete is involved with instead of the athlete themselves. Only the data from 1990-2010 has been analyzed.
It Pays to Play Basketball
Although golfer Tiger Woods has been dominant on the top of the highest paid athlete lists recently, the dominance of Michael Jordan earlier on and several other basketballers who have also made the top 10 lists has ensured that basketball leads on this combined list. Even boxing and motorsports have had more sports people on the top 10 lists than golf. The ESPN Top Salaries in Sports 2011 has baseball and boxing on the top in terms of salary (they did not consider endorsements), with basketball 4th.
| ranking | sport | total points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Basketball | 305.0 |
| 2 | Boxing | 249.5 |
| 3 | Auto Racing | 207.5 |
| 4 | Golf | 191.5 |
| 5 | American Football | 34.5 |
| 6 | Soccer | 37.0 |
| 7 | Tennis | 32.5 |
| 8 | Ice Hockey | 16.5 |
| 9 | Baseball | 15.5 |
| 10 | Cycling | 1.5 |
Notes:
- The points for each year are derived from giving 10 points for a sport being on the top of a list, and one less for each rank below that (e.g. 1 point for being 10th on the list, and for ties all received the same points). Total earnings for each sport is also listed, which only includes athletes who made the top 10 list for each year. Total earnings are calculated based on money derived from salaries, bonuses, prize money, endorsements and licensing income.
- In 1995, Deion Sanders was listed under both American Football and Baseball, so his points were shared between these two sports.
- Only ten sports have been represented on the top paid athlete lists (the category of auto racing includes the disciplines of motoGP, NASCAR and F1).
Related Pages
- analysis of athlete rankings on highest paid lists.
- List of Highest paid Athletes Lists
- other world sport lists
Old Comments
- This is soooo wrong!!!! basketball doesn't pay more than baseball or Soccer. You can do the research yourselves people
- Still shocked that bbal rules! Anywayz i remain a soccer fan! Ciao y'all! (from kenny Armstrong, Mar 2013)
- this life is full of misery ... . so nothing in it.... what of those that swim and people that run 10 thousand meter ...this life is full politics..people that suffer get nothin why people that do nothin gain ...whats in golf that most .... (from dufkb, Mar 2013)
- Why should it be basketball 1st? How many people enjoy going out this days to watch basketball, check out the population of people that enjoys watching and playing football and many loves investing their money football so I don't see why you should rate basketball as first (I still don't believe this). (from dickson, Mar 2013)
- I am quiet shocked of the list that boxing even pay more than football but that not withstanding i still love tennies and football. Am a fan to Cerena Williams (from Adumene sampson, Mar 2013)
- Ii presume football is the highest (from eddy ekpenyong, Mar 2013)
- Does this involve all other benefits from sponsors etc or just salaries? (from fredmuga, Mar 2013) - the earnings totals are derived from salaries, bonuses, prize money, appearance fees, licensing and endorsement income. Taxes or agents' fees are not factored into the figures.
- I still don't agree!I wnt d Analysis b repeated.cox f/ballerz r superstar. (from nelson cJ, Feb 2013)
- Basketball wil ever remain my game 4 life. I LIVE FOR THIS! (from Vincent boban, Feb 2013)
- I never stop arguing wit my dad and my brother that basketball is the best. Til i die, i will never stop loving d game (from Salako wale, Feb 2013)
- i thought autoracing is the hidhest paid sports (from shamith, Feb 2013)
- I keep telling my friend's that bassket ball pay's more than any sport but no they will not agree but as for me I will keep loving anyone who play's bball and that's why I love my bf cause bassket balers are the b..o..m...b. (from ib2tyt, Feb 2013)
- i thouhgt formula1 was the highest paid sport (from ervin, Feb 2013)
- 4 me i tnk golf is d highest i dnt knw wat list i'm seeing (from orji tobechi, Feb 2013)
- But soccer is the most entertaining one. (from Vandi dia, Jan 2013)
- Which place does cricket posess? (from Raja, Jan 2013) - no cricketers have made the top 10 highest earners yet
- Basketball is damn good game ... it'll always rule as it has ruled so far ... it pays as it says ... :) (from Jaat, Dec 2012)
- I though football be a lil more higher like at least 3 place but i guess!! (from David, Nov 2012)
- with may closely follow up of football for the past 3years,and with the interest i see people attach to this sport,i think that in the ranking of the 10world highest paid sport it should be within this ranking.this is may interest as a fan of football. (from nde clement, Nov 2012)
- Where is cricket?? (from SKM, Nov 2012)
- I have been having argument with my friend in the house about the best and richest sports in the world.. cus they dont understand what it take to be a basket baller so they dont know anything about it i stoled to my ground cus they wanted me to agree to their own words that soccer is the highest paid but still i am all alone on the argument but still i will never stop loving the game that makes my world Glo BASKET BALL ... (from valouricti, Nov 2012)
- what about wrestling? (from baribor kinebari, Nov 2012)
- Yes, basketball pays but i prefer soccer to it, because soccer is the best game. (from Joseph Ekpone, Oct 2012)
- Boxing rules to even though its second thats why i promise to never stop
- What do road cyclists earn these days, without the exception of armstrong? (from scott goldstein, Oct 2012)
- Basket Ball is the best among all. It rules nd it also pays. That is why i promised my self never to stop playing it till i die (from Okwugba kenechukwu, Aug 2012)
- Basketball rules ... : (from Melvin egbufoama, Feb 2012)
