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What Is the Highest Paid Sport in the World?

Basketball is definitively the highest paid sport in the world, with NBA players averaging $11.91 million in the 2024-25 season. This represents a 22.8% increase from the previous year and significantly exceeds other major sports leagues globally.

Last updated: June 27, 2025 | Data current as of 2024-25 season

Top 5 Highest-Paid Sport in the World

Rankings of the top 5 highest paid sports worldwide based on 2024-25 average player salaries
Sport League 2024-25 Average Salary
Basketball NBA $11.91 million
Baseball MLB $4.66 million
Soccer Premier League $4.1 million
Ice Hockey NHL $3.5 million
American Football NFL $2.7 million

Current Methodology: Average Salary Analysis

Our 2024-25 rankings use average player salaries from official league sources and authoritative sports media, providing a more accurate representation of earning potential across sports than historical individual earnings lists. This methodology better reflects what professional athletes can expect to earn and offers more actionable insights for career planning.

Why Basketball Dominates Professional Sports Salaries

Basketball's salary supremacy stems from an optimal economic combination. With only 450 active roster spots across 30 NBA teams, the league's $10.9 billion in annual revenue gets distributed among far fewer players than the NFL's 1,700+ or MLB's 1,000+ players.

The NBA's new media rights deal, worth $76 billion over 11 years starting in 2025-26, will nearly triple current broadcast revenues. The 2024-25 salary cap of $140.6 million is distributed among just 15 players per team, while the NFL's higher cap of $188.2 million must cover rosters three times larger.

Individual vs Average Earnings: Understanding the Data

While individual athletes like Cristiano Ronaldo ($260 million) and LeBron James ($128 million) may earn more than typical NBA players, basketball leads when measuring average compensation across all league participants. This distinction is crucial for understanding true earning potential by sport.

Revenue Distribution Models

League structures significantly impact player salaries. The NFL shares 66% of revenue equally among teams but distributes it across larger rosters. MLB has no salary cap but the lowest player revenue share at 44.5%. The NBA's balanced approach combines a soft salary cap with luxury tax penalties, allowing top teams to spend while maintaining competitive balance.

basketball hoopHistorical Perspective: Forbes Analysis (1990-2010)

Our original analysis of Forbes highest-paid athlete lists from 1990-2010 found basketball ranked highest based on frequency of appearances in top 10 lists. While golfer Tiger Woods dominated individual years, the consistency of Michael Jordan and multiple NBA players ensured basketball's overall leadership.

This historical dominance has evolved into today's clear average salary leadership, validating basketball's position as the highest-paid sport across different measurement methodologies.

ranking sport (1990-2010) 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

Frequently Asked Questions

What sport makes the most money overall?

While the NFL generates the most total revenue at $18.7 billion annually, basketball players earn the highest average salaries due to smaller roster sizes distributing league revenue among fewer players.

Which individual athletes earn the most?

Soccer players currently dominate individual earnings lists, with Cristiano Ronaldo leading at $260 million annually. However, this includes significant Saudi Pro League contract inflation and endorsement deals not representative of typical player earnings.

How do endorsements affect these rankings?

Basketball players typically earn 65% of total compensation from endorsements versus 35% from salaries, far exceeding other sports where endorsements represent 15-30% of earnings. This amplifies basketball's earning advantage beyond base salaries.

Are women's sports included in these rankings?

Professional women's sports currently have significantly lower average salaries. The highest-paid female athlete, Coco Gauff, earned $30.4 million in 2024, which would rank around 125th overall among all athletes.

Methodology Notes:

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Lists Extra

Football/Soccer is clearly the world's most popular sport, and has the most popular athletes, but which sport has the fittest players (but not necessarily the greatest athlete). These players do not always earn the most. The best of the best have made it to our 7 Sporting Wonders Lists.

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