The highest paying sports on the planet

• Athletes are among the highest-paid individuals on the planet
• The financial side of sports is captivating and even though every player does not own luxurious mansions and private jets, sports have somehow changed their lives
• Basketball is the highest paying sport in the world

Which are the highest paying sports? We can all agree that athletes are among the highest-paid individuals on the planet. While not every player owns the luxurious mansions and private jets, sports have somehow changed their lives.

The financial side of sports is captivating, which is why we have decided to bring you the list of highest paying sports in the world, as per SportPesa.

1. Basketball

Basketball tops the list of the highest paying sports in the world. No surprises here considering the NBA has some of the most famous athletes in the world who are well paid by their respective teams. From the legendary Michael Jordan to Magic Johnson to LeBron James, some of the players who have played in the NBA are billionaires.

Basketball players Michael Jordan is one of the richest athletes in the world. Photo/ CNN.

Despite the fact that the players are well paid, it’s not just the salaries they receive that make them extremely wealthy. They have endorsement deals with some of the biggest brands which pay them huge amounts of money every year. For instance, Michael Jordan became a billionaire after retiring from the NBA thanks to his Nike contract and deals with other brands such as McDonald’s and Gatorade.

2. Baseball

The athlete with the biggest contract in sports is baseball player Shohei Ohtani whose 10-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers will see him earn a whopping $700 million. Well, this shouldn’t surprise baseball fans considering the amount of salaries players in the Major League Baseball (MLB) are paid.

Baseball is very prominent in the United States, South Korea and Japan, and some of the players receive huge salaries, making them rank among the richest athletes in the world. Popular baseball players include Babe Ruth, Roger Clemens, Willie Mays, Ty Cobb, Barry Bonds and Jimmie Foxx.

3. Formula 1

Also known as Grand Prix Racing, Formula 1 is an automobile game which involves racing. Even though the sport is not practiced in many parts of the world, it has a huge fan base. This game involves automobiles racing mostly on closed highways.

Formula 1. Photo/ Top Gear.

The high-profile sponsors and the huge prize money F1 drivers receive make it rank among the highest paying sports in the world. Some of the most popular drivers such as Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel earn significant figures from their contracts and also endorsements deals with major brands.

4. Soccer 

Apart from being the most popular sport on the planet, soccer is also one of the highest paying sports. Soccer is a game played with two teams on the pitch, each having eleven players who are trying to score without using their hands or arms.

Soccer, which is also known as football in other places, has a huge following worldwide, with the number of fans estimated to be 3.5 billion. Some of the most popular soccer stars include Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr., Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland. These players are well paid and rank among the wealthiest athletes worldwide.

5. Hockey

Hockey is another sport with a huge fan base all over the world. Just like football, it is a team sport which involves two teams competing against each other.

Players competing in the National Hockey League (NHL) receive substantial salaries, which is why hockey is one of the highest paying sports in the world. Some of the most famous hockey players include Wayne Gretzky, Jacques Plante, Bobby Orr, Gordie Howe, Jean Beliveaum, Steve Yzerman and Alexander Ovechkin.

Ice hockey. Photo/ ESPN.

6. Football

Also known as gridiron sport or simply American football, football is a very popular sport in the United States of America. It is a crossbreed of soccer and rugby, which is why you’ll see the players touching, throwing and carrying the ball with their hands. The sport was officially recognized in 1869 and so far has over 400 millions.

Some of the most popular American football players such as Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes are very wealthy and boasts significant following on various social media platforms.