Sports are a way of life for people from all walks of life. It is one of the most important activities unifying the world. People show their love for sports in different ways. While some people participate in it, others wager on it via different themes and formats at top sportsbooks or casinos like netti-kasino.org.
The sports industry is a very lucrative one. According to the World Sports Encyclopaedia (2003), there are about 8,000 indigenous sports and sporting games. However, of these numerous games, only a few are highly valuable and have achieved world status.
These sporting events pay their players handsomely and have turned many of them into millionaires.
Here are the top eight sports with the highest salaries and earnings in the world.
Basketball
A game played between two teams with ten players on the court. The sport was first introduced by James Naismith on December 1, 1891, at the International Young Men's Christian Association(YMCA), a training school located in Springfield, Massachusetts.Over the years, basketball has grown in popularity, especially in the US, making it a lucrative game of sports. Basketball is one of the highest-paid sports, with an average salary of $7,422,823 yearly for the 2018-19 season.
Former famous NBA superstar Michael Jordan is the first-ever sports athlete to hit a billion-dollar worth. According to Forbes, LeBron James and Steph Curry are among the highest-paid athletes. However, superstar LeBron has been the highest-paid player in NBA for six consecutive seasons, with a whopping salary of $92 million.
Furthermore, basketball players in countries like Spain, Italy, China, Greece, and Argentina earn above $1 million in salaries.
Football
Also known as soccer in some countries, it is a sport that involves twenty players in the field of play. It has been in existence since medieval times, although modern football originated in Great Britain in the 19th century.Furthermore, football is arguably the most-watched sport in the world. Like basketball, it is a billion-dollar lucrative sport.
Over the years, the sport has seen legends grace it, like Pele, Maradona, and the great Ronaldo De Lima. With its lucrativeness, players have made income in the game.
Football players dominate the current Forbes list of top sports athletes earners, like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Neymar Jr.
Argentine superstar Messi is the highest earner in football with a total valuation of $127 million, followed by Ronaldo at $109 million and Neymar at $105 million.
Tennis
Tennis can be said to be one of the most popular sports in the world. The top game stars are among the world's highest earners. The sport's biggest and most popular tournaments are the four grand slams.Currently, the highest earners in the sport are the biggest household names; Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic.
Roger Federer, popularly regarded as the greatest male tennis player ever, is the highest-paid in tennis, with a valuation of $93 million.
Boxing
Boxing is a combat sport that involves attack and defense with the fists. The famous boxers earn considerable amounts in tournaments, pay-per-view commissions, betting, and royalties from endorsement deals.According to Forbes, the retired undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather was the highest-paid athlete in 2012. In 2014, he retained the spot with a $105 million valuation.
Golf
Golf, unlike the other sports, is not a heavy endurance and fitness sport. Golf as a game of sports is a lucrative career choice anyone can imagine. However, a golf player's playing career can continue until the late 40s.In golf, events and tours are organized across the globe, which enables players to earn massively throughout the year. The most famous name in the game is Tiger Woods. He is the current record holder of achieving the top spot in the Forbes list of richest players eleven times.
Ice Hockey
Ice hockey, Canada's most popular game, is a winter team sport played on ice skates or artificial ice-skating rinks. This winter game has been in the limelight since 1875, when it first started. The frozen body of water, speed, and frequent physical contact among the players has made this team of six winter games one of the most popular international sports in the world and a game frequently featured in the Winter Olympics.Ice hockey is quite a prestigious game that most Canadians engage in, although Americans and other people from various nationalities play this sport. As a result of its popularity, Ice-hockey is rated one of the most highly paid sports in the world. The average player receives about $64,168 a year. A professional ice-hockey player can make more than 3 million dollars annually. Two of the highest-paid ice-hockey players, Olliers Conner McDavid and Auston Matthews, receive an estimated 15 million dollars yearly.
BaseBall
This Bat and Ball game is an official Olympics sport that has been around since 1744. It is one of the most prominent sports in America. In fact, most High school and College authorities have made this game a part of their school's curriculum.The average Baseball player receives $1.5 million yearly. Although, this depends on the rank of the player. Mike Trout, arguably the highest-paid baseball player in the world, has a 12-year contract worth $426 million with The Angels. His yearly income from the sport is about $35.54 million, excluding bonuses and other endorsement deals.
American Football
American Football is the most popular sport in the United States and some parts of Canada. Also called "Gridiron," this two-team of 11 players game has been in existence since 1869, when it was first played in New Jersey. Although the sport is not part of the annual Olympic games, it is recognized as a demonstration game, as seen in the 1932 Summer Olympics.The average American Football player receives about 2 million dollars yearly. However, the standard annual amount for more than 50% of the players is $860,000. Aaron Rodgers, one of the most prestigious American footballers, receives up to 50 million dollars annually, thanks to his recently signed three-year extension with Green Bay Packers.
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