We all know that it pays well to be a top sports star, but sometimes, it’s hard to put that money into context. Huge numbers are always discussed in sports, such as multi-million dollar player contracts, tournament prize pools, and more. It’s easy to forget just how much that money can buy!
To show how much your favorite athletes earn, we took some of the top earners from across the sporting world and decided to break down what their wealth really means. We’ll be comparing their net worth to the average American, to other celebrities, and to the price of some common big purchases.
How Wealthy Are Sports’ Biggest Stars?
While a player’s contract price is often the talking point in sports, their net worth is a more important value. This estimation takes into account money from non-sporting sources, e.g. sponsorship deals, investments, side projects, etc.
These are the athletes with the top net worths in their sports.
Golf: Tiger Woods
With 82 PGA tour wins to his name and a career spanning almost 30 years, golf legend Tiger Woods ranks as the richest active athlete in the world.
His net worth stands at approximately $1.4 billion, making him 6,424 times wealthier than the average American and one of just two sporting billionaires who have not retired. To put his wealth in perspective, the average American saves $489,170 for retirement. For Woods to take this amount out of his net worth would be the same as a typical American saving just $72.
Thanks to lucrative sponsorship deals with brands such as Nike, Monster Energy, and 2K Games, Woods has been able to expand on his winnings and has launched other ventures, including a clothing range and non-profit organization for teaching golf to children.
NBA: LeBron James
Since joining the NBA in 2003, LeBron James has solidified himself as one of the most successful basketball players in history, and his earnings certainly reflect it. The four-time NBA champion, four-time MVP, and four-time Finals MVP has an estimated net worth of $1.3 billion.
This means that the Lakers’ forward is the first active NBA player to become a billionaire as of 2023. LeBron’s earnings have made him 6,243 times wealthier than the average American, and his net worth is enough to afford almost 25,000 brand-new cars.
Outside of his earnings through the NBA, LeBron has become a key figure in popular culture. He’s the most followed basketball player on social media, has starred in films such as Space Jam: A New Legacy, and has signed endorsement deals with Nike, Coca-Cola, and McDonald's, among other brands. James even owns a minority stake in British soccer team Liverpool FC.
Soccer: Lionel Messi
The wealthiest player in the world’s most popular sport, Argentinian striker Lionel Messi is a global phenomenon worth an estimated $850 million. With a FIFA World Cup, eight Ballon d’Or awards, and four UEFA Champions League titles to his name, it’s no wonder he’s secured deals with big-name brands, including Pepsi and Adidas.
Messi’s wealth makes him 4,422 richer than an average U.S. citizen. A $9,000 Super Bowl ticket bought with his wealth would be the same as a typical American spending just $10. His business ventures away from the soccer pitch include an energy drink brand, a film production company, and even an Esports organization co-owned by fellow Argentine footballer Sergio Agüero.
Formula 1: Lewis Hamilton
In 2015, seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton was ranked as the richest athlete in the UK. Now, his personal fortune has grown even more to a net worth of $285 million, making him 1,483 times richer than most Americans.
To put that wealth into context, Hamilton buying a new road car at the average U.S. price would be the same as a typical American paying just $32. In addition to signing multi-million dollar contracts with some of motorsport’s biggest names, Hamilton owns a vegan restaurant, a collaborative fashion line with Tommy Hilfiger, and has a stake in the Denver Broncos NFL team.
Boxing: Canelo Alvarez
Mexican boxer Saúl “Canelo” Alvarez has held world championships across four different divisions, but he also holds the #1 spot as the active boxer with the highest net worth. With $250 million to his name, he has 1,301 times more money than the national average.
With his wealth, Canelo buying an average price U.S. house ($420,400) would be equivalent to a typical American paying $323 – a fraction of the money. Canelo is an avid collector of cars, owning expensive sportscars from brands such as Lamborghini, Bugatti, Ferrari and Rolls Royce. He also owns a chain of gas stations in Mexico named Canelo Energy, as well as a convenience store brand called Upper.
Tennis: Novak Djokovic
Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic is no stranger to beating records, having won 24 single Grand Slam titles, seven year-end championships, and $185 million in prize money. However, his net worth is closer to an estimated $240 million due to money from other ventures. This means Djokovic’s wealth is around 1,249 greater than the average American
Djokovic’s sponsorship deals have included brands such as Mercedes Benz and Lacoste. He has also set up businesses and investments through a family-owned company, which has founded Djokovic-themed restaurants in his home country, and launched a range of nutritional food items.
NFL: Aaron Rodgers
During his time at the Green Bay Packers from 2005 to 2022, star quarterback Aaron Rodgers earned four season MVP titles and a Super Bowl victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2010. After signing with the New York Jets in 2023, his net worth increased to an estimated $200 million, making him the NFL player with the highest net worth.
Rodgers’ wealth is 1,041 greater than a typical American adult, and with a minority stake in the Milwaukee Bucks and sponsorship deals with companies including State Farm, he earns millions off the field on top of his contracted worth.
NHL: Alex Ovechkin
Washington Capitals left-winger Alexander Ovechkin has enjoyed an illustrious career in the NHL, being a first overall draft pick in 2004 and later winning the 2018 Stanley Cup and a record nine Rocket Richard Trophies. He is ranked second in all-time goals scored behind Wayne Gretzky and is one of only three players to have scored more than 800 goals in his career.
Ovechkin’s wealth stands at roughly $80 million, making him 416 times richer than the American national average. As well as being sponsored by household names like Papa John’s and Nike, his philanthropic efforts have led to thousands of fans being able to attend his home games for free.
MMA: Conor McGregor
A controversial figure in mixed martial arts, Irish fighter Conor McGregor has become a household name. He has earned a net worth of roughly $200 million – the same estimated amount as Aaron Rodgers.
With a business portfolio including a brand of Irish whiskey and ownership of two pubs in Dublin, McGregor has found ways to boost his wealth outside the ring. However, he lost many of his most successful partnerships following his 2024 trial.
MLB: Shohei Ohtani
At just 30 years old, the LA Dodgers’ pitcher and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani is the youngest athlete on our list to top his respective sport. The Japanese 5-time All-Star and 3-time MVP won his first World Series championship in 2024 and is already considered an all-time great after joining the MLB in 2018.
Ohtani’s net worth stands at roughly $150 million – 780 times higher than that of the average American. He was estimated to be earning $35-40 million from endorsements in 2023, having partnered with brands including New Balance, Hugo Boss and Porsche.
Cricket: Virat Kohli
Indian cricketer Virat Kohli is the most awarded player in the sport’s history at international level. As the first player to reach 20,000 runs in a decade, and with the ICC naming him Male Cricketer of the Decade in 2020, his hot streak in the 2010s led him to worldwide fame.
Kohli’s estimated net worth stands at $92 million, making him as rich as 479 average Americans’ combined wealth. His investments have involved a range of health clubs in India, a lifestyle brand aimed at helping young children stay healthy, and a sports clothing brand with Puma.
The True Wealth of the Rich and Famous
While the biggest earners in the world of sports make impressive amounts of money, the business world overshadows them when it comes to net worth. For example, Elon Musk’s wealth of $436 billion is 2,273,633 times greater than the average American’s earnings. If you took the Michigan Stadium – the biggest in the USA – and put the median American’s net worth on each seat ($192,200), you’d need more than 21 stadiums to seat all the money. His wealth is 335 times larger than Tiger Woods, whose own wealth is more than 6,000 times greater than the typical American.
Sorry for making you scroll so much, but you're starting to get the real picture of just how much $436 billion really is.
The sports industry is estimated to be valued at more than $2.6 trillion worldwide. It takes an unbelievable amount of money to make your favorite events happen on a global stage, and it takes an elite level of skill to make millions from professional competition. Many of the top-earning athletes earn just as much through brand partnerships as they do through their winnings, which shows just how important their personal brand and image are in their success.
It's also worth noting how male-dominated the share of wealth across sports is. No women appeared on our top 50 highest-earning sportspeople, with the highest female earners mostly being CEOs, musicians, and influencers. With female leagues such as the WNBA and NWSL rising in popularity, we could hopefully see more women represented in wealth rankings with enough investment.
Not all of us can make millions of dollars from sports every year, but if you think you know your favorite game, you can try earning some money from the comfort of your living room. Check out our betting odds for all the latest parlays and predictions for the biggest games, and see how much you can win!
Methodology
To uncover the true wealth disparity between the highest-paid individuals in sports, business, film, and other sectors compared to the average American, we used data from Forbes and Celebrity Net Worth to compile the net worths of over 100 top-earning celebrities and business owners across various industries.
Next, we identified the median net worth of the average American as the benchmark for comparison.
We then performed a relative wealth analysis by comparing each individual's net worth to the median American net worth. This process enabled us to quantify and visualize the vast disparity in financial standing between these high earners and the average citizen.
Finally, to provide additional context, we examined the relative cost of significant purchases, such as homes, cars, retirement savings, and luxury items, revealing the true wealth of these people.
