These are the Five Highest Paid Sports in the World

"It's only a game" is a phrase often heard from those who don't follow or value sports. In any case, whether we're talking about football, tennis, basketball, or Quidditch (yep, it's now a real-life sport), we're talking about a phenomenon with significant social impact. Particularly in the United States, sports are a major contribution and a telling reflection of the ideals of that country's population. Sports affect our economy, culture, and leisure activities.

One of the reasons sports are so popular all around the world is that it is accessible to people of all socioeconomic statuses. People often opt to engage in sports to keep up their general level of fitness. Then, some seem to be born to "play the game," with their sport becoming their profession. A perk these chosen ones have is earning huge paychecks.

Indeed, sports is a billion-dollar business—according to Forbes, the North American sports market increased from $60.5 billion in 2014 to $73.5 billion in 2019. It's no surprise that the salaries of top athletes in today's most popular sports have skyrocketed compared to those of their counterparts just two or three decades ago.

The question now is, which sports pay players the most? Many athletes have become multi-millionaires thanks to their huge salaries for participating in competitions, plus endorsement deals they get on the side. So, here is a look at the five sports that pay the most money worldwide.

1. Basketball

Basketball, a game with two teams and ten players on the court, was invented by James Naismith. The first match held happened on December 1891 at the International Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) training facility in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Basketball's rising popularity throughout time, particularly in the United States, has made it a lucrative sport. For the 2018-19 season, the average salary for a professional basketball player is $7,422,823, making it the best-paid sport in the world. NBA legend Michael Jordan is the first athlete in history to earn a billion dollars. Nevertheless, at present, LeBron James and Steph Curry are two of the highest-paid athletes in the world, as per Forbes.

2. Boxing

Boxing is the second most lucrative sport in the world, which is understandable because it is very risky. Considered one of the oldest sports in the world, the noble art of self-defense is worth every penny that fighters earn every time they enter the squared circle.

Instead of getting a regular salary, boxers get paid for every fight. The ones who negotiate a deal is their manager, with amounts ranging from a few hundred dollars for amateurs, to millions for professionals. Regarding TV and title fights, boxing holds the record for the most pay-per-view (PPV) buys of all time. During their 2015 match, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao earned $100 million each from PPV.

3. American Football

American football is finally in the third spot on the list of top-paid sports, giving the National Football League (NFL) fans something to cheer about. Many will likely think it's appropriate that these athletes' pay continues to rise because of the difficulty level of the sport they play. 

32 NFL players now earn at least $20 million a season in average annual salary, according to the most recent analysis by overthecap.com. The sport has turned many NFL greats into multi-millionaires, such as Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, and Roger "Captain America" Staubach, who has a whopping $600 million net worth today.

4. Golf

Unlike many other popular sports, golf does not require much physical stamina and endurance. Therefore, it's easy to picture a prosperous future for oneself in the world of golf. Nevertheless, a golfer can only keep playing until they are well into their 40s. 

Golfers may make a substantial living year-round thanks to the numerous tournaments and tours that take place worldwide, such as the US Open, the British Open, and the PGA Championship. With a net worth of $800 million, Tiger Woods is the wealthiest golfer in the world. Impressively, the renowned sportsman has topped Forbes' list of the wealthiest athletes on the planet a record eleven times. 

5. Soccer

Soccer (internationally referred to as football or futbol), often hailed as the world's most popular and physically demanding sport, has made the last place on this list. The number of its fans exceeds four billion people around the world.

Since many professional soccer players earn six figures, they have a reputation for lavish spending. The richest soccer player in the world is  Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo, with a net worth of over $1 billion earned through endorsements and salaries.

Indeed, the list we have gathered overwhelmingly demonstrates the lucrative nature of the sports industry. One of the activities listed above should be at the top of your list if you're thinking about giving up your day job to pursue a new sport and become so skilled that you can make a living at it professionally.