Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is formally the highest-paid athlete within the NBA.
The truth is, the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder franchise star is the highest-paid athlete in all of US Sports activities, although he trails world superstars in different sporting fields.
He inked a four-year, $285million supermax contract extension after main the Thunder to their first NBA championship in franchise historical past (if excluding the Seattle SuperSonics), Gilgeous-Alexander is now the highest-paid NBA star.
Gilgeous-Alexander leads the best way within the US
After an outstanding particular person marketing campaign within the 2024-25 season, the Thunder knew they needed to decide to their star to a long-term future.
This got here as Gilgeous-Alexander got here off the again of a season by which he averaged a career-high 32.7 factors, 5.0 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 1.7 steals per contest, which noticed him clinch each the league MVP and Finals MVP awards, in addition to being named to the All-NBA First Crew.
His contract, which kicks in for the 2027-28 season, is about to see him command a mean annual wage of $71 million, making the 27-year-old possesses the richest annual contract within the Affiliation.
Nonetheless, the entire variety of his deal is not league-leading.
That, in fact, belongs to Jayson Tatum, who penned a five-year, $314m extension with the Boston Celtics the summer time earlier than tearing his Achilles tendon within the 2024-25 NBA Playoffs.
In keeping with Visible Capitalist, the Canadian basketball famous person’s common annual wage is the fifth-highest amongst all athletes, one spot forward of Los Angeles Dodgers dual-threat baseball sensation Shohei Ohtani, whose ten-year, $700m contract is the second-largest MLB contract on file.
It was additionally the biggest complete contract in professional sports activities historical past on the time of signing, although it has since been eclipsed by Juan Soto’s 15-year, $765m take care of the New York Mets.
Because it pertains to the NFL, Dak Prescott is the recipient of the richest annual contract, commanding $60m-a-year from the Dallas Cowboys after signing a four-year, $240m deal in September 2024.
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Nonetheless, the top-four names on the checklist are made up of stars in globally-watched sports activities.
World soccer sensation leads the best way
In keeping with Forbes, the 50 highest-paid athletes in 2025 earned a file $4.2 billion mixed, showcasing simply how briskly compensation is on the rise for these sporting figureheads, and units the marketplace for past.
Simply forward of SGA on the checklist is four-time Method 1 world champion Max Verstappen, who signed a profitable five-year, $275m extension in 2024 that runs by to the 2028 season.
As such, the Crimson Bull Racing stalwart earns $72m per yr, only one million shy of boxing family identify Canelo Álvarez, who was left surprised by Terence Crawford of their blockbuster bout in entrance of a file 70,482 crowd at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium in September.
However solely two sporting names on this planet command a wage over $100m – Jon Rahm and Cristiano Ronaldo.
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The Spanish golfer penned a record-breaking contract with LIV Golf value a reported $500 million ($100 million yearly) again in June, and was one in every of solely two members of Europe’s Ryder Cup-winning staff which are affiliated with the Saudi-backed league, together with Tyrell Hatton.
The 30-year-old just lately admitted that solely a home-Ryder Cup in Spain in 2031 will high an exciting week at Bethpage Black in New York.
“It is going to be laborious to high that week,” Rahm mentioned.
“I do not know the way there is usually a higher week, the one one, the 2031 Ryder Cup in Spain, which will probably be extra particular for me.”
High 10 Highest Paid Athletes in 2025
10 sports activities make up the highest 10 athletes
- Cristiano Ronaldo – Soccer – $234.4 million USD per yr
- Jon Rahm – Golf – $100 million USD per yr
- Canelo Álvarez – Boxing – $73 million USD per yr
- Max Verstappen – Method 1 – $72 million USD per yr
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – Basketball (NBA) – $71.25 million USD per yr
- Shohei Ohtani – Baseball (MLB) – $70 million USD per yr
- Dak Prescott – American Soccer (NFL) – $60 million USD per yr
- Kyle Busch – NASCAR – $16.9 million USD per yr
- Roman Reigns – WWE – $15 million USD per yr
- Fabio Quartararo – MotoGP – $14.06 million USD per yr
That leaves solely Ronaldo, who brings in over double the wage of second-placed Rahm on a yearly foundation, with an estimated annual common of $234.3m.
The Portuguese footballer has been a worldwide soccer icon since he erupted into prominence at Manchester United and Actual Madrid, and holds a plethora of information, together with being the all-time highest goalscorer in soccer historical past.
Ronaldo is such a worldwide star that non-soccer/soccer followers even know of him.
After a stint in Serie A with Juventus, Ronaldo made his strategy to Saudi Arabia, by way of a short spell again in Manchester, the place he joined Saudi Professional League facet Al-Nassr, kickstarting the transformation of that league commercially.
Nonetheless taking part in regardless of approaching 41 years of age, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner signed a mega-money two-year extension with Al Nassr value an estimated $700m, in addition to being given an possession stake within the membership.
It actually pays to be the perfect in your sport.
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