North American leagues are some of the most lucrative in the world. Though most fans of those leagues shared between the US and Canada are based solely in North America, the leagues (including the MLB, NBA, NHL, and MLS) still regularly rake in billions in revenue.
Even the NFL, which is unique to the US, pulled in close to $10 billion in 2020, according to Front Office Sports. The NBA took in around the same, according to CNBC, while the lowest-performing league, the NWSL, was predicted by Deloitte to earn close to half a billion ($480 million) this year.
With such massive earnings for leagues, it’s no surprise that athletes in North America rake in huge sums each year. With interest in sports only climbing, fan engagement could help propel these salaries even higher.
For example, the US repealed a federal ban on sports betting in 2018. Since then, offers such as a FanDuel promo code have become accessible countrywide. Not only has this helped foster interest in new leagues, but it’s also helped fans get better acquainted with the data that drives their leagues.
Now, they’re closer to the statistics that have made leading athletes millions of dollars throughout their careers. Separated by league, here are North America’s highest-paid athletes.
NBA: LeBron James ($111 million)
Though players like Steph Curry and Kevin Durant would love to dethrone LeBron James as the greatest basketball player in the league, the money doesn’t lie. While Curry takes home slightly more than LeBron in terms of salary (with $45 million versus $41 million), LeBron earns way more, with at least $70 million coming from sponsorship deals according to Forbes.
WNBA: Diana Taurasi ($3.2 million)
Though the WNBA is gaining popularity and players are earning more than ever, WNBA stars aren’t raking in millions (yet). For her work with the Phoenix Mercury, Taurasi sees a salary of around $220,000. Meanwhile, her overseas contracts and endorsements tally around $2.5 million, with another $100,000 from a recent court case related to the women’s national team.
NFL: Patrick Mahomes ($45 million, sponsorships not included)
Two years ago, Patrick Mahomes made headlines after signing a ten-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs worth close to $500 million. This leaves him with an annual salary of around $45 million, making him the highest-paid athlete in the NFL.
MLB: Mike Trout ($43.5 million)
As one of the strongest players of his generation, the Los Angeles Angels recently signed Mike Trout to a similar deal as Patrick Mahomes. The center fielder will play for the Angels on a 12-year contract worth around $450 million. Trout’s annual salary will stay at $35 million, which will include an estimated $3.5 million this year from sponsorships.
NHL: Connor McDavid ($16.4 million)
Similar to Mahomes and Trout, McDavid is a promising player at the start of his career. Though he hasn’t signed a long-term contract with the Edmonton Oilers, McDavid is likely to stay around as captain given his annual salary of $12.4 million, which includes around $4 million in sponsorship and licensing deals for 2021.
MLS: Carlos Vela ($6.3 million, sponsorships not included)
As the MLS continues to develop (along with the NWSL), averages for player salaries are expected to keep growing. For example, Vela was paid $4.5 million in 2020, which jumped to $6.3 million in 2021.
This year, Carlos Vela, a striker for LAFC, tops the list, with others like Javier Hernandez close behind. Currently, there are no sponsorship details available for Vela and other MLS players.
NWSL: Carli Lloyd ($518,000, sponsorships not included)
Much like the MLS, the NWSL is enjoying a period of rapid expansion. In fact, the NWSL counts the world’s highest-paid female football athletes on its rosters (though the FA Women’s National League isn’t far behind).
Carli Lloyd’s sponsorship deals aren’t public, though her work with brands like VISA and Nike are estimated to be worth around $2 million. Though the highest-paid athlete in the 2021 season, Lloyd won’t be returning for the 2022 NWSL season.
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