Sports contracts have been a way for professional athletes to earn massive amounts of money. The world’s richest sports contracts are often signed by top-tier athletes who are at the forefront of their respective sports. The amount of money that an athlete can earn from a sports contract varies depending on various factors, including the player’s talent, the current market, and their level of fame. In this article, we will take a look at the richest sports contracts ever signed.
1. Mike Trout – Baseball
Mike Trout, an American professional baseball player, signed a 12-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels in 2019, worth $426.5 million, the largest contract in the history of professional sports. The deal will pay Trout an average of $35.5 million per year through the 2030 season.
2. Canelo Alvarez – Boxing
Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, a Mexican professional boxer, signed a five-year deal with DAZN in 2018 worth $365 million, which makes him the highest-paid boxer in history. The deal includes a minimum of 11 fights in five years.
3. Bryce Harper – Baseball
Bryce Harper, an American professional baseball player, signed a 13-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2019, worth $330 million. Harper’s deal is the second-largest in baseball history, behind Trout’s.
4. Giancarlo Stanton – Baseball
Giancarlo Stanton, an American professional baseball player, signed a 13-year contract with the Miami Marlins in 2014, worth $325 million. The deal was the largest in baseball history at the time.
5. Canelo Alvarez – Boxing (again)
Canelo makes the list twice, as he signed a 10-fight deal with DAZN in 2018 worth $365 million. The deal followed his split with long-time promoter Golden Boy Promotions and HBO.
6. Manny Pacquiao – Boxing
Manny Pacquiao, a Filipino professional boxer, signed a two-year deal with the Premier Boxing Champions in 2019 worth $250 million. The deal includes three fights, with the first being against Keith Thurman in July 2019.
7. Robinson Cano – Baseball
Robinson Cano, a Dominican professional baseball player, signed a ten-year contract with the Seattle Mariners in 2014, worth $240 million. The deal made Cano one of the highest-paid players in baseball at the time.
8. Albert Pujols – Baseball
Albert Pujols, a Dominican professional baseball player, signed a ten-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels in 2011, worth $240 million. The deal made Pujols one of the highest-paid players in baseball history at the time.
9. Miguel Cabrera – Baseball
Miguel Cabrera, a Venezuelan professional baseball player, signed an eight-year contract with the Detroit Tigers in 2014, worth $248 million. The deal made Cabrera one of the highest-paid players in baseball history at the time.
10. Alex Rodriguez – Baseball
Alex Rodriguez, an American former professional baseball player, signed two of the largest contracts in sports history. In 2000, he signed a ten-year contract with the Texas Rangers, worth $252 million, and in 2007, he signed a ten-year contract with the New York Yankees, worth $275 million.
In conclusion, sports contracts have become a lucrative way for athletes to earn a significant amount of money. The contracts mentioned above are proof that sports can be incredibly lucrative for top-tier athletes. It is fascinating to see how much money professional athletes can earn, and it will be interesting to see what the future holds for sports contracts.
