Being a professional athlete is one of the most popular dream jobs that kids want growing up. They are enamored with the legions of cheering fans, the excitement of competition, and, of course, the opportunity to earn millions of dollars per year.
While most professional athletes in the U.S. across all leagues and skill levels earn less than $60,000 per year, a select few in major sports leagues are able to sign enormous contracts worth tens of millions of dollars per year.
To determine the highest paid athletes in America, 24/7 Wall St. used data from sports contract resource Spotrac. NBA, NHL, NFL, and MLB athletes were ranked based on their total compensation from their team in either 2021 2021 or the 2020-2021 season. Endorsements and other off-the-field earnings were not considered.
Of the 103 athletes in the four major U.S. sports leagues who earned $20 million or more in the most recent season, NBA players lead the way with 47 players at that income level. There are 33 MLB players and 23 NFL athletes earning at least $20 million as well. No NHL players made the list — Connor McDavid was the highest paid hockey player, earning $15 million in the 2020-2021 season.
Several players on this list only rank among the highest paid athletes because of how their contracts are structured, such as signing or other bonuses. For instance, Dallas Cowboys $43.3 million in 2021. His annual salary is $22.3 million, but he received a one-time $21 million signing bonus, effectively doubling his compensation. Many other players on this list have similarly structured contracts, getting large lump sums up front to give their teams greater financial flexibility in the future.
After signing a major deal, some athletes struggle to live up to the performance standard that netted them that contract in the first place. This can be for many reasons — they may have nagging injuries, difficulty adjusting to a new team, or they may simply have aged out of their athletic prime. These are the most overpaid athletes in sports.
Click here to see the 100 highest paid athletes in America.
93. Eric Hosmer (tied)
> Total earnings: $20,000,000
> Position, team: First baseman, San Diego Padres
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93. Wil Myers (tied)
> Total earnings: $20,000,000
> Position, team: Leftfielder, San Diego Padres
93. Andrew McCutchen (tied)
> Total earnings: $20,000,000
> Position, team: Leftfielder, Philadelphia Phillies
93. Shaquil Barrett (tied)
> Total earnings: $20,000,000
> Position, team: Outside linebacker, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
93. Matthew Stafford (tied)
> Total earnings: $20,000,000
> Position, team: Quarterback, Los Angeles Rams
93. Kenley Jansen (tied)
> Total earnings: $20,000,000
> Position, team: Relief pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers
93. Chris Sale (tied)
> Total earnings: $20,000,000
> Position, team: Starting pitcher, Boston Red Sox
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93. Hyun-Jin Ryu (tied)
> Total earnings: $20,000,000
> Position, team: Starting pitcher, Toronto Blue Jays
93. Jacob deGrom (tied)
> Total earnings: $20,000,000
> Position, team: Starting pitcher, New York Mets
93. Xander Bogaerts (tied)
> Total earnings: $20,000,000
> Position, team: Shortstop, Boston Red Sox
93. Amari Cooper (tied)
> Total earnings: $20,000,000
> Position, team: Wide receiver, Dallas Cowboys
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92. Carson Wentz
> Total earnings: $20,400,000
> Position, team: Quarterback, Indianapolis Colts
91. Ja’Marr Chase
> Total earnings: $20,434,284
> Position, team: Wide receiver, Cincinnati Bengals
90. Nolan Arenado
> Total earnings: $20,595,500
> Position, team: Third baseman, St. Louis Cardinals
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89. Malcolm Brogdon
> Total earnings: $20,700,000
> Position, team: Point guard, Indiana Pacers
88. Ryan Ramczyk
> Total earnings: $20,714,824
> Position, team: Right tackle, New Orleans Saints
87. Julius Randle
> Total earnings: $20,790,000
> Position, team: Power forward, New York Knicks
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83. Josh Donaldson (tied)
> Total earnings: $21,000,000
> Position, team: Third baseman, Minnesota Twins
83. Kirk Cousins (tied)
> Total earnings: $21,000,000
> Position, team: Quarterback, Minnesota Vikings
83. Jason Heyward (tied)
> Total earnings: $21,000,000
> Position, team: Rightfielder, Chicago Cubs
83. Charlie Blackmon (tied)
> Total earnings: $21,000,000
> Position, team: Rightfielder, Colorado Rockies
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82. Fred VanVleet
> Total earnings: $21,250,000
> Position, team: Point guard, Toronto Raptors
81. Buster Posey
> Total earnings: $21,425,000
> Position, team: Catcher, San Francisco Giants
79. Chris Jones (tied)
> Total earnings: $21,500,000
> Position, team: Defensive tackle, Kansas City Chiefs
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79. Aaron Rodgers (tied)
> Total earnings: $21,500,000
> Position, team: Quarterback, Green Bay Packers
78. Myles Garrett
> Total earnings: $21,684,000
> Position, team: Defensive end, Cleveland Browns
77. Kyle Pitts
> Total earnings: $21,954,904
> Position, team: Tight end, Atlanta Falcons
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76. Johnny Cueto
> Total earnings: $22,000,000
> Position, team: Starting pitcher, San Francisco Giants
75. Freddie Freeman
> Total earnings: $22,050,000
> Position, team: First baseman, Atlanta Braves
74. Tyler Lockett
> Total earnings: $22,200,000
> Position, team: Wide receiver, Seattle Seahawks
73. Harrison Barnes
> Total earnings: $22,215,909
> Position, team: Small forward, Sacramento Kings
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72. Draymond Green
> Total earnings: $22,246,956
> Position, team: Power forward, Golden State Warriors
71. Zack Wheeler
> Total earnings: $22,500,000
> Position, team: Starting pitcher, Philadelphia Phillies
70. Patrick Mahomes
> Total earnings: $22,806,905
> Position, team: Quarterback, Kansas City Chiefs
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68. Justin Upton (tied)
> Total earnings: $23,000,000
> Position, team: Leftfielder, Los Angeles Angels
68. Matt Ryan (tied)
> Total earnings: $23,000,000
> Position, team: Quarterback, Atlanta Falcons
67. Clayton Kershaw
> Total earnings: $23,333,334
> Position, team: Starting pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers
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66. Stephen Strasburg
> Total earnings: $23,571,428
> Position, team: Starting pitcher, Washington Nationals
65. Ronnie Stanley
> Total earnings: $23,750,000
> Position, team: Tackle, Baltimore Ravens
64. Patrick Corbin
> Total earnings: $24,000,000
> Position, team: Starting pitcher, Washington Nationals
63. Ryan Tannehill
> Total earnings: $24,500,000
> Position, team: Quarterback, Tennessee Titans
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62. Jaylen Brown
> Total earnings: $24,776,786
> Position, team: Shooting guard, Boston Celtics
61. Trevor Lawrence
> Total earnings: $24,778,900
> Position, team: Quarterback, Jacksonville Jaguars
60. Buddy Hield
> Total earnings: $24,971,851
> Position, team: Shooting guard, Sacramento Kings
59. Jimmy Garoppolo
> Total earnings: $24,982,352
> Position, team: Quarterback, San Francisco 49ers
58. Joey Votto
> Total earnings: $25,000,000
> Position, team: First baseman, Cincinnati Reds
57. Jared Goff
> Total earnings: $25,650,000
> Position, team: Quarterback, Detroit Lions
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53. Paul Goldschmidt (tied)
> Total earnings: $26,000,000
> Position, team: First baseman, St. Louis Cardinals
53. Jose Altuve (tied)
> Total earnings: $26,000,000
> Position, team: Second baseman, Houston Astros
53. Leonard Williams (tied)
> Total earnings: $26,000,000
> Position, team: Defensive end, New York Giants
53. Bryce Harper (tied)
> Total earnings: $26,000,000
> Position, team: Rightfielder, Philadelphia Phillies
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52. Jrue Holiday
> Total earnings: $27,026,111
> Position, team: Shooting guard, Milwaukee Bucks
50. Jamal Murray (tied)
> Total earnings: $27,285,000
> Position, team: Point guard, Denver Nuggets
50. Brandon Ingram (tied)
> Total earnings: $27,285,000
> Position, team: Small forward, New Orleans Pelicans
48. Anthony Rendon (tied)
> Total earnings: $27,500,000
> Position, team: Third baseman, Los Angeles Angels
48. Al Horford (tied)
> Total earnings: $27,500,000
> Position, team: Power forward, Oklahoma City Thunder
47. Rudy Gobert
> Total earnings: $27,525,281
> Position, team: Center, Utah Jazz
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45. Steven Adams (tied)
> Total earnings: $27,528,088
> Position, team: Center, New Orleans Pelicans
45. Giannis Antetokounmpo (tied)
> Total earnings: $27,528,088
> Position, team: Power forward, Milwaukee Bucks
44. Tom Brady
> Total earnings: $27,545,588
> Position, team: Quarterback, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
43. DeMar DeRozan
> Total earnings: $27,739,975
> Position, team: Shooting guard, San Antonio Spurs
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42. Gordon Hayward
> Total earnings: $28,500,000
> Position, team: Small forward, Charlotte Hornets
41. D’Angelo Russell
> Total earnings: $28,649,250
> Position, team: Shooting guard, Minnesota Timberwolves
40. Bradley Beal
> Total earnings: $28,751,774
> Position, team: Shooting guard, Washington Wizards
39. C.J. McCollum
> Total earnings: $29,354,152
> Position, team: Shooting guard, Portland Trail Blazers
36. Karl-Anthony Towns (tied)
> Total earnings: $29,467,800
> Position, team: Center, Minnesota Timberwolves
36. Kristaps Porzingis (tied)
> Total earnings: $29,467,800
> Position, team: Power forward, Dallas Mavericks
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36. Devin Booker (tied)
> Total earnings: $29,467,800
> Position, team: Shooting guard, Phoenix Suns
33. Joel Embiid (tied)
> Total earnings: $29,542,010
> Position, team: Center, Philadelphia 76ers
33. Nikola Jokic (tied)
> Total earnings: $29,542,010
> Position, team: Center, Denver Nuggets
33. Andrew Wiggins (tied)
> Total earnings: $29,542,010
> Position, team: Small forward, Golden State Warriors
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31. Manny Machado (tied)
> Total earnings: $30,000,000
> Position, team: Third baseman, San Diego Padres
31. Miguel Cabrera (tied)
> Total earnings: $30,000,000
> Position, team: Designated hitter, Detroit Tigers
30. Kyle Lowry
> Total earnings: $30,500,000
> Position, team: Point guard, Toronto Raptors
28. Pascal Siakam (tied)
> Total earnings: $30,559,200
> Position, team: Power forward, Toronto Raptors
28. Ben Simmons (tied)
> Total earnings: $30,559,200
> Position, team: Point guard, Philadelphia 76ers
27. Kevin Love
> Total earnings: $31,258,256
> Position, team: Power forward, Cleveland Cavaliers
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26. Damian Lillard
> Total earnings: $31,626,953
> Position, team: Point guard, Portland Trail Blazers
25. George Springer
> Total earnings: $32,000,000
> Position, team: Centerfielder, Toronto Blue Jays
24. Trent Williams
> Total earnings: $32,267,647
> Position, team: Left tackle, San Francisco 49ers
23. Anthony Davis
> Total earnings: $32,742,000
> Position, team: Power forward, Los Angeles Lakers
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22. Justin Verlander
> Total earnings: $33,000,000
> Position, team: Starting pitcher, Houston Astros
21. Khris Middleton
> Total earnings: $33,051,724
> Position, team: Small forward, Milwaukee Bucks
20. Paul George
> Total earnings: $33,387,565
> Position, team: Shooting guard, Los Angeles Clippers
19. Kyrie Irving
> Total earnings: $33,722,850
> Position, team: Point guard, Brooklyn Nets
18. James Harden
> Total earnings: $34,190,721
> Position, team: Shooting guard, Brooklyn Nets
17. Tobias Harris
> Total earnings: $34,358,850
> Position, team: Small forward, Philadelphia 76ers
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14. Kemba Walker (tied)
> Total earnings: $34,379,100
> Position, team: Point guard, Boston Celtics
14. Jimmy Butler (tied)
> Total earnings: $34,379,100
> Position, team: Small forward, Miami Heat
14. Kawhi Leonard (tied)
> Total earnings: $34,379,100
> Position, team: Small forward, Los Angeles Clippers
13. Mike Conley
> Total earnings: $34,502,132
> Position, team: Point guard, Utah Jazz
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12. Klay Thompson
> Total earnings: $35,361,360
> Position, team: Shooting guard, Golden State Warriors
11. Mike Trout
> Total earnings: $35,500,000
> Position, team: Centerfielder, Los Angeles Angels
10. Gerrit Cole
> Total earnings: $36,000,000
> Position, team: Starting pitcher, New York Yankees
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9. Trevor Bauer
> Total earnings: $38,000,000
> Position, team: Starting pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers
8. Kevin Durant
> Total earnings: $38,771,513
> Position, team: Small forward, Brooklyn Nets
7. John Wall
> Total earnings: $38,867,483
> Position, team: Point guard, Houston Rockets
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6. LeBron James
> Total earnings: $39,219,566
> Position, team: Small forward, Los Angeles Lakers
5. Russell Westbrook
> Total earnings: $40,158,814
> Position, team: Point guard, Washington Wizards
4. Stephen Curry
> Total earnings: $40,491,877
> Position, team: Point guard, Golden State Warriors
3. Chris Paul
> Total earnings: $41,358,814
> Position, team: Point guard, Phoenix Suns
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2. Francisco Lindor
> Total earnings: $43,300,000
> Position, team: Shortstop, New York Mets
24/7 Wall St.1. Dak Prescott
> Total earnings: $75,000,000
> Position, team: Quarterback, Dallas Cowboys
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