Top 10 Highest Paying Sporting Events in the World
Money is the integral part of all sports. Sports industry is one of the most flourishing industries in the world. This is the reason that some of the top level athletes of different sports are millionaires. Top 10 highest paying sporting events in the world is about those mega sport’s events that are highest paying sporting events (tournaments/ leagues) in the world.
Soccer is not only the most popular sport in the world but it also highest paying sport in the world. Different football leagues and tournaments pay billions of dollars to clubs and players in the form of prize money and salaries. That’s why soccer players are amongst the wealthiest athletes in the world. It we take a look at the richest sporting events in the world we’ll find that soccer competitions are at top. Here are top 10 highest paying sporting events in the world.
The Highest Paying Sporting Events in the World
10. FIFA Club World Cup: $28m
At no 10 in our list of highest paying sporting events is the FIFA Club World Cup. The total prize money in the competition is about 28 million USD. The winners took home about £1.8 million in prize money plus TV revenue while the runners up pocked £900,000 in prize money plus TV revenue.
9. FedEx Cup: $35m
The PGA Tour trophy, the FedEx Cup is another richest sporting event in our list of top 10 Highest Paying sporting events in the world. The total prize money involved in FedEx Cup is about 35 million USD while the winner can earn about $10 million. Similarly the $3 and $2 million bonus money checks for second and third.
8. Wimbledon Championship $42.2m
Wimbledon is the most prestigious title of tennis. It is also richest tennis tournament in the world. Wimbledon trophy is the one of the oldest sports trophy on the planet. There is huge money involved in the tournament. The overall prize money is estimated about 42.2 million USD. For 2015 Wimbledon there is about seven percent increment in the total prize money. And the Winners of men’s and ladies singles will net £1.88million.
7. World Series of Poker: Up to $62m
Next in the Highest Paying sporting events is the World Series of Poker. The estimated money involved in the most prestigious poker tournament is about $62 million. For 2015 world series of pokers, the World Series of Poker has altered the payout structure of its flagship $10,000 Main Event. The world’s most admired poker tournament will no longer feature a $10 million guarantee top prize, instead guaranteeing 1,000 places in the money receiving at least $15,000.
6. World Series: $ 66.5m
Next in the list of the Highest Paying sporting events is the MLB World Series. It is a worth watched event. The total prize money in the World Series is about 66.5 million USD. The 2014’s winners the San Francisco Giants after winning their third World Series in five years, pocketed a huge amount, each player’s bonus share came to a record $388,605.94. The Giants also received $22,329,526.27 of the players’ pool.
5. UEFA Europa League: $237m
UEFA also increases prize money for UEFA Europa League just like UEFA Champions League. At group stage each participant team will get € 1.3 million while the losing finalists will receive €2.5 and the champions will get €5 million. The total prize money is about 237 million USD and this huge money makes UEFA Europa League one of the Highest Paying sporting events in the world.
4. UEFA European Championships $445m
UEFA European Championship is an association football competition contested by the senior men’s national teams of the members of UEFA. It is another richest sporting event in the world. According to a rough estimate the total prize money in UEFA is about 445 million USD. This brings UEFA European Championships in at No 4 in the Highest Paying sporting events in the world.
3. FIFA World Cup: $576 m
Association football is the most popular sport in the world. FIFA world cup is the biggest single sporting event in the world. It is also high valued sporting event in the world. According to FIFA the prize money of FIFA world cup 2014 is about 576 million USD. This brings FIFA world cup at No. 3 in our list of the Highest Paying Sporting Events in the World. In World Cup 2014 each participant team has pocket $1.5 million while the winners are awarded with 35 million USD. And runner-up also pocketed a huge amount of 25 million USD.
2. Formula 1 $ 797.5 m
Formula 1 is one of the most lucrative sporting events in the world. It is at 2nd spot in our list of the Highest Paying sporting events in the world. The participating teams will get more than $798 million as prize money. In 2014, Mercedez won the constructors championship title and they took home around $108million from prize money fund plus further $30m from special contract with F1. While Ferrari finished 4th in the constructors championship and took home $78 million plus further 2.5% of total prize money fund which makes them the highest earners of 2014.
1. UEFA Champions League: $1.1 billion
UEFA Champions League is not only the most prestigious soccer league in the world but also the richest sporting event in the world. UEFA has significantly increased Champions League prize money fund for 2015-16 season. This includes 50% increase in “Participation Bonus”. Currently every team who qualify for group stage of Champions League will get €12 million. Similarly there is also 50% increase in winning bonus on every group game win. The winner will get €1.5 million instead of €1 million. In Knockout stage each of 16 teams will get € 5.5 million compare to €3.5 m.
There is also massive increase in bonus money for quarters-finalists and semifinalist. Quarter-finalists and semifinalists will get € 6million and € 7 million respectively. The winner team of the 2016 Champions League can pocket around €55 million just in prize money. Champions League’s total prize money pool is round about $1.1 billion for the 2014-15 season. So, Champions League is at No 1 position in our list of the Highest Paying sporting events in the world.
