$260m to $23.9m: A look at sport's richest men and women

The pay gap between women and men has long been established. Men are generally speaking more likely to hold higher paid positions. But perhaps in no industry is this clearly indicated than in sports.

Let’s take a look at the pay difference between the top five male and female sports stars in the world today, based on Forbes’ reporting of their wages in 2024. We’ll also explore what factors have led to this.

The football icon set records in 2021 with his controversial move to the Suadi Pro League in 2022, and he remains the top earner in sports.

On-Field: $200 million | Off-Field: $60 million

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The highest-paid women athlete is Polish tennis star Iga Świątek, the current World Number One's success on court has accounted for a large part of her yearly earnings, which isn't always the case for her counterparts – as we'll see.  

On-Field: $9.9 million | Off-field: $14 million

Spanish golfer Jon Rahm’s decision to move to the Saudi-backed LIV golf has really paid off for him, and that’s without even looking at the reported $350 million (€325m, £274m) guarantee they dropped on him just to get him on their books. 

On-Field: $198 million | Off-Field: $20 million

Chinese-American skiing star is a rare case, as her chosen discipline barely contributes anything to her earnings; the star's modeling work with high-end brands such as Louis Vuitton is where her bread is buttered. 

On-Field: $0.1 Millon | Off-Field: $22 million

The Argentine football icon has benefited from his move to MLS club Inter Miami, becoming known as more of an ambassador for the brand, which has skyrocketed to be valued at over US $1 billion (€920m, £780m) now, than a top player. His deal reflects that.

On-Field: $65 million | Off-Field: $70 million

US star Coco Gauff is a big name in the tennis world, and the World Number Two has been in demand off the courts as well, as a brand ambassador for the likes of Bose, UPS and Marvel, which have contributed largely to her salary.

On-Field: $6.7 Million | Off-Field: $15 Million

Basketball GOAT LeBron James is still putting in top-tier efforts on the court and the ageless American icon is likely to do it all again next year as he aims to link up with his son Bronny, who is set to be drafted this year. 

On-Field: $48.2 million | Off-Field: $80 million

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Japan’s best tennis export, Naomi Osaka has only just been getting back into the swing of things, pun intended, in 2024 after taking some much deserved time out to raise her daughter last year. That’s not to say she wasn’t busy, as she signed endorsement deals with the likes of Bobbie baby formula and Crate & Kids. 

On-Field: $0.5 Million| Off-Field: $15 Million

Greek NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo is another athlete who’s enjoyed a lot of time on the sidelines recently but continues to make impressive money thanks to off-field business ventures. 

On-Field: $46 million | Off-Field: $65 million

Another tennis star to the list! British star Emma Raducanu is an interesting prospect for this list, as the 2021 US Open winner hasn’t really played much tennis since as she battled injuries and coaching dramas. The WTA ranked number 353 has her endorsements to thank for her spot on the list this year. 

On-Field: $0.2 Million | Off-Field: $15 Million

Taking into account these examples, it translates at the top of the sporting rich list, the top male athletes are getting paid ten times that of their female counterparts. So what’s the reason behind this? 

As Washington Mystics player Elena Delle Donne put it to the Guardian in 2019: “We absolutely do not get promoted as our male counterparts do. Yes, I’m talking about the NBA. When you put millions of dollars into marketing athletes and allowing fans to get to know a player they develop a connection with someone or something you are more engaged and continue to want to see/learn more.”

Simply put, a lack of exposure has historically fed into the perceived lack of interest, creating a vicious cycle. This is felt at all levels, especially when it comes to negotiating broadcast deals – which ultimately pays most of the wages. For example, the NBA TV deal is worth $2.6 billion a year on average, while the WNBA takes in $30 million, according to the Washington Post.

It’s important to note some positives though, and female athletes are now getting more recognition for their achievements and are earning more than ever before.  But the goalposts have radically shifted in major sports. There is simply much more money going into the likes of the NFL, MLB and NBA than ever.

And let’s not forget about Saudi-backed ventures, which have thrown the balance of the sporting world out, that aren’t exactly getting behind women. While there is a groundswell of support behind women's sports, it's simply not keeping up with the men. Can it ever catch up? 

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