As more and more money comes into sports salaries, it seems like every new contract is making somebody the highest paid player.
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford signed a five year extension this week worth approximately A$169million at $33million per year.
It’s a fairly lucrative industry if you can make it, Stafford’s new deal, combined with his two previous contracts, will have earned over $250 million by the time he retires.
Here are some of the other market setters around the world.
NRL – Daly Cherry-Evans at $1.3m year
Currently entering the midpoint of his eight-year deal with Manly, the man affectionately known as DCE (outside of the Gold Coast) is the NRL’s highest paid player.
It has been a gamble that has paid off for both sides so far with Cherry-Evans playing at the top of his game.
With moments like these, it’s easy to see why Manly wanted to hold on to him.
AFL – Buddy Franklin at $1.2m per year
A four-time Coleman Medal winner, Franklin claimed the award in 2017 with a ten goal haul in the last round of the season.
He has also joined prestigious company this year becoming just the tenth player to kick 50 goals in a season ten times.
The good news for Buddy is that with the money he and his wife have earned in their careers, they might finally be able to afford a one-bedroom studio apartment in Sydney.
Cricket – David Warner at $3.5m
The big hitting opener and sometimes Lamborghini driver serves multiple masters in his career with Cricket Australia and various T20 contracts contributing to his playing income.
If nothing else, Warner is certainly providing value for his time out in the middle as he tends not to dawdle, instead looking to achieve a high score as quickly as possible.
As a side note, does anyone else remember when a batsman’s score never included balls faced in a test match?
A-League – Tim Cahill at $4.7m for the 2016/2017 season
The man so important that the A-League created a new contract rule for him, Cahill pocketed a tidy sum for his efforts last season.
Cahill returned home amid much fanfare to help his side claim the FFA Cup with the winning goal in the final.
However his wonder strike during his debut in the Melbourne Derby will be the most replayed moment from that year.
Football – Neymar at $45.32m per year
Outside of Australia, the salaries are just a bit bigger with much more lucrative broadcasting deals and mega-rich owners pumping huge sums of money into teams.
Neymar’s ridiculous salary, coupled with his insane $320m transfer fee from Barcelona to PSG makes him the world’s most expensive footballer.
If he thought the pressure of carrying Brazil through their home World Cup in 2014 was intense, wait until the Champions League quarter finals.
Tennis – Roger Federer at $11.63m in on court earnings
It is important for all Australians to remember that tennis’s Mr Nice Guy started his era of dominance by beating one of our own, Mark Philippoussis in the 2003 Wimbledon final.
Of course even with that reason, it is still really hard to hate the guy.
That Australian Open win in January was certainly monumental and just a fantastic moment.
On top of that, he reportedly earns over $50million from a sound investment portfolio, safe to say his kids will be fairly comfortable.
Golf – Jordan Spieth at $26.1m in prize money for 2016
One half of golf’s best rivalry currently has the upper hand in terms of money earned on the course.
The 24-year-old has three majors under his belt but his caddy’s beard is the real highlight whenever he steps out on the course.
NBA – Steph Curry at $50.2m per year
The other guy from Akron Ohio might have been in the NBA Finals each of the last eight years but n two of the last three he has gone down to Steph Curry and the Warriors.
Those two titles, along with a couple of MVP awards and a lethal jump shot earned Curry a ridiculous contract that will average out at over $50m per year.
MLB – Clayton Kershaw at $41.3m per year
One of baseball’s most reliable pitchers, Kershaw grew up with Matthew Stafford, there must be something in the water in that town.
NHL – Connor McDavid at $15.63m per year
A rising phenom on the ice, McDavid won his first MVP award this year and is hoping to eventually bring a Stanley Cup back to Edmonton before his new eight-year deal expires.
In a true lesson on financial responsibility, the big money in his new deal won’t kick in until the 2018-2019 season but when it does, he is going to be getting a lot of dinners during road trips.