Infographic: Which sports pay the biggest bucks?

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the only Indian on the list as he tops cricket!

Sports stars seem to have it all. They get to compete in the sport they love for a living, have luxurious lifestyles and earn a huge amount of money. Or do they? How much exactly do our favourite sports stars really earn?

In terms of the highest individual earners, boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. came out on top. Punching his way to a whopping $105 million in 2014 (according to Forbes). That’s almost $200 a minute and enough to buy 30 Bugatti Veyrons.

When it comes to the average salary for boxers though, things don’t look so bright. Floyd Mayweather is very much the exception and is a real shining example of what it means to make it to the top of your sport.

In terms of earnings across the board, Formula 1 drivers have the highest paid sports salary, earning on average $7.7 million a year. And the really surprising thing when comparing the average salary across sports, is that cricketers in the IPL earn more than 600K than footballer’s in the England Premier League.

In contrast a career in athletics looks a lot more unpredictable, with athletes not receiving anything for competing in, or even winning, the Olympics (although some countries do offer a small medal-bonus). Even sprint superstar Usain Bolt only earned £127K from his winning last year, a figure far outstripped by his £14.6 million from endorsements.

But lets not get too caught-up in the finances, professional sports isn’t all about the money. It’s about taking part in the sport you love, competing against other pros and pushing yourself to perform at the best level... oh, and lets not forget the winning. There’s nothing better than claiming victory in front of an adoring crowd!

Source:TeamSport