The annual BRW rich list of Australia’s 50 highest paid sports stars has thrown up a number of surprises in 2012.
Some sports are underrepresented, while some sports stars are clearly over- or underpaid.
The usual suspects – motorsport, tennis, golf, football and cricket – are all on the list. AFL is also there, as are basketball, surfing and cycling.
However, rugby league, (domestic) rugby union and A-League football are absent.
It is surprising that no rugby league players are represented. Darren Lockyer’s retirement leaves an earnings gap which new Australian captain Cameron Smith has, surprisingly, failed to fill.
NRL players are arguing for higher pay and, when you compare their earnings to those of AFL players, their claims appear to be justified – especially with TV rights deals taken into account.
AFL players such as Gary Ablett ($2 million), Chris Judd ($1.2 million) and Tom Scully ($1.8 million) are making good money. Israel Folau made the list too with $1.5 million, even though his value as a player/marketing tool is highly debatable.
Equally, it is surprising that no Super Rugby players made the top 50. The only rugby player to have made it is George Smith with $1.2 million, and he plays overseas.
With the three football codes often competing to attract playing talent, it is not surprising to see many youngsters looking to AFL as their game of choice.
Among the tennis players, Bernard Tomic is laughing all the way to the bank with $2 million. Sam Stosur seems underpaid at $2.5 million, given her playing success and her value as a female role model.
Michael Clarke is worth every one of his $5.5 million dollars based on his recent performances, but Shane Watson is vastly overpaid at $4.5 million.
Many of the T20 stars make the list, including Warner ($3.2 million), David Hussey ($2 million), Cameron White ($1.5 million) and Dan Christian ($1.2 million).
The major international sports of golf, tennis and football seem to be rolling in money.
The best players in these sports make excellent money, but even the average player seems able to earn a good living. For example, Peter Senior earned $1.2 million, and Bernard Tomic $2 million.
And if you are good enough at your sport to play in America, it seems as though there is plenty of money to be made there too.
Golf, tennis and motorsport are expensive to learn and play compared to other sports, but if you have some ability there is plenty of money to be made.
If you’re restricted to Australia, however, cricket and AFL are definitely the way to go.
Emric
Guest
Dan Carter has been offered 4 Million Euros to play rugby in France.. thats about 5.5 million Aussie Dollars or just under 8 million NZ dollars.
Westie Nomad
Roar Rookie
The reality only a small percentage of professional and olympic sports stars are millionaires, for two reasons..... 1.) Our population is not big enough to justify the massive sums paid to NBA/NFL players,. 2.) None of our sports leagues are considered relevant on a global scale therefore less foreign investment/TV rights/Sponsorship etc. All the rest may have a few good years on good $$$ but they really only earn enough to buy a house or two and a few cars; if they are smart they will invest some into abusiness for thier lives post sports career. Playing pro sport in Australia is in reality just being paid to participate in something that is recreational, that you enjoy doing! But if your an olympian; if you do any other sport than swimming, you will be lucky to even earn a living.
Andy_Roo
Roar Guru
Crosscoder, thanks for your reply. When an article is submitted to the roar you must select a sport to which it relates. It is not possible to select more than one sport and there is no 'general' category. I don't know how you can infer hat i have no interest in the rugby codes from what i wrote. I do follow rugby league, as a Wests Tigers supporter, NSW supporter. I don't follow rugby union nor do I follow A-League or international soccer.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
I think the point is, being a staunch supporter from another code ,with it appears ,no interest in the rugby codes,I am extremely doubtful you would have written the story in a rl thread, if your code had no participants in the figuring.What would be the point! I further suggest if a writer from rugby league or rugby union or the A league had written a similar story in the AFL threads,it probably wouldn't have got past first base.eg the number of countries playing the code,the codes involved in the Olympics. The fact of the matter is most people who follow the sporting media in this country, already know the pecking order of monies paid to sportspeople both here and abroad. It smacks IMO of a little of , look at my code and the monies paid , despite overseas sport included,which is why I question ,why it was not in the AFL threads. I agree you did not state your code was better.The bulk of posts on the board,also adopt that stance. It is ironic it was written around the time of the NRL salary cap RLPA agreement ,which will boost salaries and earnings, substantially across the board.The musings therefore may well be old hat. We all try or at least should try to be objective with our posts,but I suggest most of us have preferences and subconsciously, they do influence our thinking.I am as guilty as the next,but that is usually the genesis of real debating.One side v the other.
Andy_Roo
Roar Guru
Boris my headline for this article was 'Sporting Riches'. So take your objections to the Roar editors who rewrote the headline please. I make no claims about one sport being better than the other, merely that among the domestic football codes it seems that AFL players make more money than NRL, Super Rugby or A-League players. For the record I am an AFL supporter, however I try to be objective and write objectively.
Boris the Mudcrab
Guest
Doghouse The heading of this article stated "If you want to be rich dont play Rugby" I would like to have a $ on the article's author being an AFL supporter. I have read this rubbish before and the headline every year is basicly the same. Maybe I am just being too parochial
mushi
Roar Guru
So you'll earn more if you play a game with access to a larger population with more fans and more revenue? this is genius
Bondy.
Guest
tubodweb, Thats where the money is this article should've read how not to make money playing domestic sports in Australia..
Doghouse
Guest
Gareth Well spotted.,,,,
Doghouse
Guest
Boris - I dont anyone said that AFL were taking over the world because 1 guy is in the top 50 - you must have been dreaming..
Mals
Guest
Indeed!
Gareth
Roar Pro
That's it. Do they count Scott Prince's house? Greg Inglis' boat? Cameron Smith's home reno? The Roosters brothel visits? Todd Carney's 'Get Out of Jail Free' cards?
Matt
Guest
I'll say it again, coz no one seems to be listening. How are these numbers sourced? Does this include advertising or endorsements? Does this actually use any official numbers, or is it pure speculation? For example, if the NRL salary cap auditors couldn't fingers millions in under the table payments how is a list like this supposed to be able to put even a reasonably accurate figure to unpublished financial contracts?
turbodewd
Guest
Do Australian soccer players also receive any income from NIDA? The National Institute of Dramatic Arts in Sydney seems great at churning out actors, including those who can fake injury or dive.
Johnno
Guest
Guys if you have time a greet speech by Harsha Bogle about the rise of cricket in India and the IPL. Huge money, tv deals, and also huge money for only a short commitment, incredible how much the top IPL cricketer get for only a few months work. T20 is here to stay , now a USA league is being planned too more cricketer will make the top 50,. Tendulkar a few years ago was right up there with Tiger Woods. T20 cricket players are going to get more on the list over the next 10 years I reckon. http://www.ted.com/talks/harsha_bhogle_the_rise_of_cricket_the_rise_of_india.html
MV Dave
Guest
Apologies Johnno, Dhoni at number 31 is the only Cricketer in the top 50 list.
MV Dave
Guest
No Cricketers in the Worlds top 50 highest paid sportspeople...see link above.
Johnno
Guest
And Dhoni earns a fortune as well. And Yuvraj Singh, and guys like Gambier and Virat Kholi, too earn massive money.
Johnno
Guest
Guys Indian cricket players are just about the highest paid in the planet. A few years ago Sachin Tendulkar was the 2nd highest paid athlete in the World, only Tiger Woods ahead of him.
Boris the Mudcrab
Guest
Oh AFL, AFL. Its the best and is taking over the world.......... Give me a break. Soccer is so far in front on the wages front it is not funny, although from an Australian angle you generally need to leave the country to establish yourself. I am sure that their would be a couple of hundred Aussies plying their trade O/S making a varying wage. League and Union are the same in which apart from making a living with the NRL & Super Rugby would have many making a living O/S. I would imagine that Cricket would be a poor choice if you wanted to make a living out of your chosen sport. I would guess that if you are not a contacted CA player, making a living would be hard. I am sure state players are on very average wages.