The following is a list of the largest sports contracts. These figures include signing bonuses but exclude options, buyouts, and endorsement deals. This list does not reflect the highest annual salaries or career earnings, only the largest contracts and thus is limited to athletes in team sports and auto racing. Athletes in individual sports, such as golf, tennis, and boxing are not employed by a team and usually earn money primarily through event winnings. This list also does not necessarily reflect actual money collected by the athletes, since some contracts are eventually terminated (usually due to an athlete either retiring or invoking his opt-out clause). Included in this list are contracts totaling at least $100 million USD.
Contents |
| Rank | Player | Team | Sport | Length of contract | Contract value (USD) | Average per year (USD) | Average per game5 (USD) | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Alex Rodriguez | New York Yankees | Baseball | 10 years (2008-2017) | $275,000,000 | $27,500,000 | $169,753.09 | [1] |
| 02 | Albert Pujols | Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim | Baseball | 10 years (2012-2021) | $254,000,000 | $25,400,000 | $156,790.12 | [2] |
| 03 | Alex Rodriguez1 | Texas Rangers | Baseball | 10 years (2001-2010) | $252,000,000 | $25,200,000 | $155,555.56 | [3] |
| 04 | Derek Jeter | New York Yankees | Baseball | 10 years (2001-2010) | $189,000,000 | $18,900,000 | $116,666.67 | [4] |
| 05 | Joe Mauer | Minnesota Twins | Baseball | 08 years (2011-2018) | $184,000,000 | $23,000,000 | $141,975.31 | [5] |
| 06 | Mark Teixeira | New York Yankees | Baseball | 08 years (2009-2016) | $180,000,000 | $22,500,000 | $138,888.89 | [6] |
| 07 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Real Madrid CF | Soccer | 10 years (2008-2017) | $170,000,000 | $17,000,000 | $400,000 | [7][8] |
| 08 | CC Sabathia | New York Yankees | Baseball | 07 years (2009-2015) | $161,000,000 | $23,000,000 | $141,975.31 | [9] |
| 09 | Manny Ramírez | Boston Red Sox* | Baseball | 08 years (2001-2008) | $160,000,000 | $20,000,000 | $123,456.79 | [10] |
| 10 | Troy Tulowitzki | Colorado Rockies | Baseball | 10 years (2011-2020) | $157,750,000 | $15,775,000 | $97,376.54 | [11] |
| 11 | Adrián González | Boston Red Sox | Baseball | 07 years (2012-2018) | $154,000,000 | $22,000,000 | $135,802.67 | [12] |
| 12 | Kimi Räikkönen | Ferrari | Auto racing | 03 years (2007-2009) | $153,000,000 | $51,000,000 | $2,942,307.69 | [13] |
| 13 | Miguel Cabrera | Detroit Tigers | Baseball | 08 years (2008-2015) | $152,300,000 | $19,037,500 | $117,515.43 | [14] |
| 14 | Todd Helton | Colorado Rockies | Baseball | 11 years (2001-2011) | $151,500,000 | $13,772,727 | $85,016.83 | [15] |
| 15 | Lionel Messi | Barcelona FC | Soccer | 08 years (2008-2016) | $148,800,000 | $18,600,000 | $500,000 | [16][17][18][19] |
| 16 | Carl Crawford | Boston Red Sox | Baseball | 07 years (2011-2017) | $142,000,000 | $20,285,714 | $125,220.46 | [20] |
| 17 | Johan Santana | New York Mets | Baseball | 06 years (2008-2013) | $137,500,000 | $22,916,667 | $141,460.91 | [21] |
| 18 | Kobe Bryant | Los Angeles Lakers | Basketball | 07 years (2004-2011) | $136,400,000 | $19,485,714 | $237,630.66 | [22] |
| 19 | Alfonso Soriano | Chicago Cubs | Baseball | 08 years (2007-2014) | $136,000,000 | $17,000,000 | $104,938.27 | [23] |
| 20 | Michael Vick3 | Atlanta Falcons* | Football | 10 years (2005-2014) | $130,000,000 | $13,000,000 | $812,500.00 | [24] |
| 21 | Jermaine O'Neal | Indiana Pacers* | Basketball | 07 years (2003-2010) | $126,558,000 | $18,079,714 | $220,484.32 | [25] |
| 22 | Kevin Garnett | Minnesota Timberwolves* | Basketball | 06 years (1999-2005) | $126,000,000 | $21,000,000 | $256,097.56 | [26] |
| 23 | Rashard Lewis | Orlando Magic* | Basketball | 06 years (2007-2013) | $126,000,000 | $21,000,000 | $256,097.56 | [27] |
| 24 (tie) | Vernon Wells | Toronto Blue Jays* | Baseball | 07 years (2008-2014) | $126,000,000 | $18,000,000 | $111,111.11 | [28] |
| 24 (tie) | Barry Zito | San Francisco Giants | Baseball | 07 years (2007-2013) | $126,000,000 | $18,000,000 | $111,111.11 | [29] |
| 24 (tie) | Jayson Werth | Washington Nationals | Baseball | 07 years (2011-2017) | $126,000,000 | $18,000,000 | $111,111.11 | [30] |
| 27 | Ryan Howard | Philadelphia Phillies | Baseball | 05 years (2013-2017) | $125,000,000 | $25,000,000 | $154,320.99 | [31] |
| 28 | Michael Schumacher | Ferrari | Auto racing | 04 years (1996-1999) | $124,000,000 | $31,000,000 | $1,907,692.30 | [32] |
| 29 | Alexander Ovechkin | Washington Capitals | Ice hockey | 13 years (2008-2021) | $123,000,000 | $9,538,461 | $116,322.70 | [33] |
| 30 | Chris Webber | Sacramento Kings* | Basketball | 07 years (2001-2007) | $122,718,750 | $17,531,250 | $213,795.73 | [34] |
| 31 | Tim Duncan | San Antonio Spurs | Basketball | 07 years (2003-2010) | $122,007,704 | $17,429,672 | $212,556.98 | [35] |
| 32 | Mike Hampton | Colorado Rockies* | Baseball | 08 years (2001-2008) | $121,000,000 | $15,125,000 | $93,364.20 | [36] |
| 33 | Cliff Lee | Philadelphia Phillies | Baseball | 05 years (2011-2016) | $120,000,000 | $24,000,000 | $148,148.15 | [37] |
| 34 (tie) | Jason Giambi | New York Yankees* | Baseball | 07 years (2002-2008) | $120,000,000 | $17,142,857 | $105,820.10 | [38] |
| 34 (tie) | Shaquille O'NealR | Los Angeles Lakers* | Basketball | 07 years (1996-2003) | $120,000,000 | $17,142,857 | $209,059.23 | [39] |
| 34 (tie) | Matt Holliday | St. Louis Cardinals | Baseball | 07 years (2010-2016) | $120,000,000 | $17,142,857 | $105,820.10 | [40] |
| 37 | Larry Fitzgerald | Arizona Cardinals | Football | 08 years (2011-2018) | $120,000,000 | $15,000,000 | $937,500.00 | [41] |
| 38 | Carson Palmer | Cincinnati Bengals* | Football | 09 years (2006-2014) | $119,750,000‡ | $13,305,555 | $831,597.19 | [42] |
| 39 | Carlos Beltrán | New York Mets* | Baseball | 07 years (2005-2011) | $119,000,000 | $17,000,000 | $104,938.27 | [43] |
| 40 | Ken Griffey, Jr. | Cincinnati Reds* | Baseball | 09 years (2000-2008) | $116,500,000 | $12,944,444 | $79,903.98 | [44] |
| 41 | Donovan McNabb | Philadelphia Eagles* | Football | 12 years (2002-2013) | $115,000,000‡ | $9,583,333 | $598,958.31 | [45] |
| 42 | Gilbert Arenas | Washington Wizards* | Basketball | 06 Years (2008-2013) | $111,000,000 | $18,500,000 | $225,609.76 | [46] |
| 43 | LeBron James | Miami Heat | Basketball | 06 years (2010-2016) | $109,837,500 | $18,306,250 | $223,246.95 | [47] |
| 44 | Kevin BrownR | Los Angeles Dodgers* | Baseball | 07 years (1999-2005) | $105,000,000 | $15,000,000 | $92,592.59 | [48] |
| 45 | Jason Kidd | New Jersey Nets* | Basketball | 06 years (2003-2009) | $103,572,000 | $17,262,000 | $210,512.20 | [49] |
| 46 | Ben Roethlisberger | Pittsburgh Steelers | Football | 08 years (2008-2015) | $102,000,000‡ | $12,750,000 | $796,875.00 | [50] |
| 47 | Shaquille O'NealR | Miami Heat* | Basketball | 05 years (2005-2010) | $100,000,000 | $20,000,000 | $243,902.44 | [51] |
| 48 (tie) | Carlos Lee | Houston Astros | Baseball | 06 years (2007-2012) | $100,000,000 | $16,666,666 | $102,880.65 | [52] |
| 48 (tie) | Michael Vick | Philadelphia Eagles | Football | 06 years (2011-2016) | $100,000,000‡ | $16,666,667 | $1,041,667.00 | [53] |
| 50 (tie) | Albert Haynesworth | Washington Redskins* | Football | 07 years (2009-2016) | $100,000,000‡ | $14,285,714 | $892,857.13 | [54] |
| 50 (tie) | Albert Pujols | St. Louis Cardinals | Baseball | 07 years (2004-2010) | $100,000,000 | $14,285,714 | $88,183.42 | [55] |
| 52 | Brett Favre4 | Green Bay Packers* | Football | 10 years (2001-2010) | $100,000,000 | $10,000,000 | $625,000.00 | [56] |
| 53 | Ilya Kovalchuk | New Jersey Devils | Ice Hockey | 15 years (2010-2025) | $100,000,000 | $6,666,667 | $81,300.81 | [57] [58] |
2 - Gross income figure. Net income estimated at $15,000,000 per year. 3 - Rodriguez opted out of this contract after the 2007 season
4 - Alonso opted out of this contract after the 2007 season
5 - Vick's contract was terminated by the Atlanta Falcons after the 2006 season
6 - Favre was traded by the Green Bay Packers to the New York Jets after the 2008 season. He was unconditionally released from his contract by the Jets after the 2009 season.
6 - Based on regular season games only (excludes any playoff games), also in baseball, starting pitchers usually pitch every five games, resting during the interval between starts.
R - retired
free * - no longer on team
‡ - entirety of contract salary not guaranteed