List of largest sports contracts

This 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 top 100 largest contracts and thus is largely limited to athletes in team sports and auto racing. Athletes in individual sports, such as golf, tennis, table tennis, boxing, kickboxing, and MMA, 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 an opt-out clause). Alex Rodriguez, Stephen Strasburg, Manny Machado, Deshaun Watson, and Giannis Antetokounmpo are on the list two times each.

Juan Soto, signatory of the largest contract in sports

Entries in this list also require an individual citation of the contract, so a number of the highest salaried athletes (according to Forbes) are not included as their contract details have not been officially confirmed, including the likes of Tiger Woods, Roger Federer, and Lewis Hamilton. This also skews the list towards sports with salary caps where salaries are therefore public knowledge and easy to cite.

The contract figures referenced below are presented at face value and do not reflect potential pre or post-tax treatments. For example, contracts with European sports teams are typically quoted on a post-tax basis.

Overview of largest sports contracts

Name	Organization	Sport	Length of contract	Contract value (USD)	Average per year (USD)	Average per game/event[a] (USD)	Ref.
Juan Soto	New York Mets	Baseball	15 years (2025–2039)	$765,000,000	$51,000,000	$314,814	[1]
Shohei Ohtani	Los Angeles Dodgers		10 years (2024–2033)[b]	$700,000,000	$70,000,000[b]	$432,099	[3]
Lionel Messi	Barcelona	Association football	4 years (2017–2021)	$674,000,000	$168,500,000	$4,434,210[c]	[4]
Cristiano Ronaldo	Al Nassr		2.5 years (2023–2025)[d]	$536,336,818	$214,534,727	$7,151,158[e]	[5]
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.	Toronto Blue Jays	Baseball	14 years (2026–2039)	$500,000,000	$35,714,285	$220,458	[6]
Patrick Mahomes[f]‡	Kansas City Chiefs	American football	10 years (2020–2031)	$450,000,000	$45,000,000	$2,465,686[g]	[7]
Mike Trout	Los Angeles Angels	Baseball	12 years (2019–2030)	$426,500,000	$35,541,667	$219,393	[8]
Canelo Álvarez	DAZN*	Boxing	5 years (2018–2023)	$365,000,000	$73,000,000	$33,181,818	[9]
Mookie Betts	Los Angeles Dodgers	Baseball	12 years (2021–2032)	$365,000,000	$30,416,667	$187,757	[10]
Aaron Judge	New York Yankees		9 years (2023–2031)	$360,000,000	$40,000,000	$246,913	[11]
Manny Machado	San Diego Padres		11 years (2023–2034)	$350,000,000	$31,818,818	$196,409	[12]
Francisco Lindor	New York Mets		10 years (2022–2031)	$341,000,000	$34,100,000	$210,494	[13]
Fernando Tatís Jr.	San Diego Padres		14 years (2021–2034)	$340,000,000	$24,285,714	$149,912	[14]
Max Verstappen	Red Bull Racing	Auto racing	6 years (2023–2028)	$330,000,000	$55,000,000	$2,500,000	[15]
Bryce Harper	Philadelphia Phillies	Baseball	13 years (2019–2031)	$330,000,000	$25,384,615	$156,695	[16]
Giancarlo Stanton	Miami Marlins*		13 years (2015–2027)	$325,000,000	$25,000,000	$154,320	[17]
Yoshinobu Yamamoto	Los Angeles Dodgers		12 years (2024-2035)	$325,000,000	$27,083,333	$167,181	[18]
Corey Seager	Texas Rangers		10 years (2022–2031)	$325,000,000	$32,500,000	$200,617	[19]
Gerrit Cole	New York Yankees		9 years (2020–2028)	$324,000,000	$36,000,000	$222,222	[20]
Jayson Tatum	Boston Celtics	Basketball	5 years (2025–2030)	$314,000,000	$62,800,000	$765,853	[21]
Rafael Devers	Boston Red Sox	Baseball	10 years (2024–2033)	$313,500,000	$31,350,000	$193,519	[22]
Jaylen Brown	Boston Celtics	Basketball	5 years (2024–2029)	$303,734,891	$60,746,978	$740,816	[23]
Manny Machado[h]	San Diego Padres	Baseball	10 years (2019–2028)	$300,000,000	$30,000,000	$185,185	[24]
Trea Turner	Philadelphia Phillies		11 years (2023–2033)	$300,000,000	$27,272,727	$168,350	[25]
Bobby Witt Jr.	Kansas City Royals		11 years (2024–2034)	$288,700,000	$26,245,455	$162,009	[26]
Xander Bogaerts	San Diego Padres		11 years (2023–2033)	$280,000,000	$25,454,545	$157,127	[27]
Joe Burrow‡	Cincinnati Bengals	American football	5 years (2024–2029)	$275,000,000	$55,000,000	$3,235,294	[28]
Trevor Lawrence‡	Jacksonville Jaguars		5 years (2024–2029)	$275,000,000	$55,000,000	$3,235,294	[29]
Alex Rodriguez[i]R	New York Yankees*	Baseball	10 years (2008–2017)	$275,000,000	$27,500,000	$169,753	[31]
Nikola Jokić	Denver Nuggets	Basketball	5 years (2023–2028)	$264,000,000	$52,800,000	$643,902	[32]
Justin Herbert[j]‡	Los Angeles Chargers	American football	5 years (2024–2029)	$262,500,000	$52,500,000	$3,088,235	[33]
Lamar Jackson‡	Baltimore Ravens		5 years (2023–2027)	$260,000,000	$52,000,000	$3,058,823	[34]
Nolan Arenado	Colorado Rockies*	Baseball	8 years (2019–2026)	$260,000,000	$32,500,000	$200,617	[35]
Josh Allen‡	Buffalo Bills	American football	6 years (2021–2028)	$258,000,000	$43,000,000	$2,529,412	[36]
Jalen Hurts‡	Philadelphia Eagles		5 years (2023–2027)	$255,000,000	$51,000,000	$3,000,000	[36]
Alex Rodriguez[k]R	Texas Rangers*	Baseball	10 years (2001–2010)	$252,000,000	$25,200,000	$155,555	[37]
Bradley Beal	Washington Wizards*	Basketball	5 years (2022–2027)	$251,000,000	$50,200,000	$612,195	[38]
Miguel CabreraR	Detroit Tigers	Baseball	8 years (2016–2023)	$248,000,000	$31,000,000	$191,358	[39]
Anthony Rendon	Los Angeles Angels		7 years (2020–2026)	$245,000,000	$35,000,000	$216,049	[40]
Stephen StrasburgInjury	Washington Nationals		7 years (2020–2026)	$245,000,000	$35,000,000	$216,049	[41]
Russell Wilson‡	Denver Broncos*	American football	5 years (2022–2026)	$242,588,236	$48,517,647	$2,853,979	[42]
Albert PujolsR	Los Angeles Angels*	Baseball	10 years (2012–2021)	$240,000,000	$24,000,000	$148,148	[43]
Robinson CanóR	Seattle Mariners*		10 years (2014–2023)	$240,000,000	$24,000,000	$148,148	[44]
Lauri Markkanen	Utah Jazz	Basketball	5 years (2024–2029)	$238,000,000	$47,600,000	$580,488	[45]
Kyler Murray‡	Arizona Cardinals	American football	5 years (2022–2026)	$230,500,000	$46,100,000	$2,711,765	[46]
Deshaun Watson	Cleveland Browns		5 years (2022–2026)	$230,000,000	$46,000,000	$2,705,882	[47]
Giannis Antetokounmpo	Milwaukee Bucks	Basketball	5 years (2021–2026)	$228,200,830	$45,640,166	$556,587	[48][49]
James Harden	Houston Rockets*		6 years (2017–2023)	$228,000,000	$38,000,000	$463,414	[50]
Joey VottoR	Cincinnati Reds	Baseball	10 years (2014–2023)	$225,000,000	$22,500,000	$138,888	[51]
Devin Booker	Phoenix Suns	Basketball	4 years (2024–2028)	$224,000,000	$56,000,000	$682,927	[52]
Karl-Anthony Towns	Minnesota Timberwolves*		4 years (2024–2028)	$224,000,000	$56,000,000	$682,927	[53]
Cade Cunningham	Detroit Pistons		5 years (2025–2029)	$224,000,000	$44,800,000	$546,341	[54]
Scottie Barnes	Toronto Raptors		5 years (2025–2029)	224,000,000	$44,800,000	$546,341	[55]
Evan Mobley	Cleveland Cavaliers		5 years (2025–2030)	$224,000,000	$44,800,000	$546,341	[56]
Franz Wagner	Orlando Magic		5 years (2025–2029)	$224,000,000	$44,800,000	$546,341	[57]
Max Fried	New York Yankees	Baseball	8 years (2025–2033)	$218,000,000	$27,250,000	$168,209	[58]
David PriceR	Boston Red Sox*		7 years (2016–2022)	$217,000,000	$31,000,000	$191,358	[59]
Stephen Curry	Golden State Warriors	Basketball	4 years (2022–2026)	$215,353,664	$53,838,416	$656,566	[60]
Zach LaVine	Chicago Bulls*		5 years (2022–2027)	$215,200,000	$43,040,000	$656,098	[61]
Trae Young	Atlanta Hawks		5 years (2022–2027)	$215,159,700	$43,031,940	$524,778	[62]
Clayton Kershaw	Los Angeles Dodgers	Baseball	7 years (2014–2020)	$215,000,000	$30,714,286	$189,594	[63]
Christian Yelich	Milwaukee Brewers		9 years (2020–2028)	$215,000,000	$23,888,889	$147,462	[64]
Prince FielderR	Detroit Tigers*		9 years (2012–2020)	$214,000,000	$23,777,778	$146,776	[65]
Tua Tagovailoa‡	Miami Dolphins	American football	4 years (2025–2029)	$212,400,000	$53,100,000	$3,123,529	[66]
Jared Goff‡	Detroit Lions		4 years (2025–2029)	$212,000,000	$53,000,000	$3,117,647	[67]
Max Scherzer	Washington Nationals*	Baseball	7 years (2015–2021)	$210,000,000	$30,000,000	$185,185	[68]
Julio Rodríguez	Seattle Mariners		13 years (2022–2034)	$209,300,000[l]	$17,441,667	$107,665	[69]
Luka Dončić	Dallas Mavericks*	Basketball	5 years (2022–2027)	$207,060,000	$41,412,000	$505,024	[70]
Russell Westbrook	Oklahoma City Thunder*		5 years (2018–2023)	$206,794,070	$41,358,814	$504,375	[71]
Zack GreinkeR	Arizona Diamondbacks*	Baseball	6 years (2016–2021)	$206,500,000	$34,416,667	$212,448	[72]
Rudy Gobert	Utah Jazz*	Basketball	5 years (2021–2026)	$205,000,000	$41,000,000	$500,000	[73]
Stephen Curry	Golden State Warriors		5 years (2017–2022)	$201,158,790	$40,231,758	$490,631	[74]
Carlos Correa	Minnesota Twins	Baseball	6 years (2023–2028)	$200,000,000	$33,333,333	$205,761	[75]
Kevin Durant	Brooklyn Nets*	Basketball	4 years (2022–2026)	$197,656,906	$49,414,227	$602,613	[76]
Ja Morant	Memphis Grizzlies		5 years (2023–2027)	$197,230,450	$39,446,090	$481,050	[77]
Klay Thompson	Golden State Warriors		5 years (2019–2024)	$189,903,600	$37,980,720	$463,179	[78]
Derek JeterR	New York Yankees	Baseball	10 years (2001–2010)	$189,000,000	$18,900,000	$116,666	[79]
Jimmy Butler	Miami Heat*	Basketball	4 years (2022–2026)	$186,592,000	$46,648,000	$568,878	[80]
Giannis Antetokounmpo	Milwaukee Bucks		3 years (2025–2028)	$186,000,000	$62,000,000	$756,098	[81]
Jacob deGrom	Texas Rangers	Baseball	5 years (2023–2027)	$185,000,000	$37,000,000	$228,395	[82]
Joe MauerR	Minnesota Twins		8 years (2011–2018)	$184,000,000	$23,000,000	$141,975	[83]
Jason Heyward	Chicago Cubs*		8 years (2016–2023)	$184,000,000	$23,000,000	$141,975	[84]
Kris Bryant	Colorado Rockies		7 years (2022–2028)	$182,000,000	$26,000,000	$160,493	[85]
Wander Franco	Tampa Bay Rays		11 years (2022–2032)	$182,000,000	$16,545,455	$102,132	[86]
Mark TeixeiraR	New York Yankees		8 years (2009–2016)	$180,000,000	$22,500,000	$138,888	[87]
Justin Verlander	Detroit Tigers*		7 years (2013–2019)	$180,000,000	$25,714,286	$158,730	[88]
Kirk Cousins	Atlanta Falcons	American football	4 years (2024–2027)	$180,000,000	$45,000,000	$2,674,059	[89]
Tobias Harris	Philadelphia 76ers	Basketball	5 years (2019–2024)	$180,000,000	$36,000,000	$429,024	[90]
Khris Middleton	Milwaukee Bucks		5 years (2019–2024)	$177,500,000	$35,500,000	$432,926	[91]
Deshaun Watson‡	Houston Texans*	American football	6 years (2020–2025)[m]	$177,500,000[n]	$29,583,333	$1,740,196[g]	[92]
Ben Simmons	Philadelphia 76ers*	Basketball	5 years (2020–2025)	$177,243,360[o]	$35,448,672	$432,301	[93]
Dansby Swanson	Chicago Cubs	Baseball	7 years (2023–2029)	$177,000,000	$25,285,714	$156,085	[94]
Paul George	Los Angeles Clippers*	Basketball	4 years (2021–2025)	$176,265,468	$44,066,367	$544,029	[49]
Kawhi Leonard	Los Angeles Clippers		4 years (2021–2025)	$176,265,152	$44,066,288	$544,028	[95]
Damian Lillard	Portland Trail Blazers*		4 years (2021–2025)	$176,265,152	$44,066,288	$544,028	[96]
Félix HernándezR	Seattle Mariners*	Baseball	7 years (2013–2019)	$175,000,000	$25,000,000	$154,320	[97]
Stephen StrasburgR	Washington Nationals		7 years (2017–2023)	$175,000,000	$25,000,000	$154,320	[98]
Marcus Semien	Texas Rangers		7 years (2022–2028)	$175,000,000	$25,000,000	$154,320	[99]
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander	Oklahoma City Thunder	Basketball	5 years (2022–2027)	$172,550,000[p]	$34,510,000	$420,854	[100]
Blake GriffinR	Los Angeles Clippers*		5 years (2017–2022)	$171,174,820	$34,234,964	$417,499	[101]
John WallR	Washington Wizards*		4 years (2019–2023)	$171,174,820	$42,793,708	$521,874	[102]

Footnotes

1. Based on number of regular-season games only (excludes any playoff games). In baseball, starting pitchers usually pitch every five games, resting during the interval between starts. In association football, teams are involved in multiple competitions in a season—league matches, domestic cups, and very often continental club competitions.
2. $680 million of Ohtani's contract will be deferred until it expires. He will receive $2 million per year for the 10 years of the contract's duration, and the remaining $680 million will be paid out at $68 million per year over the following 10 years.^[2]
3. Based on the following data:

   • 38 La Liga matches per season.
   • Minimum of one match in each edition of Spain's domestic cup competition, Copa del Rey.
   • This count does not include preseason friendly matches, whether domestic or international.
4. Ronaldo's contract is two-and-a-half years starting 1 January 2023 and ending 30 June 2025. He will receive $107,668,409 for the half-season he will play from 1 January 2023–30 June 2023; He will then receive $214,384,204.50/season for each of the two full seasons he will play 1 July 2023–30 June 2025.
5. Based on the following data:

   • 30 Saudi Pro League matches per season
   • Minimum of one match in each edition of Saudi Arabia's domestic cup competition
   • This count does not include preseason friendly matches, whether domestic or international.
6. Mahomes signed a 10-year extension on 6 July 2020. When the deal was first reported, it was reported as being 10 years for $503 million. It was later revealed that this amount includes the final years of the contract he was under at the time, which lasted until the end of the 2021 NFL season, and the money remaining on that contract.
7. Reflects the expansion of the NFL regular season from 16 to 17 games in 2021.
8. Machado extended his contract by using an opt-out available after the 2023 season to be able to get a new deal.
9. Alex Rodriguez's 2014 salary was reduced to $2,868,853 due to his season-long suspension related to the Biogenesis baseball scandal.^[30]
10. Justin Herbert’s five-year extension includes $133.7 million fully guaranteed, $193.7 million with the injury guarantee and springing potentially to $218.7 million guaranteed.
11. Rodriguez and Greinke opted out of their contracts after the 2007 and 2015 seasons, respectively.
12. Based on the following data: Based on 2022–2028 MVP Votes 0 Top 10 votes: 8 years, $200M ($25M annually) 2 Top 10 votes: 8 years $240M ($30M annually) 4 Top 10 votes: 8 years, $260M ($32.5M annually) 1 Win + 1 Top 5 vote or 3 Top 5 votes: 8 years, $280M ($35M annually) 2 Wins or 4 Top 5 votes: 10 years, $350M ($35M annually) If the team declines the 2030 option, it converts to a 5 year, $90M player option (2030–2034) Player Option Escalator: 8 combined Silver Slugger or All-Star Selections: 5 years, $100M ($20M annually) 10 combined Silver Slugger or All-Star Selections: 5 years, $110M ($22M annually) 1 MVP + 2 All-Star Selections: 5 years, $125M ($25M annually)
13. Contract length included the 2 years remaining on Watson's rookie contract, plus a 4-year extension worth $156 million.
14. Total value of remaining rookie contract plus extension.
15. Includes escalator clause triggered when Simmons was named to the All-NBA third team in 2019–20.
16. Gilgeous-Alexander's contract includes an escalator clause that will increase its total value to $207,060,000 should he be named to the All-NBA team at any level in the 2021–22 season.^[100]

^R – retired
^Injury – While still technically under contract, injury has ended his career
* – left team (or streaming service) before expiration of contract
‡ – entirety of contract salary not guaranteed
(tie) – score of two or more above mentioned athletes heretofore considered equal if their contracts have been signed within a given timeframe providing negligible inflation ratio (during the same year)

See also

• Salary cap
• Gaius Appuleius Diocles
• List of most expensive association football transfers
• List of professional sports leagues

Notes

• Contracts in the NFL are often not guaranteed, meaning that players who retire, or who are cut, do not receive their contracted salaries after their release from the team.
• NBA and NHL seasons span two calendar years, as do seasons in all of the richest European association football leagues.
• David Beckham signed a five-year deal with MLS soccer team Los Angeles Galaxy that was worth a reported $251 million,^[103] but that figure included commercial endorsements; only $5 million a year of that figure was salary from the club, while the rest came via existing endorsements and profit sharing with the club.^[104][105]
• Lewis Hamilton signed a contract with McLaren Mercedes worth at least £70 million (US$138 million) over 5 seasons (2008–2012). However, no official contract details were released by the team.^[106]