Joe Burrow, first overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, signed a record five-year deal that makes him the highest-paid player in the NFL.
The best athletes typically get capital-P paid.
Such was the case with Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, who recently inked a long-term record-breaking deal that included interesting details.
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NFL quarterback contracts keep getting more and more lucrative, too, with multiple NBA stars also cashing in.
But which players are the highest paid in the United States? Let's take a look, with all numbers via Spotrac:
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Who are the highest-paid US athletes annually?
The athletes with the best annual salaries in the U.S. are all playing in the NFL, NBA or MLB. Let's take a look at the top 11 in terms of average annual value:
1. Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers: $70,000,000
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2. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics: $62,786,682
T-3. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers: $58,456,490
T-3. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks: $58,456,490
5. Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics: $57,246,000
6. Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks: $56,456,400
7. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets: $55,224,526
8. Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat: $55,116,120
T-9. Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves: $55,110,496
T-9. Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns: $55,110,496
T-11. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals: $55,000,000
T-11. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars: $55,000,000
Who is the highest-paid NHL player?
The NHL currently is far off from having a player among the top of the crop. Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews has the highest annual average value at $13,250,000.
Who is the highest-paid MLS player?
MLS fares a tad better than the NHL and that's mainly due to one man: Lionel Messi. Messi makes $20.4 million in guaranteed compensation with Inter Miami.
Who is the highest-paid WNBA player?
The WNBA, in terms of average annual value, is led by Las Vegas Aces star Jackie Young at $252,420.
