The money earned by the top athletes continues to grow at an incredible rate.
Across the sporting world, but particularly for footballers, as well as the big American sports and those in boxing and MMA, it's getting more and more rewarding financially to be an elite level professional.
There are hours and hours of unseen training and preparation that go into getting themselves physically ready for performing in front of their fans, however, whether that is in the ring, the Octagon, on the court or in the stadium, but the end product passes by in a flash.
This article, with thanks to OLBG, looks at the mega stars of our favourite sports and how long they had to work for those big money earnings.
Focusing only on the time spent competing in front of the crowds, here are the 10 biggest per minute earners in the past 12 months.
Top 10 fastest-earning athletes of 2022
McGregor, Fury, Jake Paul, Canelo: 10 fastest-earning athletes of 2022
10 – Amari Cooper (Dallas Cowboys now Cleveland Browns) – wide receiver
The figures related to the 2021-22 season when Amari Cooper was at the Dallas Cowboys, he is now earning his money as the number one wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns. The calculation shows him having played the full hour for 15 games, when in reality he would have been sat with his feet up for half the time, so his true $ per minute is even higher.
9 – Kirk Cousins (Minnesota Vikings) – quarterback
Cousins earned nearly $50m for his work in the year as the starting quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings. He is the first of four quarterbacks in the top 10.
8 – Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills) – quarterback
Josh Allen is one of the premier quarterbacks in the NFL and at $63m a year, he is paid accordingly. He led the Bills to an 11-6 regular season record before losing in a game for the ages in the Divisional play-offs against the Kansas City Chiefs.
7 – Matthew Stafford (Los Angeles Rams) – quarterback
Matthew Stafford was bought in to take the Los Angeles Rams to Super Bowl glory. He delivered that at the first time of asking, with some help from the other free agent acquisitions they made during the season.
6 – Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers) – quarterback
Aaron Rodgers won the MVP award for the second year in succession, he threw 37 touchdowns and just four interceptions. His Green Bay Packers went 13-4 in the regular season to win the NFC North, but then promptly lost to the San Francisco 49ers in the play-offs.
5 – Ryan Ramczyk (New Orlean Saints) – offensive tackle
A surprise entry into the list, Ramczyk is an All-Pro offensive tackle and on a very healthy $38.7m contract. The reason he has made it this high is that he was injured for much of the season so only featured in 10 games.
4 – Jake Paul – boxing
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 29: Jake Paul takes the ring for his cruiserweight bout against Anderson Silva of Brazil at Desert Diamond Arena on October 29, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The $per minute figures now go into overdrive as we approach the top end, from around $50-$60k per minute, we increase 10 fold to £681,818 and the $30m earned by Jake Paul for his two victories in the year. He fought against Tyron Woodley in August 2021 and won on a split decision, he then knocked out Woodley in their rematch four months later. 44 minutes of graft and he got paid.
3 – Tyson Fury – boxing
The Gypsy King Tyson Fury takes the earnings to the next level. Bringing in $60m for his wins over Deontay Wilder and Dillian Whyte, at just under an hours work, that has him with average earnings of over $1m a minute.
2 – Canelo Alvarez – boxing
Canelo Alvarez just ticked over the hour mark in his destructions of both Billy Joe Saunders in May and then Caleb Plant in November 2021. Retaining his world titles and earning $85m in the process.
1 – Conor McGregor - MMA
MONTE-CARLO, MONACO - MAY 28: Conor McGregor watches the action from the pitlane during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco at Circuit de Monaco on May 28, 2022 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
Top of the standings on a per minute basis is Conor McGregor and he is the only one of the boxers/MMA fighters to suffer a loss. He made $33m for his defeat in the third fight with Dustin Poirier, which lasted just one round.
Best of the rest fastest earners in sport
For fans outside of American Football, boxing and MMA, you have to go down to 12th and Klay Thompson for the highest-paid basketball player, who earned $38m for his 941 minutes playing for the Golden State Warriors.
Whilst footballers really have to earn their money, Neymar is the highest-placed at 18th, earning $70m, but having to work for 2,328 minutes or nearly 39 hours, a full working week for the rest of us, to get his PSG salary.
The figures are eye watering, but for the vast majority of our well-paid sports stars, they deliver first class entertainment for us to enjoy and will continue to do so.
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