Sports

5 Sports Competitions With The Biggest Prize Money

Published

2 years ago

March 15, 2024

Sport has grown from a simple pleasure to a legitimate way to a global money-spinning business. The global sporting industry is expected to be worth US$512.14 billion (AU$765.7 billion) by 2024.

As the globe tunes into these major athletic events, revenue increases. Ads, sponsorships, and the like.

While the organizers stand to profit massively, the competitors stand to lose a lot of money. But which sports events in the globe have the most money? What are the most expensive sports competitions?

Below are sports competitions and their million-dollar prize money:

World Series (Baseball)

Despite its shifting popularity outside of America, America’s pastime continues to have a significant winning prize. The annual championship is known as the World Series, and the best-of-seven series produces one top team each year. The competition is one of America’s oldest, and since 1903, it has crowned a financially successful team. In 2023, the winning team is expected to get approximately $52 million.

Total purse: $160 million
Amount paid to winning team: $52 million

FIFA World Cup (Football)

The FIFA World Cup, football’s biggest international tournament, matches the world’s finest national teams against one another, ending in the final. The apex of world football draws over 3.3 billion spectators worldwide and pays the champions handsomely from FIFA. Argentina defeated France in dramatic manner in the most recent World Cup, not only leaving a legacy for captain Lionel Messi, but also raising over $66 million for the Argentine football association.

The majority of that money goes to the domestic football program, but the players and coaching staff are sure to get a large bonus as compensation for their efforts.

Total purse: $658 million
Amount paid to winning team: $66 million

The NBA Championship (Basketball)

Despite the NBA’s global popularity, teams in America are not as well compensated as clubs in other sports in Europe. That is not to suggest they receive nothing. Winning the NBA Finals gives the winning team a sizable percentage of the NBA Playoff Pool, which was slightly over $40 million at the end of the most recent season. This figure is divided across all postseason teams based on performance. It is projected that the Denver Nuggets, the most recent winners, earned $7.1 million.

Total purse: $40 million
Amount paid to winning team: varied based on performance.

Tour Championship/FedEX Cup (Golf)

The golf business has always been heavily financed, as evidenced by the advent of the Saudi-backed LIV. With the new merger in the works, expect this prize pool to change dramatically. The Tour Championship is the PGA Tour’s last match, and while it is not officially classified as a Major, it does come with a sizable purse. Throughout the PGA season, golfers accumulate points to compete in the final championship, with the top 30 earners competing in the Tour Championship.

The golfer with the most points after the Tour Championship match (typically the winner) wins the FedEx Cup and a stunning $26.9 million from the $112.1 million prize pool. Otherwise, there will be other opportunities to win large over the season. The Players Championship has the tour’s largest prize money, with the winner receiving $6.7 million.

Total purse: $112 million
Amount paid to winner: $27 million

UEFA Champions League (Football)

It is the world’s largest club event, regardless of sport. Winning the competition final earns the team around $33 million, but nearly three times that amount can be won along the road.

Money is awarded to teams based on group and knockout stage wins, with a maximum prize money of approximately $139 million possible if the club wins all of its games. With such a large amount of money on offer, it’s easy to see why it’s such an honor for teams to even qualify, let alone try to win.

Total purse: $3.3 billion
Amount paid to winning team: $33 million

Sports

AFCON 2025: Lookman Scores Winner As Super Eagles Start Campaign With 2–1 Victory Over Tanzania

Published

5 days ago

December 23, 2025

Editor

Ademola Lookman scored what proved to be the decisive goal as Nigeria beat Tanzania 2-1 in their opening game at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Super Eagles came into the match as heavy favourites to win and dominated the opening exchanges.

After coming close a few times, the three-time champions took the lead through Semi Ajayi.

The ball was recycled following a corner-kick, before Alex Iwobi crossed it into the area for Ajayi to head home.

Tanzania equalized after Charles M’Mombwa found himself unmarked inside the area.

But two minutes later, Nigeria struck the winner through Lookman, who took a few touches and finished with his left foot.

Sports

JUST IN: Dembélé Named FIFA Best Men’s Player, Bonmatí Wins Women’s Award

Published

2 weeks ago

December 16, 2025

Editor

Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembélé has been awarded the FIFA Best Men’s Player for 2025, following a season in which he contributed significantly to both his club and the France national team.

Dembélé, known for his pace, creativity, and goal-scoring ability, played a central role in Paris Saint-Germain’s campaigns across domestic and European competitions. His performances for the national team also helped France secure notable results in international fixtures.

Speaking on the recognition, Dembélé said, “It is a great honour to receive this award. I could not have achieved this without my teammates at PSG and in the national team, whose support has been invaluable.”

In the women’s category, Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmatí was named FIFA Best Women’s Player for 2025. Bonmatí was influential in Barcelona’s domestic and European campaigns, providing leadership, vision, and creativity in midfield. She also played a key role in Spain’s international successes.

“This award reflects the hard work of my teammates and coaches,” Bonmatí said. “I am grateful for their guidance and support throughout the season.”

The announcements reaffirm FIFA’s recognition of individual excellence in football while highlighting the contributions of players to both club and country.

Sports

Court Fixes Date To Hear Sala Compensation Dispute

Published

3 weeks ago

December 9, 2025

Editor

A commercial court examining the long-running dispute between Cardiff City and French club Nantes over compensation for the death of Emiliano Sala in a plane crash said Monday it would give its decision on March 30 next year.

Sala, a 28-year-old Argentine striker, died when the light aircraft taking him to the Welsh capital came down in the English Channel on January 21, 2019, two days after he had signed for the then-Premier League side. He and pilot David Ibbotson were killed.

The Welsh club took the case to the Nantes commercial court in 2023 to claim compensation for loss of income and other damages suffered by the club as a result of the player’s death.

Following an analysis conducted by an expert appointed by Cardiff City, the club estimated their losses at over 120 million euros ($139.5 million). Lawyers for both clubs made their cases at Monday’s hearing.

The Welsh club argue that Nantes, through their intermediary, agent Willie McKay, were the organisers of the private flight on which the footballer was travelling and that, if the transfer was effective at the time of the accident according to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), it is the organisation of this flight that is at issue.

Cardiff City’s lawyer, Olivier Loizon, told the court Monday, Willie McKay “could not have been unaware of the illegality of the flight”, and argued that the agent had acted with “negligence”.

“Whatever the ultimate cause of the accident, (Sala) should not have been on the flight,” he added.

Nantes’ lawyer, Jerome Marsaudon, insisted Monday the only agent authorised by the club in connection with the transfer was Mark McKay, the son of Willie McKay.

The elder McKay “was simply helping his son, given his extensive experience”, the lawyer said.

“It is sad to see that Cardiff have exploited this tragedy and turned it into a genuine legal farce,” he added. “Nothing in this case justifies holding FC Nantes liable.”

Prior to the start of the hearing, a Nantes representative said the club “have no doubt that Cardiff’s claims will be rejected outright, just like all the others”.

In another case related to the dispute between the two clubs, CAS ruled in 2022 that Sala’s transfer had definitely been finalised at the time of his death.

In 2023, world football’s governing body FIFA ordered Cardiff to pay Nantes the balance of Sala’s transfer fee, which at the time amounted to just over 11 million euros out of a total of 17 million euros.