Do you believe professional athletes make too much money?

Question

MrOracle · Accepted Answer

That's up to the owners to decide.

The reason they make that kind of money is because they contribute significantly to the amount of money their teams earn. Let's say that they're the star player on a team that earns $2B in net revenue a year - should they only get $2M, which is 1/1,000th of the team's earnings? Remember, they're the star player, and also remember that their professional career is, AT BEST, 20 years, but is likely to be 10 or less (football is likely to be 5 or less). The money they make will need to last them for the rest of their lives, because they've spent their whole lives focusing on getting into the major sports leagues. One bad injury and their career is finished.

You have to look at the bigger picture - what the team earns vs. what the players earn in total as a percentage of the team's earnings, and then you need to look at what one of the star players contributes to those earnings vs. the average players. Most people come to see the top performers play - the ones who can make the most difficult plays or score reliably or hold down the other team's ability to score - and so those top players earn the most money.

This is also why, for example, the WNBA and the Women's National Soccer Team don't make as much money - the team as a whole doesn't EARN much money - in fact, the WNBA *loses* money each year and has to be propped up by money from the NBA to even survive. If the WNBA tripled its yearly revenues, then they could pay the players better, but that will only happen if the product (the games) become more attractive to the paying audience.

But maybe Rhonda Rousey can explain it better than I can:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZLrNBmXhr1M

Note that this applies to ALL entertainment, whether it's sports, acting, music, or anything else. The more butts you put in the seats, and the more money those butts spend, the more the performers are going to be paid, and the performers that draw the biggest crowds and allow for the highest ad-sale rates are going to be the performers who get paid the most.

It's Econ 101.

MrTaboo · Accepted Answer

Yes, but people pay for overly priced tickets, drinks and hotdogs, jerseys. So they rake in the money, so why shouldn't they.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

No. No one ever questions how much those getting rich off said athletes are making. Elite athletes are talented at their craft, but they work hard to maintain it. A star athlete can help a team rake in millions and is literally why people buy things like season tickets to see said athlete perform. They are being paid to stay put and continue to perform because of this and not only that, by participating in the sport they create jobs for a ton of people from trainers, to concession stand workers, to ticket takers, to commentators, to team bus drivers and pilots, to craft services and on and on. I always say, if you were the best of the best in whatever job you do, would you want someone saying you deserve to be paid less?

Nikki1989 · Accepted Answer

It's obscene. It is just sport.

Chazmatazz269 · Answer

Not necessarily. It is however unsettling how comfortable most people are with having entertainers of any kind making tens to thousands of times more than first responders, healthcare workers, military personnel, construction workers, waste collectors, teachers, etc. If every entertainer on the planet were snapped out of existence, life would go on mostly as it already does. But if any ONE of those other trades and industries i listed went away, civilization as we know it would crumble in a lifetime or less. Yet we show these people no respect by comparison of their salaries to people who can run with a ball, and we’re constantly threatening the unions that are the only thing keeping such essential personnel from being killed on the job and living in poverty. It’s abso-fucking-lutely ri-fucking-diculous.

josephinelcajon · Answer

To me a non-sports fan I think it's ridiculous! This is why most get into trouble marriage, financial, drugs, sex. Fans can't afford to pay out hundreds of dollars to go to a single game! The flip side is most people do not see the dedication required. They give up a lot each and every day, not just game day! They also give up the chance at another carrier. Most only play a few years and then fade off after blowing all their money destroying their personal life and addicted to drugs. This is not something I ever want to support!

wkozak · Answer

Yes and no in the same time, if you watch football "soccer" you will see many big clubs with top elite players like Real Madrid, Barcelona, PSG, Manchester City, Liverpool, and all of their players are getting a lot of money every week, like 400k euros every month at least without mentioning the money they get from sponsorships.
But in the same time you can find small clubs and their players are professional too but they get hundreds of euros every week and you will never know that he is a professional football "soccer" player.
In short words i wanna say that not all professional players are making too much of money.

Anonymous · Answer

No, because a lot them fall off after their 20s. They don't have the same physical capabilities. They don't get a 10 year or benefits to protect them from losing their job. They can be easily replaced by a younger guy who is faster and is willing to make less money than them. They defer themselves from education threw out their 20s and don't have any transferable skills other than playing a sport. It'll take then years to finish college and they will be a 33 year old with no work experience. Sure some are genetically gifted like usain bolt and LeBron James, but that's 1 in a billion. The average player is finished after his 20s and he isn't famous and no one cares about him. And he has to learn life skills in his 30 and up before his money runs out.

BeMuse · Answer

I don't watch the NFL and I don't pay their salary. If they want to pay Black men to wear pink and get on their knees while transsexual cheerleaders shake their dongs in their guys face they are free to pay them whatever they want, but it should probably be a pay per view channel for perverts and not be on the public airways.

NamerOfStars · Answer

No- why would I? They make money for the teams and the leagues, why shouldn't they see a share of it? Would you have even MORE money going to the owners?

Do you not understand where the money they're paid comes from? It's not taxpayer subsidies.

ethanallen · Answer

You are making a false comparison. It should be a comparison of "professional athlete" vs the "average worker." You should ask if it is fair when you compare a "professional entertainer" vs "average worker".

Should George Clooney make 239 Million?

Should Mark Wahlberg make 68 Million?

Should Jennifer Lawrence make 46 Million? ( I think her hacked naked tits pics justify that amount )

Alexandrubaschet08 · Answer

No, because they become a brand and many people get a lot of money afther just a simple photo whit them and the club get more or less fans, sponsor and money if a sport player don't respect its image.
Olso the risk for a serios injury in a game can cost you even your life especialy if you are the best one, because many officials will pay for you to get injury and get out of the fild.
I agree whit moust of the salary, some small diference

Kabluie · Answer

No, unless you're Tom Brady you aren't going to be a headliner athlete when you're 45. So there is the argument of less time in this career. Plus if anybody can do what Patrick Mahomes or Aaron Rodgers does, they wouldn't be making as much. Stud QBs like them aren't a dime a dozen.

FinalFantasyBro · Answer

No, both athletes and performers like singers and actors usually earn their wealth because people always go to their games, concerts and movies. If people are really annoyed about most athletes network stop supporting their teams and going their games.

ArtemisSilver · Answer

If the demand is there I guess not. At least they get to keep more of what that bring in. Last time I ran the numbers I was getting paid less than 10% of the revenue I generate for my employer so good on the players for getting a fairer slice of the pie.

I do think that watching most sports on TV is a bit boring but hey you do you.

Free market and all that.

genericname85 · Answer

it's not like they live on charity or welfare. they are making the money that they get. so i think that's perfectly fair. i do think that people pay too much for fandom tho. cause that's where the money comes from and it's not the professional athletes fault that people throw their money at that.

Luopio27 · Answer

Soldiers, cops, firefighters, coast guards, body guards, prison guards, and others risk their lives to keep everyone safe. Those fallen heros have given their lives, their ability to ever see, hear, feel, smell or taste anything ever again.

Then we have executives, entertainers, investors, monarchs, and what not bitching and complaining about every idea of financially fare world.

This is why I dont ever watch professional sports.

WindAtMyBack · Answer

If they can get it and the company the company they work for is willing to pay it, then it's not too much. If every million they get paid brings in 1.5 million then they are worth it.

Anonymous · Answer

People who make "too much" money end up either getting their pay cut or they get fired. Since professional athletes FREQUENTLY get their their pay cut or get fired, I'd say there's not much risk that they get paid "too much."

MysticDevice · Answer

Entirely too much money. Like I understand how and why they make as much as they do. Ticket sales, sponsorships, the fact that professional sports is a business and all that. Its still annoying to think about while I'm on my way to work in a factory.

Telekinetic-Potato · Answer

Not at all. They help the team generate more value than what they're being paid (usually) that's how things should be.

exitseven · Answer

In a free market system they get the salary that the team they play for can afford to pay them. Evifdently enough people will pay a couple of hundred dollars a ticket to watch somebody play a game

NathanDavis · Answer

not really no... those are just mere crumbs, compared to the money that organizations make out of them

zagor · Answer

Yes, but so do a lot of careers. How many CEO's are really better at their job than some generic replacement? Sports careers can end very quickly, and even those who last a while are forced to retire much earlier than most.

htmndg183 · Answer

Footballers yes. Rugby players no. Cricketers: some yes, most no. Tennis players: way too much Golf: way too much Boxing: way too much American sports: a lot more than one would guess.

sheikalana · Answer

I mean they certainly make a whole lot of money but they do what they are supposed to do and earn what they deserve.

MCheetah · Answer

Yes, but supply and demand and all that, so I don't care too much.

mattissebfan5 · Answer

To a degree some sports yes but they are the reason why the sports get massive money and should get a huge part from it

Cubus · Answer

Well, one feminist in my country already tells Robert Lewandowski to give away his watches, because it's not ok for people who are poor

AndrésC64 · Answer

No. People pay to see them play and there are a lot more people that want to see them play then there are tickets. Supply and demand.

bobthe1st · Answer

Be at the top of your game in any subject or field, get paid well 🥳

Hispanic-Cool-Guy · Answer

Yes. It's ridiculous because you are good at playing with a silly ball that you make that amount of ridiculous money but the market dictates salary.

Anonymous · Answer

I don't know, it's potentially dangerous and requires a lot of commitment, as well as the fact that it's very profitable for companies that broadcast it and stuff. I don't think I could be an athlete myself.

TroyDT · Answer

Who am I to decide what a business should agree to pay its employees?

kellytheman · Answer

Only certain sports. Basketball players should not make more than Football or baseball players.

SmokinAces2000 · Answer

They are entertainers when it comes down to it and entertainment makes a lot of money

Anonymous · Answer

I mind my own business and don't worry about what another person or group earns!

Anonymous · Answer

A lot of professional sports players are not that good in my book. Some of their attitudes are high and mighty.

Anonymous · Answer

If you don’t like how much they are payed, stop watching them.

bubblegunnn · Answer

Hmm yes i think.. and its worthy

Iron_Man · Answer

Yes I think so plus the owners

maximumpower · Answer

If people are willing to pay them, then it's ok.

Fui7ghrg · Answer

I admire the work put into the human body

dustybiker · Answer

They do.

SAMI_DABBAB · Answer

Absolutely

msc545 · Answer

Hell yes.

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