The 20 Largest Current Sports Contracts in the World – 2012
Alex Rodriguez, Proud Owner of the Biggest Contract in Sports
Drew Brees may have made a big splash, and payday, this week, inking a five year, $100 million deal with the New Orleans Saints, but in the wide world of sports, that’s a mere pittance.
These are the top 20 largest (total dollars) current sports contracts in the world, a list utterly dominated by baseball: 16 of the 21 athletes below play America’s pastime, including the top six.
Real Madrid‘s Cristiano Ronaldo breaks baseball’s streak to place seventh. He’s joined by Barcelona‘s Lionel Messi as the only world football players with mondo contracts.
American football makes a similarly brief appearance with Calvin Johnson and Michael Vick representing the gridiron.
And surprisingly, basketball’s sole representative is Rashard Lewis, owner of the biggest current contract amongst cagers, though he was just bought out of the final year.
Look at some of these guys! Are they all “werth” it?
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| ATHLETE | CONTRACT ($) | CONTRACT (YRS) | SPORT | TEAM | |
| 1. | Alex Rodriguez | $275,000,000 | 10 years (2008–2017) | Baseball | New York Yankees |
| 2. | Albert Pujols | $240,000,000 | 10 years (2012–2021) | Baseball | L.A. Angels of Anaheim |
| 3. | Joey Votto | $225,000,000 | 10 years (2014–2023) | Baseball | Cincinnati Reds |
| 4. | Prince Fielder | $214,000,000 | 9 years (2012–2020) | Baseball | Detroit Tigers |
| 5. | Joe Mauer | $184,000,000 | 8 years (2011–2018) | Baseball | Minnesota Twins |
| 6. | Mark Teixeira | $180,000,000 | 8 years (2009–2016) | Baseball | New York Yankees |
| 7. | Cristiano Ronaldo | $170,000,000 | 10 years (2008–2017) | Assoc. Football | Real Madrid CF |
| 8. | CC Sabathia | $161,000,000 | 7 years (2009–2015) | Baseball | New York Yankees |
| 9. | Troy Tulowitzki | $157,750,000 | 10 years (2011–2020) | Baseball | Colorado Rockies |
| 10. | Adrián González | $154,000,000 | 7 years (2012–2018) | Baseball | Boston Red Sox |
| 11. | Miguel Cabrera | $152,300,000 | 8 years (2008–2015) | Baseball | Detroit Tigers |
| 12. | Lionel Messi | $148,800,000 | 8 years (2008–2016) | Assoc. Football | Barcelona FC |
| 13. | Carl Crawford | $142,000,000 | 7 years (2011–2017) | Baseball | Boston Red Sox |
| 14. | Johan Santana | $137,500,000 | 6 years (2008–2013) | Baseball | New York Mets |
| 15. | Alfonso Soriano | $136,000,000 | 8 years (2007–2014) | Baseball | Chicago Cubs |
| 16. | Calvin Johnson | $132,000,000 | 8 years (2012–2019) | Amer. Football | Detroit Lions |
| 17. | Michael Vick | $130,000,000 | 10 years (2005–2014) | Amer. Football | Atlanta Falcons |
| 18. | Rashard Lewis | $126,000,000 | 6 years (2007–2013) | Basketball | Orlando Magic |
| 18. | Vernon Wells | $126,000,000 | 7 years (2008–2014) | Baseball | Toronto Blue Jays |
| 18. | Barry Zito | $126,000,000 | 7 years (2007–2013) | Baseball | San Francisco Giants |
| 18. | Jayson Werth | $126,000,000 | 7 years (2011–2017) | Baseball | Washington Nationals |
Photo: sportsofboston.com
Posted on July 19, 2012, in Multiple Sports. Bookmark the permalink. 1 Comment.
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