Prescott, Messi, Ohtani and more: How the world’s biggest sports stars get paid

April 6, 2026 - 01:51

The staggering contracts signed by athletes like Lionel Messi and Shohei Ohtani dominate headlines, but the real story of modern sports compensation is often found in the sophisticated structures behind the simple salary figure. Today's elite performers utilize a complex arsenal of financial instruments to maximize their earnings and secure long-term wealth.

A prominent strategy is salary deferral, where a significant portion of a player's contract is paid out years after they stop playing. This allows teams to manage immediate salary caps while providing athletes with a substantial, annuity-like income stream far into the future. Another growing trend is the acquisition of ownership equity. Stars are increasingly negotiating for small stakes in their franchises or related businesses, aligning their financial destiny directly with the organization's success and creating potential for exponential growth beyond their playing days.

Lifetime endorsement deals, massive signing bonuses paid upfront, and lucrative personal brand and image rights portfolios further diversify income. For the very top tier, compensation is a carefully engineered ecosystem. It blends guaranteed money with long-term investment opportunities, transforming a high salary into a lasting financial empire that extends well beyond the final whistle or last out.