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The $170 Billion Game
The 2024 Power Rankings of the World's Richest Sports Leagues
Samuel Rogers
May 19, 2025
"The scoreboard behind the scoreboard is revenue. And in 2024, global sports hit a record $170 billion."
The Global Top 10: Sports Leagues by 2024 Revenue
Rank | League | Sport | Region | Revenue (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | NFL | American Football | USA | $20.2B |
2 | MLB | Baseball | USA/Canada | $12.1B |
3 | NBA | Basketball | USA/Canada | $11.34B |
4 | IPL | Cricket (T20) | India | $9.5B |
5 | EPL | Soccer | England/Wales | $7.56B |
6 | NHL | Ice Hockey | USA/Canada | $6.2B |
7 | Bundesliga | Soccer | Germany | $6.4B |
8 | La Liga | Soccer | Spain | $6.0B |
9 | UEFA Champions League | Soccer (Europe) | Multinational | $4.8B |
10 | Serie A | Soccer | Italy | $3.1B |
The League Leaders: What Makes Them Powerhouses
1. NFL
$20.2B. The global apex predator.
$2B/yr from YouTube’s “Sunday Ticket”
70% of revenue from national media deals
Franchises are cash-printing institutions (Cowboys: $1.2B in revenue)
2. MLB
$12.1B, with RSNs and international audience growth fueling comeback momentum.
Yankees and Dodgers both over $700M
Digital integrations and LATAM expansion driving reach
3. NBA
$11.34B, and about to explode.
Massive media rights renewal expected in 2025
Most future-proofed league (global fanbase + youth dominance)
Warriors top earners: $765M
4. IPL
$9.5B in just 60 days.
Highest revenue-per-game globally
Disney Star + Viacom18 media deal = $6.2B over 5 years
Sponsorship + digital monetization models are leading-edge
5. EPL
$7.56B and growing, powered by global fandom.
Overseas rights now outpace domestic deals
Manchester United, Liverpool each generated $700M+
45% of league revenue earned by the top 6 clubs
The Data Says More Than You Think
Metric | Value |
|---|---|
Total Global Sports Revenue | $170 billion |
Top 5 League Share | 55% of global total |
Streaming as % of Rights Deals | 30–40%+ in top leagues |
Fastest-Growing Fan Markets | India, MENA, SEA |
Top Efficiency League | IPL (by revenue/game) |
The Trends That Will Shape 2025
NFL International Play expands: Germany, Brazil, UK
NBA Expansion heating up: Las Vegas & Mexico City
Saudi Arabia Sports Fund: $6B deployed, targeting assets in soccer, golf, esports
Women’s Leagues Media Rights: WNBA, NWSL, and WPL see 2x+ growth YoY
AI + Sports Monetization: From automated analytics to personalized OTT streams
If You’re Tracking Power in Sports, Follow the Money
In 2024, fandom was still emotional.
But sports business? That’s rational—and the data is loud.
This isn't just a scoreboard anymore—it's a multi-billion-dollar market map, and the top leagues are building broadcast monopolies, IP fortresses, and digital rails that will define fan engagement for decades.
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