Australian sport’s top earners: Counting down from 25 to one

Lee became just the third Australian woman – behind Karrie Webb and Jan Stephenson – to win at least three golf majors when she claimed the Women’s PGA Championship in Texas. The world No.4 earned $US3.9 million (about $5.5 million) in prizemoney during a 2025 season where she posted eight top-10 finishes. She received another $US125,000 ($175,000) share for Australia’s International Crown triumph. Lee is a strong off-course performer, fuelled by partnerships with Callaway, Malbon Golf, Hana Bank, ADP, BMW, Adidas and ISPS Handa, on top of being an ambassador for Las Vegas Sands.

“The Chef”, whose lighthearted social media content has helped him attract 1.5 million followers across Instagram, X and TikTok, enjoyed an excellent 2025 season, including winning his maiden PGA Tour title in Houston. Lee earned about $4.8 million in prizemoney last year – predominantly in the US – but his off-course portfolio is becoming almost as, or more, impressive. Callaway, BMW, Lululemon (he has a “Let Him Cook” collection), Oakley and De Bethune are among the brands he has deals with. Oh, and Lee counts Justin Bieber as a friend.

Australia’s men’s captain is our top-earning cricketer, based on his Cricket Australia contract (about $3 million, factoring in his retainer, captaincy stipend, match payments and prizemoney), his Indian Premier League salary (about $3 million), and a booming off-field portfolio. His CA marketing deal is about $700,000, too, and he is going so well that he rejected an informal $10 million-a-year offer to exclusively play T20 cricket. His commercial partners include New Balance, Gillette, Carrera eyewear, Kayo Sports, Gatorade and Lyre’s non-alcoholic spirits. He has various equity deals, and fronted Tourism Australia’s “Howzat for a Holiday?” campaign.

Hendriks made three Major League Baseball All-Star teams between 2019 and 2022 while playing for Oakland Athletics and Chicago White Sox. A cancer diagnosis and repeated injuries, including undergoing serious elbow surgery, disrupted his career in the past three years, but his bank balance is still thriving. The White Sox declined Hendriks’ $US15 million option for 2024, and instead will pay him $US1.5 million ($2.1 million) per year for a decade. The former closer, a free agent after parting ways with Minnesota, also received $US6 million ($8.5 million) in the second year of his deal with the Boston Red Sox in 2025. Other income came from merchandise and video game licensing deals.

The former world No.1 might no longer be at his peak, but still pulls in a tidy sum, including more than $US3.7 million (about $5.3 million) in prizemoney last year. Day was the first PGA Tour player to partner with apparel brand Malbon Golf in 2024, ending his reported seven-year, $100 million association with Nike. His bold fashion choices with Malbon have caused a stir. Golf insiders believe Day’s Malbon deal could be worth up to $10 million annually, but his equity stake means it might be less. He plays with a Bridgestone ball and also has a stake in golf shoe brand Payntr – but became an equipment free agent after splitting with TaylorMade in 2021.

Scott won $US1.8 million (about $2.6 million) prizemoney on the PGA Tour last year, including an equal-12th finish at the US Open. But the former world No.1 earns far more off the course, with his annual commercial worth estimated at between $6 million and $8 million. Scott partnered with Uniqlo in 2013, and won the Masters title a week later in a $20 polo from the Japanese company. He has equipment and shoe deals with Titleist and FootJoy, respectively, lists Rolex as a major sponsor and became an ambassador for KuCoin in September. Scott’s appearance fee at his three DP World Tour tournaments last year may have been up to $US1 million per event.

Herbert joined LIV Golf and Australia’s Ripper GC team in 2024, and recorded three top-five finishes last year for a $US7.3 million (about $10.2 million) return. He declined to divulge what his sign-on fee was, but it was likely at least seven figures, given his PGA Tour pedigree. Herbert’s long-term partnership with TaylorMade, including playing with a full bag of its clubs, probably delivers him hundreds of thousands annually. Ripper GC has deals with Greyson Clothiers and Hahn, while Herbert partners with private jet charter company Trilogy Aviation Group.

“Demon” raked in more than $9 million in prizemoney last year, and another $900,000 for winning the Ultimate Tennis Showdown London grand final in December. He also earned a small sum for playing Davis Cup. The world No.6 likely scored more than $3 million combined from the final year of his ASICS deal, his Wilson racquet contract – he has a head-to-toe deal with Wilson as of 2026 – his patch partners (SAP and Pepperstone), sponsors La Roche-Posay and Sanitarium, ambassador (Hot Shots and World Vision) and equity deals and appearance fees.

If you don’t know this Sunshine Coast-raised superstar, you should get up to speed. Lawrence won his third straight SuperMotocross World Championship in September, earning a $US1 million ($1.4 million) payday and relegating older brother Hunter to second. But Lawrence’s serious money comes from a five-year, $US22.5 million deal (almost $32 million) with Honda and other partnerships, including Red Bull, Alpinestars and Santo Studio, plus a motocross gear collaboration with 100Percent. Lawrence has his own clothing brand, too. A broken ankle in a training accident means he is sidelined, leaving Hunter to lead the 2026 championship.

No Australian golfer won more prizemoney last year than Leishman’s $US8,496,184 (almost $12 million), including his maiden LIV victory in Miami. Leishman joined LIV Golf in 2022 – and he and Cameron Smith are the only original Punch GC (now Ripper GC) members left. The size of Leishman’s contract to shift to LIV remains unknown, but reporting suggests he, like Smith, received a 25 per cent equity stake in the team. His equipment sponsor since 2016 is Callaway, which would be worth hundreds of thousands, and he benefits from Ripper GC deals with Greyson Clothiers and Hahn beer.

The dual Australian and US citizen missed selection for the Boomers at the 2024 Olympics, but his hefty salary with the Portland Trail Blazers would have helped ease that pain. Thybulle exercised a player option in his contract in June last year, worth $US11.6 million (more than $16 million) for the 2025-26 season. The defence-focused guard also collected a tidy sum with image rights for trading cards and the 2K video game, his Nike shoe deal and appearances.

One of four NBA stars in our top 10, in a sign of the riches in American basketball. The Charlotte Hornets shooting guard signed a three-year, almost $58 million rookie contract extension in October 2023, when he was still playing for the Dallas Mavericks. Green will pocket $US13.7 million (more than $19 million) for the 2025-26 season, which rises to $US14.7 million ($20.7 million) in the final season of the deal in 2026-27. He also earns money from image rights for trading cards and the 2K video game, plus his Skechers shoe deal and appearances.

The hulking left tackle is a success story of the NFL’s international pathway program, transforming from an NRL prospect into one of the best at his position in the NFL. Mailata was a key piece in the Philadelphia Eagles’ 2024-25 Super Bowl win and has inked back-to-back mammoth extensions. The latest was a three-year, $US66 million (about $93.1 million) extension in 2024, which kicks in next season – but he still made $US15.2 million ($21.5 million) last season. Mailata has commercial partnerships with Ford, Firstrust Bank and clothing brand Johnny Bigg, plus various Philadelphia businesses, including being a G’Day Gourmet ambassador.

Daniels became the second-youngest player to ever make the NBA’s all-defensive team in the 2024-25 season, which contributed to him earning a four-year, $US100 million contract ($140.5 million). The Boomers and Atlanta Hawks guard, known as “the Great Barrier Thief”, led the league in steals that season, and is in the top 10 currently. Daniels switched from Nike to Adidas last year as his apparel and shoe partner. He is a global ambassador for audio company BlueAnt and protein smoothie brand Rokeby, as well as the face of Disney+’s NBA coverage in Australia. Daniels’ brother Dash will enter next year’s NBA draft.

Giddey’s move from Oklahoma City Thunder to the Chicago Bulls unlocked his upside – and helped deliver a four-year, $US100 million contract ($140.5 million) that is the bedrock of his earnings. Only Nikola Jokic and Cade Cunningham average more assists this season than the Bulls’ floor general. Giddey, represented by Lighthouse Sports Management’s Daniel Moldovan, signed a lucrative four-year shoe deal with Puma in July, and had his own golden wattle-inspired signature shoe called “Giddey One” by November, after his Nike partnership expired. He had a deal with trading card company Panini last year, but is switching to Fanatics in 2026. A Ladbrokes deal will also be announced soon.

The 2022 British Open champion’s wealth spiked since joining LIV Golf in 2022 on a $US100 million contract (about $140.5 million) as Ripper GC’s captain. The length of Smith’s LIV deal has never been confirmed, but sources believe many of the original deals were for four years.

He has 25 per cent equity in the all-Australian team, and LIV Golf is open to selling minority stakes, with reported team valuations of $US300 million (more than $420 million). Smith earned almost $US6 million (about $8.4 million) in prizemoney last year. Titleist is Smith’s equipment partner, while he benefits from Ripper GC deals with Greyson Clothiers and Hahn.

The Melbourne-raised McLaren superstar had to settle for third place in the 2025 Formula 1 world championship after leading for much of the season. But he’s the clear No.1 as the top-earning Australian athlete. Forbes valued his combined salary and bonuses last year at $US37.5 million (almost $53 million), while Sportico went with almost $50 million. The star of the new Google Pixel advert, whose other major partners include Quad Lock, Monster Energy and Grill’d, added more than $4 million in estimated commercial earnings – but would almost certainly command more if he wanted to. Former F1 driver and fellow Australian Mark Webber represents Piastri.

The data

Reporters Dan Walsh, Roy Ward, Vince Rugari and Andrew Wu contributed to this project.

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