Andrew Bogut tops BRW Aussie sports rich list, while cricketers trump footy stars

THE country’s top 50 earners in the sports world made $164 million combined in the last year. But it’s not a footy or soccer star topping the list.

THE country’s top 50 earners in the sports world made $164 million combined in the last year. But it’s not a footy star topping the list.

According to BRW, Golden State Warriors centre Andrew Bogut made the most with $16.2 million thanks to securing a big contract.

The first footy player entering the top 50 list comes in way down in No.43 in Waratahs star Israel Folau who brought in $1.5 million after winning the Super Rugby title.

AFL golden child Gary Ablett (47th) is the only other footy name in the list.

Here are five major talking points from the list:

USA — THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITY

Adam Scott is the highest earning Australian golfer. Picture: Mark Evans

The BRW list proved that the USA is where the big dollars are at, with the top seven Aussies — Bogut, Adam Scott, Jason Day, Marcos Ambrose, Tim Cahill, Grant Balfour, and Patty Mills — all making their millions from playing sport in America. Thanks to successful seasons Mills and Ambrose are new additions to the upper echelon of sport’s top earners. Mills’ starring role in the NBA finals in particular saw him jump from 49th in the previous year’s list to seventh.

Sixteen of the top 50 highest earning Aussie athletes play sports that are primarily US-based.

Eight of those are golfers — headed by Adam Scott (2nd, $15.5 million) and Jason Day (3rd, $10.65 million) in the top 10 — four are NBA players, two are motorsport stars while Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer have a representative each.

CRICKETERS COUNTING THE CASH

It’s no wonder Australian cricketer Shane Watson is all smiles.

Shane Watson topped the list of highest-earning cricketers ($4.5 million), eclipsing Mitchell Johnson (10th over all, $4.1 million), Michael Clarke (11th, $4 million) and David Warner (12th, $3.8 million)

Watson, who earned a reported $2.2 million with the Rajasthan Royals, was rated Australia’s eighth richest athlete over all and the only one in the top nine not to be plying his trade in the USA.

An astonishing 13 cricketers made the BRW’s list of richest Australian athletes — two more than last year — and six in the top 20.

Steve Smith was the biggest mover. Australia’s captain-elect was not rated among the nation’s 50 highest earners in 2013, but his $3.1 million placed him 14th over all and fifth among Australian cricketers last year.

James Faulkner (18th, $2.5 millon) and Mitchell Starc (27th, $2.2 million) were among the other noteworthy cricketers on the list.

Brett Lee ($1.5 million) and Mike Hussey ($1.4 million) may be all but retired, but both still ranked 45th and 49th respectively on BRW’s list.

TEENAGER CRACKS THE TOP TEN

Dante Exum #11 of the Utah Jazz.

There aren’t many 19-year-olds making $4.34 million, but Utah Jazz guard Dante Exum is doing just that after he was selected as the fifth overall pick in the NBA draft. In his first year playing professional basketball, Exum’s star is on the rise too. Exum is one of seven Australians (an all-time high) plying their trade in the NBA. Bogut and Mills are two of them, with Aron Baynes (20th, $2.7 million) also making the BRW rich list.

Exum takes the place of Kyrie Irving — the Australian-born, US-raised Cleveland Cavaliers guard who does not appear to have been deemed eligible in 2014 — in the top ten. Irving was ranked 5th with $6.5 million in 2013.

Exum reportedly signed a multi-million dollar endorsement deal with adidas before he had stepped on an NBA court, and features prominently in the wildly popular NBA 2K15 console game. NBA analysts talk often of his “high ceiling”, meaning Exum could yet move further up the highest earners list in the years to come.

HERE’S ONE THAT WILL SURPRISE YOU...

World surfing champion Mick Fanning.

Few would count surfing as one of the richer sports out there, but BRW confirms that Aussie surfers are making bank on tour. World champ Mick Fanning is the top earning surfer at No.19, raking in cash from his time in the water, major sponsorship deals and royalties from his interest in a sandal that has a built-in bottle opener, of all things. Julian Wilson (30th, $2 million), Joel Parkinson (34th, $1.8 million), Stephanie Gilmore (39th, $1.75 million), Taj Burrow (41st, $1.5 million) and Josh Kerr (42nd, $1.5 million) also make it inside the top 50, proving the sport’s marketability is on the rise.

GENDER INEQUALITY

Karrie Webb is onle one of two female athletes who make the top 50 list. Picture: Michael Klein

Only two female athletes were represented among Australia’s top 50 highest earners.

Surfing world champion Stephanie Gilmore ranked 39th — 20 places and $950,000 behind male counterpart Fanning — while golfer Karrie Webb ranked 50th with $1.28 million.

BRW TOP 50 AUSSIE SPORTS RICH LIST

1. Andrew Bogut $16.2m

2. Adam Scott $15.5m

3. Jason Day $10.65m

4. Marcos Ambrose $5.68m

5. Tim Cahill $5.5m

6.Grant Balfour $5.18m

7. Patty Mills $4.61m

8. Shane Watson $4.5m

9. Dante Exum $4.34m

10. Mitchell Johnson $4.1m

11. Michael Clarke $4m

12. David Warner $3.8m

13. John Senden $3.43m

14. Steve Smith $3.1m

15. Marc Leishman $3.07m

16. Mile Jedinak $3m

17. Brett Holman $3m

18. James Faulkner $2.8m

19. Mick Fanning $2.7m

20. Aron Baynes $2.7m

21. Daniel Ricciardo $2.6m

22. Ryan McGowan $2.5m

23. Cadel Evans $2.5m

24. Brad Haddin $2.5m

25. Glenn Maxwell $2.4m

26. Matt Jones $2.31m

27. Mitchell Starc $2.2m

28. Geoff Ogilvy $2.17

29. Steven Bowditch $2.08m

30. Julian Wilson $2m

31. Mark Bresciano $2m

32. Mark Webber $2m

33. Craig Lowndes $2m

34. Joel Parkinson $1.8m

35. James Courtney $1.8m

36. George Bailey $1.8m

37. Aaron Finch $1.8m

38. Stuart Appleby $1.77m

39. Stephanie Gilmore $1.75m

40. Jamie Whincup $1.6m

41. Taj Burrow $1.5m

42. Josh Kerr $1.5m

43. Israel Folau $1.5m

44. Will Power $1.5m

45. Brett Lee $1.5m

46. Alex Leapai $1.5m

47. Gary Ablett $1.5m

48. Zac Purton $1.4m

49. Michael Hussey $1.4m

50. Karrie Webb $1.28m

Originally published as Andrew Bogut tops BRW Aussie sports rich list, while cricketers trump footy stars