20 Athletes Whose Career Earnings Would Shock You

NBA veteran James Harden recently made headlines when a new three-year, $97 million deal with the Cavaliers put him on track to break the $500 million mark for career earnings.

That raised an immediate question: Which other athletes have career earnings that would shock the average fan? Off we went to scour the all-time leaderboards at Spotrac to find the answer.

This is a subjective exercise, but if a name immediately comes to mind as handsomely paid relative to his body of work, there's a good chance he isn't featured here since the focus was shock value.

For example, Tobias Harris (NBA), Kirk Cousins (NFL) and Stephen Strasburg (MLB) are prime examples of players whom general sports fans would be quick to associate with massive paydays.

However, the following 20 players should be a genuine shock, including four legendary retired athletes whose surprisingly low figures provide a counterpoint to their highly paid counterparts.

Note: All salary figures reflect all money on the books, including future earnings.

NBA: James Harden

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Career Earnings: $508,670,071

With a new three-year, $97 million contract on the books to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, James Harden is officially on track to join a short list of NBA players who have earned $500 million by the time the 2028-29 season arrives.

Harden split his age-36 season between the Los Angeles Clippers and Cavaliers last year. He continues to contribute at a high level after averaging 23.6 points and 8.0 assists while knocking down 37.5 percent of his attempts from distance.

He enters the 2026-27 campaign ranked 11th on the NBA's all-time scoring list with 29,339 points in 17 seasons.

NBA: Bradley Beal

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Career Earnings: $433,569,372

The massive five-year, $251 million extension that Bradley Beal signed prior to the 2022-23 season helps prop up his massive career earnings total, but it's still shocking to see that number north of $400 million.

The three-time All-Star peaked at 31.3 points per game during the 2020-21 season, when he also earned his only All-NBA selection as a third-team choice. However, he has never advanced beyond the conference semifinals.

The 33-year-old signed a two-year, $13.2 million deal to return to the Clippers in mid-August, although he's also receiving $19.4 million annually from the Phoenix Suns through 2029-30 after they waived and stretched him in 2025. He played just six games last year before undergoing season-ending surgery to repair a fractured hip.

NBA: Danilo Gallinari

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Career Earnings: $202,783,808

Danilo Gallinari is perhaps best remembered as the centerpiece whom the New York Knicks sent to the Denver Nuggets in their trade for Carmelo Anthony during the 2010-11 season.

At the time, Gallinari was a 22-year-old in his third NBA season who was averaging 15.9 points per game. By the time the 2015-16 season rolled around, he was the leading scorer (19.5 PPG) for a Nuggets team that finished 33-49.

A three-year, $64.8 million sign-and-trade deal that sent him from the Nuggets to the Los Angeles Clippers in 2017 was the largest individual contract that Gallinari ever signed, but he still managed to eclipse the $200 million mark over his 14-year career.

NBA: Jakob Poeltl

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Career Earnings: $200,384,219

After Jakob Poeltl served as a valuable bench piece for the Toronto Raptors during the 2017-18 season (his second year in the NBA), the Raptors traded him to the San Antonio Spurs along with DeMar DeRozan in their blockbuster deal to acquire Kawhi Leonard the following summer.

He spent five seasons with the Spurs before ultimately finding his way back to Toronto in 2023. That summer, he inked a four-year, $78 million deal with the Raptors, and he signed a three-year, $84 million extension two years later.

The 7-footer has been a solid role player, but with career averages of 9.1 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.2 blocks, it is surprising to see he has racked up over $200 million in career earnings.

NBA: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

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Career Earnings: $169,248,255

An NBA champion with both the Los Angeles Lakers (2019-20) and Denver Nuggets (2022-23), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has carved out a rock-solid career as a three-and-D wing, even with some inconsistency in his shooting.

After spending four seasons each with the Detroit Pistons and Lakers to begin his career, he is set to suit up for his fifth team in the last six years after inking a one-year, $3.9 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers during the offseason.

A three-year, $66 million contract from the Orlando Magic stands as KCP's largest single payday, but his staggering career earnings have been more about steady production over his 13-year run in the NBA.

NBA: Isaiah Hartenstein

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Career Earnings: $156,517,272

The Thunder signed Isaiah Hartenstein to a three-year, $87 million deal prior to the 2024-25 season despite his modest career averages of 6.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 18.0 minutes per game.

He immediately thrived in an expanded role, averaging 11.2 points, 10.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocks for a Thunder squad that finished 68-14 and won the NBA championship.

Productive bigs don't grow on trees, but a player who has averaged double-digit points only once in his career banking more than $150 million stands out as shocking nevertheless.

NBA Legend Comparison: Michael Jordan

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Career Earnings: $93,877,500

Michael Jordan signed an eight-year, $25.7 million deal prior to the 1988-89 season. He made only slightly more than teammates Toni Kukoč ($3.56M), Ron Harper ($3.12M), Scottie Pippen ($2.925M) and Dennis Rodman ($2.5M) with a $3.85 million salary in the final year of that contract in 1995-96.

His Airness re-upped with the Bulls on a one-year, $30.14 million contract the following year, which made him the highest-paid athlete in American sports history at the time. But spending the bulk of his career playing on that modest eight-year deal left Jordan's career earnings below $100 million.

Don't shed too many tears for MJ, though. His net worth stands at an estimated $4.3 billion thanks in large part to his Nike, Hanes and Gatorade deals, along with selling his majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets.

MLB: Aaron Nola

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Career Earnings: $228,856,353

With a 3.93 ERA and 108 ERA+ over 1,852.2 career innings, Aaron Nola has been a staple in the Philadelphia Phillies' rotation for more than a decade after the club took him No. 7 overall in the 2014 draft.

However, Nola has made just one All-Star team during that time while receiving Cy Young votes on four occasions. He peaked at third in the balloting during the 2018 season, when he had a 2.37 ERA and 224 strikeouts in 212.1 innings.

The seven-year, $172 million deal to re-sign him shortly after he hit the open market following the 2023 season accounts for a significant chunk of Nola's career earnings, but that's still a shocking figure for a pitcher who's rarely mentioned among the game's elite.

MLB: Marcus Semien

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Career Earnings: $208,863,653

Thanks to a standout glove and some solid pop for a middle infielder, Marcus Semien has racked up 49.7 WAR over 14 seasons in the majors.

That included a five-year stretch from 2019-23 where his 29.3 WAR trailed only Mookie Betts (30.3) among all players, though he has rarely been considered a bona fide superstar at any point in his career.

Now in the fifth season of a seven-year, $175 million deal, Semien has struggled through the worst season of his career after being traded to the New York Mets last offseason. He is still owed $46 million over the final two seasons of his contract.

MLB: Aroldis Chapman

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Career Earnings: $189,866,491

A five-year, $86 million deal that was the richest ever for a reliever at the time and the longevity to still be one of the best relievers in baseball at the age of 38 have helped Aroldis Chapman put up the highest career earnings of any relief pitcher.

He has been an All-Star each of the past two seasons since joining the Red Sox, posting a 1.46 ERA with 61 saves in 112 appearances. That puts him in a strong position to surpass the $200 million mark before he calls it a career.

What sort of deal will Mason Miller command once he reaches free agency if he continues to pitch at the elite level he has shown for the San Diego Padres?

MLB: Nathan Eovaldi

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Career Earnings: $185,765,197

As a two-time All-Star who has received Cy Young votes just once in his 15-year career, Nathan Eovaldi is an unlikely inclusion on a list of the highest-paid pitchers in MLB history.

With a 3.91 ERA and 105 ERA+ across 1,835 innings, he has put together a solid big league career. A postseason resume that includes a 9-3 record with a 3.05 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 82 strikeouts in 79.2 innings does help elevate his profile.

Still, his $185.8 million career earnings will slot in ahead of Randy Johnson ($177.0M) on MLB's all-time leaderboard once his current three-year, $75 million deal is fully paid out.

MLB Legend Comparison: Cal Ripken Jr.

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Career Earnings: $70,857,505

Cal Ripken Jr. was baseball's "Iron Man" with 2,632 consecutive games played. He was far more than just durable with 3,184 hits, 431 home runs, 1,695 RBI and 95.9 WAR en route to Cooperstown.

Despite a career that stretched from 1981 through 2001, the five-year, $32.5 million extension he signed during the 1992 season was the largest deal he inked during his storied career.

His career earnings put Kyle Tucker's $60 million AAV with the Los Angeles Dodgers into perspective, even if we are comparing players across different eras.

NHL: Anže Kopitar

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Career Earnings: $143,250,000

Anže Kopitar spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Kings before retiring after the 2025-26 season. The two-time Stanley Cup winner will go down as one of the best two-way forwards of his era.

However, it's still surprising to see that he currently stands as the fourth-highest-paid player in NHL history, behind only Alex Ovechkin ($170.7M), Sidney Crosby ($165.7M) and Evgeni Malkin ($151.7M).

Granted, Kopitar is projected to fall to No. 10 on that list by the time the 2030-31 season rolls around and some of the game's current stars continue to climb the career-earnings leaderboard.

NHL: Ryan Suter

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Career Earnings: $122,934,333

A huge 13-year, $98 million deal with the Minnesota Wild serves as the backbone of Ryan Suter's impressive career earnings. A 20-year career helped push that total above the nine-figure mark.

His resume is built more on longevity and durability than top-tier accolades. He played in 1,526 games, but he never won a Stanley Cup and never took home any individual hardware.

He has not formally retired, though he didn't play during the 2025-26 season after his contract was bought out by the Dallas Stars.

NHL Legend Comparison: Wayne Gretzky

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Career Earnings: $45,000,000

When Wayne Gretzky signed his three-year, $25.5 million deal with the Los Angeles Kings, his $8.5 million AAV more than doubled the NHL's previous top earner. However, that still wasn't enough to push his career earnings over $50 million.

He also signed an absurd 21-year personal services contract with the Edmonton Oilers early in his career that was ultimately reworked, but his earnings stretched beyond what he made for his time on the ice.

With an estimated net worth of $250 million, he maximized his earning potential with endorsements from brands like Coca-Cola, Nike and McDonald's.

NFL: Daniel Jones

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Career Earnings: $210,838,676

Between a four-year, $160 million deal from the New York Giants that ultimately ended in his release and a two-year, $88 million contract from the Indianapolis Colts, Daniel Jones has quietly put together a staggering career earnings total.

The No. 6 overall pick in the 2019 draft looked like a star in the making when he threw for 3,027 yards and 24 touchdowns as a rookie, but that ended up being his peak in a Giants uniform.

The Colts plucked him from the scrapheap after he was released by the Giants with a one-year, $14 million deal, and he earned his second major payday thanks to a 3,101-yard, 19-touchdown performance over 13 games before he suffered a right Achilles tear.

NFL: Jake Matthews

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Career Earnings: $203,762,107

The son of Hall of Fame lineman Bruce Matthews and part of a Matthews family tree loaded with football talent, left tackle Jake Matthews went No. 6 overall in the 2014 draft and immediately slotted in as Matt Ryan's blindside protector.

Matthews has started 196 consecutive games over 12 seasons in the NFL, which stands as the longest active streak in the NFL. However, he has made just one Pro Bowl and zero All-Pro teams along the way.

The two-year, $45 million extension he signed in March 2025 stands to push his career earnings above the $200 million mark if he plays out the remainder of his contract.

NFL: Brian O'Neill

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Career Earnings: $194,728,456

The Minnesota Vikings selected Brian O'Neill in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft out of Pitt and found a franchise right tackle. He has made 120 starts and earned a pair of Pro Bowl selections over his eight NFL seasons.

An initial five-year, $92.5 million extension followed by a four-year, $96 million deal ahead of the final year of that contract has made him one of the highest-paid linemen in football.

Still, it's surprising to see a right tackle with such a gaudy career earnings total just eight years into his career, especially one that has not received top-tier individual recognition.

NFL: Sam Darnold

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Career Earnings: $169,753,948

Sam Darnold received a four-year, $30.25 million rookie deal as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 draft by the New York Jets, but his time in the Big Apple failed to deliver on lofty expectations.

After three seasons with the Jets, capped off by a 2-10 showing in 2020, he spent two years with the Carolina Panthers and one with the San Francisco 49ers before enjoying a career renaissance with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024 with 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns.

That earned him a massive three-year, $100.5 million deal from the Seattle Seahawks as a free agent in 2025. He put up his second straight 14-3 season in his Seattle debut while leading them to a Super Bowl victory.

NFL Legend Comparison: Joe Montana

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Career Earnings: $25,555,000

With four Super Bowl rings and legendary status, Joe Montana is generally mentioned among the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.

The four-year, $13 million extension he signed prior to the 1990 season made him the highest-paid player in football at the time, which is a perfect snapshot of just how much quarterback salaries have skyrocketed in the last 35 years.

There were 18 quarterbacks during the 2025 season who earned more than Montana did over the course of his entire 17-year career.