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Where Bryce Harper ranks on the list of highest-paid athletes in the world

By Gabrielle Starr

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 04: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies rings the bell prior to the game between the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on April 4, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Bucks defeated the 76ers 128-122. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 04: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies rings the bell prior to the game between the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on April 4, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Bucks defeated the 76ers 128-122. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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Bryce Harper ranks 67th on Sportico’s 2022 ranking of the world’s 100 highest-paid athletes

When Bryce Harper and Manny Machado entered free agency after the 2018 season, everyone knew teams would break the bank to lure them.

In February 2019, Machado’s $300M deal with the San Diego Padres made history as the richest free-agent signing, not only for his new franchise and Major League Baseball, but all American sports. Harper topped him weeks later, signing with the Philadelphia Phillies for 13 years and $330M.

Of course, Mike Trout’s mega-extension with the Los Angeles Angels beat them both not long after, and he stands above all MLB players on Sportico’s rankings of the “100 Highest-Paid Athletes in the World” for 2022, a combination of each player’s salary and endorsements.

12 MLB players made the list:

24. Mike Trout

40. Trevor Bauer

45. Gerrit Cole

59. Stephen Strasburg

67. Bryce Harper

78. David Price

83. Miguel Cabrera

85. Justin Verlander

90. Anthony Rendon

91. Manny Machado

94. Kris Bryant & Clayton Kershaw

Sportico puts Harper’s endorsements at $6.5M this year, giving him a slight edge over Machado, who is making more from his salary this season, but only earning $500K in endorsements.

Harper isn’t the only Philadelphia superstar to make the cut. James Harden comes in at ninth, the fourth-highest NBA player on this list with a $40M salary and $36M in endorsements. Joel Embiid ($28.5M salary, $6M endorsements) and Tobias Harris ($32.5M salary, $1.5M endorsements) rank 55th and 60th, respectively.

So far, Harper’s contract has been money well spent for the Phillies. He won his second career NL MVP and led the 2021 squad to their first winning season since 2011. While fans might not be satisfied with those results, rest assured that Harper isn’t, either. He’s made it clear that he’s here to win as a team, not add more individual accolades to his trophy case, and he pushed the front office to spend the offseason building a better team around him.

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