From a wider perspective, the world has more domestic sports leagues than domestic ones. Now, among these several leagues, only 114 sports make it to the list of professional sports leagues. At least that’s what the Wikipedia page has listed down.
The reason that these leagues are known worldwide is due to the players and their skills. It’s also about which game can keep you on the edge, with several twists and turns like a roller coaster ride. Sports that can provide this thrill are the ones that make it to the top of the list.
The World’s Top 10 Richest Sports Leagues, Ranked By Revenue
The list consists mostly of the football leagues. Although it is on the list, by football, I don’t mean the American sport. Previously, below the top 10 mark, two new leagues have made it to the World’s Top 10 Richest Sports Leagues.
10) Serie A – $3.2 billion
Serie A is the highest Italian football league. The league completed its latest season on 25 May 2025, generating a revenue of $3.2 billion.
The current champions of the Serie A league are Napoli, who defeated Cagliari to achieve their 4th title. Juventus is the most successful team in this Italian league with 36 titles.
9) UEFA Champions League – $4.05 billion
The UEFA Champions League is one of Europe’s most famous football leagues. In their recent final match, the Champions League had a brand new winner.
The 2025 season league had generated a revenue of $4.05 billion, with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) as the winner. It was their first Champions League trophy.
8) Bundesliga – $4.9 billion
The German football league, Bundesliga, is also one of Europe’s most famous leagues. In the past season, their revenue reached almost $5 billion, specifically $4.9 billion.
One of their most common reason for this revenue is their strongest team, Bayern Munich. Bayern Munich is the current champion and has 33, the most Bundesliga titles.
7 La Liga – $5.2 billion
The La Liga generated a revenue of $5.2 billion in its 2025 season. This Spanish football league is mostly famous due to the Madrid-Barcelona rivalry.
El Clásico matches are the most-watched games in La Liga. Barcelona is the reigning La Liga champions with 28 titles.
6) National Hockey League (NHL) – $5.5 billion
It may come as a surprise, but the National Hockey League had a revenue of $5.5 billion this season. However, it’s not very surprising when I mention that it’s an ice hockey league.
Their most recent champions are the Florida Panthers, which is also their very first title. The Montreal Canadiens are their strongest team if you consider the number of titles. The team has 26 NHL titles.
5) English Premier League – $8 billion
More commonly known as the Premier League, it is the highest level of English football League. The Premier League has been among the richest sports leagues in history. In their most recent league, they had a revenue of $8 billion.
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The major reason why the league develops such high revenue is due to its duration. It lasts for almost a year and has recently held 380 matches.
4) Indian Premier League (IPL) – $9.5 billion
The most popular and only cricket league, the Indian Premier League, always pushes its revenue each year. It is organised by the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India), which is the richest cricket board in the world.
Since it includes national and overseas players, the viewership of the league increases. The 2025 IPL season managed to reach $9.5 billion in revenue.
3) National Basketball Association (NBA) – $10 billion
The National Basketball Association, more commonly known as the NBA, easily slips into the top 3 richest sports leagues. The skills and techniques of the players in the 28.7 by 15.2 m court make for an intense game.
This format increases the in-person and digital platform viewership. The current season is still ongoing, and hasn’t yet finalised its revenue. The 2024 NBA generated $10 billion of revenue.
2) Major League Baseball (MLB) – $11.5 billion
It’s no surprise that Major League Baseball (MLB) makes it into one of the richest sports leagues. It’s one of the very few sports that brings up celebrities on their own ground for their promotional events.
The MLB’s revenue for the ongoing season is $11.5 billion and is expected to increase by the end of the season in September 2025.
1) National Football League (NFL) – $18 billion
The most professional football league, with the highest revenue among all sports, is the National Football League. In this circumstance, football is American Football/Rugby. The league generates about $20 billion per year.
In the current season, which is yet to begin, the league is expected to reach at least $18 billion. The complete revenue can be finalised at the end of the season.
