How much do sports agents make? How much a sports agent takes home on average

How much do sports agents make? How much a sports agent takes home on average

Steve Njuguna
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:24 PM
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Behind every great sportsperson, there is an agent who acts as an intermediary between them and the business side of their careers. These individuals wield a lot of influence over athletes and their commercial value. The amount relating to how much a sports agent makes and takes home varies based on their location, employer, education, experience and client base.

Today we look into how much sports agents make a year
Portuguese agent Jorge Mendes who has previously represented the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Felix. Photo by Pier Marco Tacca
Source: Getty Images

Many sports agents recruit talent at a young age and continue negotiating on their behalf until they are much older. Many agents are paid via commissions or percentages of player earnings. Some agents also make their money per month on a salaried basis.

How much do sports agents make?

The earnings a sports agent makes depend on their experience, the size of their roster, their ability to negotiate better deals and the frequency with which they make money for the player. Some make thousands of dollars annually, while the top agents make millions. Here is a summary of the top 5 sports agents in career earnings. according to Forbes.

Agent

Career earnings

Scott Boras

$191 million

Jeff Schwartz

$86 million

Joel Wolfe

$58 million

Rich Paul

$55 million

Dan Lozano

$52 million

Scott Boras is a sports agent who has made $191 million from his contracts.
Scott Boras is the world's richest sports agent. Photo by G Fiume
Source: Getty Images

How much do sports agents make per contract?

Sports agents typically earn a commission on the contracts they negotiate for their clients. The standard commission rate is around 3% to 5% of the total value of the contract. Some agents may charge a higher commission rate, especially for high-value contracts, while others may negotiate a lower rate in exchange for a larger client roster or other benefits.

Sports agents make percentages from the total earnings they bring to their clients
The late Mino Raiola was known for driving a hard bargain for his clients. Photo by Cees van Hoogdalem/Socrates
Source: Getty Images

How much do sports agents make a year?

Sources indicate that most sports agents make between $75,000-$150,000 a year. Only the elite pass the $500,000 mark.

How much do sports agents make a year? Agents like Rich Paul can make millions.
Rich Paul is a prominent agent in the NBA world. Photo by Allen Berezovsky
Source: Getty Images

Which sport has the richest agents?

According to Forbes, baseball agents make more money than all the other sports. Scott Boras, Joel Wolfe and Dan Lozano are all in the top 5 earning agents globally.

Who is the richest agent in football?

Most football agents' net worth is unknown but estimates dictate that Jonathan Barnett is the richest agent in football. He owns the Stellar Group agency, which has represented top athletes like Gareth Bale, Luke Shaw and Croatian international Dejan Lovren.

Another prominent is Portuguese agent Jorge Mendes. He is the founder of Gestifute International, a sports management and representation company, and has represented some of the biggest names in football, including Cristiano Ronaldo, José Mourinho, and James Rodríguez.

Mino Raiola is also a familiar name in football agencies. Before he passed away in 2022, Raiola was known for being the founder of the sports management company, Raiola Sports Group. He represented some of the biggest names in football, including Paul Pogba, Zlatan Ibrahimović, and Matthijs de Ligt. Raiola was known for being one of the most powerful agents in the industry and for negotiating large contracts for his clients

Barnett is believed to be the richest agent in world football
Barnett is believed to be the richest agent in world football. Photo by Adam Fradgley
Source: Getty Images

Representing professional athletes can be a gruelling task. But it can also be a highly profitable venture that could earn you millions. Thank you for joining us on our explainer on how much sports agents make and how much they take home on average.

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Authors
Steve Njuguna photo
Steve Njuguna
Steve Njuguna is a media professional with close to a decade of experience in the sports media industry. He has previously worked as a sports journalist with Bamba Sports TV, Vybez Radio and The Nairobian newspaper.
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