Sponsors in sports: Who are the richest and the most famous sports sponsors?

Sponsorship is a commercial agreement between a company and a sports franchise. The contract usually aims to mutually benefit both parties, which is brought about when a company offers a club, team, or individual athlete cash in exchange for using their name. Sponsors in sports are among the richest organisations in the world and thus are known for their huge spending in advertising their products.

Although most sponsorship deals are paid for in cash, others are exclusive to equipment provision, management expertise, services, and lifetime insurance. The main role of sponsors in sports is to offer support in tournaments financially or through mentorship programs.

Richest sponsors in sports

Through sponsorship deals, companies advertise themselves to consumers in various ways, and in return, they accumulate huge sums when the demand for their products increases. According to various online sources, here is a list of the world’s ten richest and most famous sports sponsors as of 2023.

Which is the best sport in the world right now and why is it the best ?

Other Sports

10. Anheuser-Busch InBev

• Year founded: 2008
• Industry: Drink, brewing
• Main sponsorship: National Football League

With their hands in over nine sports globally, Anheuser-Busch InBev is among the biggest sponsors in sports. Famous brands under it include Budweiser, Busch, Corona, and Stella Artois. They have a combined net worth of approximately $114.76 billion as of 2023. The multinational brewing and beverage company has invested more than $1 billion into the NFL and NASCAR, and since it is the largest brewer in the world, it is, without a doubt, the richest.

9. EA Sports

• Year founded: 1991
• Industry: Video games
• Main sponsorship: American football, Ice hockey, Formula 1, Golf, Association football

EA Sports has a net worth of approximately $37.37 billion as of July 2023. Not only has it invested majorly into the NFL with a deal worth over $1.6 billion, but also into eight other different sports. The renowned brand is famous for producing video games that are purchased and played globally, and in doing so, the organisation makes profits.

Which is the best boxing brand in the world at the moment?

Boxing

8. Castrol

• Year founded: 1899
• Industry: Petroleum
• Main sponsorship: Motorsport, American football, Cricket, Soccer, Rugby Union

Castrol is a British oil company with hands-on experience in various sporting factions, from soccer to Rugby. They rank as one of the biggest sponsors in sports since they have sponsored the World Rally Championships from 2003 to date.

Their agreement was iconic, with famous car companies like Audi, BMW, and Volkswagen signing deals with them. Aside from that, they have also had a say in the Premier League, Rugby, National Football League, UCL, World Cup, and cricket.

7. Reebok

• Year founded: 1958
• Industry: Textile, Sports equipment
• Main sponsorship: Liverpool FC, Bolton Wanderers

Reebok is among the famous sponsors in sports. It has invested heavily in clubs and individual athletes such as Thierry Henry and Ryan Giggs, who, during their active days, were endorsed by the brand. Additionally, the renowned brand has endorsed cricketers such as MS Dhoni and Allen Iverson in a lifetime deal that sees them take home approximately $800,000 annually. In 2006, Adidas purchased Reebok for roughly $4.9 billion.

Australia's most popular sports: Which are the most famous sports in Australia?

Other Sports

6. Adidas

• Year founded: 1924
• Industry: Textile, footwear
• Main sponsorship: Major football clubs and national teams worldwide, famous athletes

Adidas is a national sponsor in sports since they have endorsed several brand deals with major international football clubs. Most of their agreements usually deal with soccer, and so far, its deals have amounted to a budget of over $1.4 billion.

Aside from football, Adidas also has its roots in the NBA and NHL, as it supplies the leagues' uniforms. Additionally, it has made individual deals with various athletes such as Patrick Mahomes, Usain Bolt, Andy Murray, and Aaron Rodgers.

5. Nike

• Year founded: 1964
• Industry: Apparel, accessories, sports equipment
• Main sponsorship: Top athletes and football clubs

Nike is one of the most famous sponsors in sports worldwide. The textile footwear company is in almost every global sport, especially American football and basketball. The brand spends over $1.6 billion annually on endorsement deals and individual contracts on soccer.

Puma athletes: A list of the most influential athletes sponsored by Puma

NFL

The renowned brand is known for sponsoring clubs such as Barcelona, PSG, and Liverpool alongside legendary players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, and Lebron James.

4. Samsung

• Year founded: 1938
• Industry: Conglomerate
• Main sponsorship: Major organisations and competitions, such as International Olympic Committee and the Olympic and Paralympic Games

The giant South Korean technology firm spends over 5 percent of its yearly revenue on brand endorsement deals. Their presence in various sports is a massive part of their identity, and making sure that their products are familiarised to the consumer.

To ensure they reach more customers, the company developed a Samsung Sports branch to deal with the advertising sector. It has individual contracts such as Manny Pacquiao, Lionel Messi, David Beckham, and Lebron James alongside club contracts.

3. Coca Cola

• Year founded: 1892
• Industry: Beverage
• Main sponsorship: FIFA World Cup, English Premier League, National Football League

Which are the biggest sports agencies in the world right now?

Other Sports

As famous as it is, Coca-Cola is among the richest sponsors in sports, with millions of fans consuming the beverage daily. The company has sponsored several sports in the 21st century, including the FIFA World Cups and the Olympic games.

The renowned beverage brand has its hands on almost every sport, for example, every famous athlete. It sponsored the EPL for six years, the NFL for nineteen, NBA for twenty-eight, and the MLB for several years.

2. Red Bull

• Year founded: 1984
• Industry: Conglomerate including media, energy drinks, mobile networks, and technology
• Main sponsorship: Motorsport, association football, ice hockey, esports

Although Red Bull was founded nearly four decades ago, it has picked up momentum and is now one of the biggest sponsors in sports. Its primary focus is on the racing sector, like the Motogp and Formula 1.

Red Bull has done more than just advertising since it has gone ahead and owned several teams, including the Bundesliga RB Leipzig, Salzburg, New York Red Bulls in the Major League Soccer, and the Red Bull Bragantino in Brazil.

Which are the best sports insurance companies in the world currently?

Other Sports

1. PepsiCo

• Year founded: 1898
• Industry: Beverages, food processing
• Main sponsorship: National Basketball Association, Lebron James

PepsiCo is the biggest brand endorser as of 2023, with an annual expenditure of over $3 billion. Aside from signing agreements with major leagues, it also endorses individual athletes, teams, and tournaments.

Although their competitor Coca-Cola took the spotlight in the previous years, PepsiCo has gained immense popularity due to the NBA ending a 27-year deal with Coca-Cola in favour of Pepsi. Additionally, Lebron left Coke for Pepsi's Mountain Dew energy drink.

How are sponsors and naming rights acquired in sports?

Sponsors are acquired when they purchase a naming right from an individual or a club. With the naming rights acquired, endorsers can rename a product after an individual, team, or stadium.

Who is the largest sports sponsor in the world?

Nike is the largest sports endorser in the world. The lucrative company spends over $1.6 billion yearly and has signed some of the greatest athletes in the world, such as Michael Jordan, Lebron James, and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Which are the 10 biggest sports brands in the world at the moment

Other Sports

Who is the most expensive sponsor in the Premier League?

Liverpool's Standard Chartered, which signed a contract until 2027, is the most expensive shirt brand in the English Premier League. The deal is worth approximately $65.09 million a season.

Which sport has the most sponsorships?

As of 2023, Major League Baseball has the most sponsorship deals in professional sports.

Sponsors in sports are an indispensable part of the advertising industry. They contribute significantly towards an individual's or team's well-being by offering financial support and loyalty like nothing else. With big brands spending billions annually, they have a far-reaching influence that clamours worldwide consumers' attention.

READ ALSO: Who are the top 15 most famous Lacrosse players in the world?

Sports Brief has compiled a list of the world's top 15 most famous Lacrosse players. With roots dating back to the 12th century, lacrosse is one of the oldest sports in history and has gained a massive fan base, especially in the United States and Canada.

In the past two decades, Lacrosse has produced the most famous and high-prolific players who have set stands and established themselves as the best in the world. Click the link above for more details about the top 15 famous Lacrosse players.