Some sports demand expensive tools and maintenance, thus making them the most expensive ones. Every sport on our list, from the fast-paced glamour of Formula 1 racing to the majestic grace of polo and the exhilarating fights of boxing to the skill of fencing, demands not only a significant financial commitment but also a test of physical prowess.
Even players are paid well to participate in the game. If you are interested in sports and looking to follow some expensive ones, here is the list you must know.
List of Top 20 most expensive sports in the world at present
1. Formula 1

One of the expensive sports played at the present, Formula One game was originated in 1946. The overall budget to organized and play this game is around $135 million which covers all aspects of the game. Moreover, players too receive good pay along with other benefits.
2. Polo

Although not every country plays this game, it is the most exciting game played by elite players. For every match played, the club has to invest around $45000 yearly which also includes managing ponies and awarding winning amounts to players.
3. Basketball

If you have been following basketball, you will witness that the game requires good management and marketing. Largely played in the US, Basketball is the most thrilling, and equally expensive game. However, it requires little equipment including ball, hoop, and equipment. The average budget to play and manage basketball games is around $25,000. There are different franchises of basketball including National Basketball Association (NBA) that earn annual revenue of around 10.58 billion dollars through games ticket sales, advertisements, and other investments.
4. Golf

Golf is the most sophisticated game where the golfer has to hit the ball into a small hole or target. When it comes to the expense of playing the game, the golfer has to play regularly and spend at least $2000 or more per year. This includes your tools to play the game and expenses while touring. Golf is played in large green spots. The golf association or club has to maintain the area by spending some amount. The game is largely played in Europe, Asia, and US,
5. Volleyball

Volleyball is both played indoors and outdoors, and the club that organizes the game spends around $30,000 on the court, subfloor, players, and equipment. Players engaging in this game need to be very professional and undergo regular practice. You need to have great reflexes and hand-eye coordination to succeed in this sport. Being able to serve, receive, pass, block, and set the ball is also helpful.
6. American Football

The NFL popularized American football, which is an expensive sport. The NFL, which consists of 32 teams, is among the most lucrative sports franchises in the world: Forbes estimates that the average team costs $5.1 billion. Seeing the sport is also pricey; average ordinary tickets run about $151, while Super Bowl tickets can cost anywhere from $950 to $9,500.
7. Skiing

One of the exciting and thrilling games, Skiing is played in icy mountainous regions. For an individual, the game would cost around $400 including an academy pass, equipment, insurance, etc. The club that manages this game would need to spend around $500,000.The price of extra classes, clinics, and camps for kids vary greatly based on the program’s grade and location. Pay can reach up to $80 per hour, with training programmes lasting many weekends beginning at $300.
8. Boxing

Boxing is one of the costliest and most physically demanding sports played globally. Training camps, sparring partners, coaching, medical exams, dietitians, legal fees, and travel for bouts are all significant costs associated with professional boxing. In addition, boxers must pay for insurance, licenses, and safety gear such as mouthguards and gloves.
Primary boxing contests can see boxers paid millions of dollars, making it a very profitable but pricey sport. Given the numerous training, commercial, and logistical costs associated with preparing for a high-profile boxing contest, the total cost of preparation can easily exceed $1 million.
9. Cycling

High-performance bicycles, equipment, training camps, coaches, nutritionists, travel expenses to races, race entrance fees, physiotherapists, team support vehicles, and bike and equipment maintenance are all necessary for competitive cycling. This multi-million-dollar sporting event demands a huge budget, which is used by professional cycling teams to field competitive cyclists in road racing, track cycling, and mountain riding, among other disciplines. A professional cycling team’s annual operating expenses can vary from $5 million to $20 million based on the team’s size, goals, and sponsorships.
10. Horse Racing

Owning and training racehorses and competing in important events such as the Kentucky Derby comes with a high cost. In addition to paying for boarding, medical care, jockey fees, transportation, race entry fees, and advertising, horse owners also have other expenses.
The annual cost of horse racing event can range from $30,000 to several million, contingent upon the animal’s training regimen, involvement in high-stakes races, and pedigree.
11. Ice Hockey

Although ice hockey is played in a limited country, it is the most expensive sport. The cost of equipment used for playing games, ice time rentals, coaching fees, travel charges for away games, player insurance, and facility upkeep make ice hockey an expensive sport. If you are keen to enter this game, you need to fetch around $2500-$20,000 which includes expenses for face shield, mouthguards, neck guards, shoulder pads, etc.
12. Football

With more than 3.5 billion supporters worldwide, football is the most expensive sporting game played in the world. There are different leagues including Chelsea to Liverpool and Manchester City, and each league and club invests billions in each game. Moreover, every football player is paid in millions. According to FIFA, the total budget till 2026 is around $11,000 million. From player fees to stadium maintenance and equipment, the club has to spend on multiple things.
13. Tennis

Tennis is yet another expensive sport played globally. People of all ages and backgrounds love tennis because of its high-stakes competitiveness and fast-paced action. There are several reasons why tennis is such a beloved sport, regardless of whether you are an enthusiastic participant or just want to watch from the sidelines.
From Wimbledon to the Australian Open and Grand Slam, there are different games played globally. Moreover, every player is paid around $50,000-$2,00,000. Moreover, there are other expenses carried by the player to play the game.
14. Squash

Squash is an expensive sport because of equipment costs, club dues or court rents, coaching, tournament entry fees, competition travel expenditures, and training camp costs. To win in this physically demanding sport, professional squash players invest money in fitness training, sports psychology, and dietary planning. An elite squash player’s yearly travel, coaching, and tournament expenses can range from $20,000 to $200,000.
15. Baseball

Played mainly in the US, Baseball is an expensive sport at present. The primary expenses are player salaries, coaching staff, travel fees for away games, equipment costs, marketing, and promotional activities; professional baseball organizations must allocate large sums of money. The cost of the game has increased since Major League Baseball (MLB) teams spend a lot of money on amateur players’ signing bonuses and farm systems to develop talent. A professional baseball team’s annual budget is around $50 million to over $300 million, covering all expenses.
16. WWE

World Wrestling Entertainment has been in the global industry and is among the most expensive sports in the world. In 2023, the WWE generated around $236 million through advertisements and other things. There is no specific information that describes the total expenses of WWE WrestleMania. However, for a wrestler, expenses include registration, equipment, nutrition, travel, etc. However, the wrestler also gets paid well for each game or a year as per the contract. Some of the wrestlers are paid around $2 million per year.
17. Table Tennis

Played mostly in Europe, Asia, and America, Table Tennis requires high-intensity of concentration and physical excertion. The market size of the table tennis globall is around $250 million and is growing. For every global tournament, the player may earn the prize money of more than $50,000 or $1,00,000.
18. Pentathlon

The Olympic sport of pentathlon consists of five events: running, pistol shooting, show jumping, swimming, and fencing. Because each pentathlon event requires different equipment and specialist training, competing in one can get pricey.
19. Martial Arts

Training and competing in martial arts, especially mixed martial arts (MMA), can be costly. Fighters are responsible for covering the costs of training camps, coaching, medical tests, travel expenses for fights, housing, dietary supplements, and advertising. Furthermore, a significant amount of money is spent by promoters and organizations on marketing, fighter purses, venue rentals, and event production.
The annual expenses of a professional martial arts fighter can range widely, from $10,000 to $15,000 to several million dollars, depending on several variables like the cost of training camps, prize money, and promotional events.
20. Cricket

Cricket today is played in different forms and demands heavy expenses, from the ICC World Cup and test matches to ODI and IPL. Brands are ready to splash out money on sponsorship. The costs include player payments, coaching staff, facility upkeep, travel expenses for domestic and international matches, equipment, medical personnel, insurance, marketing, and sponsorship agreements.
The need for substantial preparation, infrastructure investment, and promotional efforts for major cricket competitions like the ICC Cricket World Cup increases the cost of the sport. Professional cricket teams can spend more than $100 million based on things like player pay, participation in tournaments, and marketing initiatives.
These are the top 20 expensive sports played in the world that demand huge investment.