American football, particularly the NFL (National Football League), is the highest-earning sport in the world, with annual revenues exceeding $18 billion. This is largely due to lucrative broadcasting rights, billion-dollar sponsorship deals, and high ticket sales. The Super Bowl, the league’s biggest event, alone generates billions in advertising revenue.

Player salaries, merchandise sales, and brand endorsements further contribute to its massive financial success. While football (soccer) has the largest fan base globally, the NFL’s highly commercialized structure and strong market in the U.S. make it the most profitable sports league, outpacing others like the NBA, EPL, and MLB.