On this week’s SportsMoney Playbook: The world’s highest-paid athletes, inside Jake Paul’s plan to take over boxing, and the Indy 500’s off-the-wall prelude. Plus: Can Iran faucet into Qatar’s World Cup and tempt followers to go to?

Boxing

In lower than three years, Jake Paul has reworked himself from a shock-content web star into one of the crucial talked-about names in boxing. He is a polarizing determine, however one factor cannot be denied: He is making a fortune.

Soccer

Qatar, the host of this fall’s World Cup, is anticipating round 1.5 million guests throughout the occasion. Iran is hoping to draw a lot of these vacationers, both as a house base throughout the match or on a aspect journey whereas they’re within the area.

The Mexican nationwide group is touring the U.S. this summer time, rallying its giant American fan base within the lead-up to the World Cup.

The UEFA Girls’s Champions League last is a showdown between the final two winners—and an opportunity at revenge for one of many sport’s largest stars.

Auto Racing

The Indianapolis 500 is a monthlong celebration, with 1000’s of followers heading to Indianapolis Motor Speedway two weeks earlier than the primary occasion for a road-course race that began as a loopy concept in 2013.

Baseball

A decline in nationwide TV scores has fueled the narrative that baseball is dying, however broadcast upfront spending for regional sports activities networks is up 40% from a yr earlier, with assist from the betting business, based on the gross sales company that represents the RSNs.

Sorare, a fantasy sports activities and NFT platform that till not too long ago had centered on European soccer, has signed a partnership with MLB, its second cope with a U.S. sports activities league this yr.

Golf

Scottie Scheffler‘s red-hot yr on the course is paying off: He has partnered with a health coaching system, his first endorsement deal since he gained the Masters in April.

Sports activities Betting

Greater than 4.6 million girls joined sports activities betting apps within the U.S. final yr—greater than double the speed of recent male customers. On-line sportsbooks say they’re now actively attempting to enchantment to feminine sports activities followers.

Featured Story

The World’s 10 Highest-Paid Athletes

The world’s ten highest-paid athletes collectively made $992 million earlier than taxes and brokers’ charges during the last 12 months, with the cutoff for the group rising to a file $80.9 million. Who’s No. 1? Try the rating.

Upon Additional Evaluation

Seven sports activities stars 25 or youthful certified for the checklist of the world’s 50 highest-paid athletes. Amongst them is Suns guard Devin Booker, who has turned his basketball profession right into a crash course on enterprise. Now, he’s heating up as an investor, with stakes in seven startups and a hands-on function with a coconut-water sports activities drink.

The Final Phrase

“We need to break the stereotype of Black males simply being athletes.” — Kofi Cockburn

Illinois star Kofi Cockburn says he desires to get to the NBA so he has a platform to offer alternatives to a brand new technology of youngsters in his native Jamaica. And he’s considering greater than basketball. Learn extra on Cockburn’s journey.

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