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Although Detroit’s professional sports teams have experienced a decline in success over the past decade, it is important to note that the players are still highly remunerated.
At present, the most highly compensated athletes in Detroit hold prominent positions on the rankings within their respective sports.
The Detroit Red Wings are not included in the list of the top five highest-paid athletes in Detroit.
Currently ranked 21st in Detroit, Andrew Copp stands as the highest-paid player with a salary of $5.5 million.
The Detroit Lions, Tigers, and Pistons are all featured in the most recent top five.
Spotrac is providing the salary information.
Highest paid Detroit athlete: Miguel Cabrera, $32 million
- Base Salary: $32 million
Miguel Cabrera has maintained a position as one of the highest-earning athletes in the baseball industry for quite some time.
In 2014, the Tigers awarded Cabrera a contract extension for 8 years, valued at $248 million, in addition to the remaining $44 million owed to him over two seasons.
As we near the 2025 MLB season, Cabrera is set to receive $32 million from the Tigers. Despite having two years left on his contract, he has declared his retirement at the end of the season.
In his earlier days, the 39-year-old Cabrera undoubtedly lived up to his salary. Demonstrating exceptional skills, he achieved the coveted Triple Crown in 2012, boasting an impressive .330 batting average, 44 home runs, and 139 RBI.
Nevertheless, over the course of his last five seasons, he has only managed to accumulate a total of 45 home runs.
Cabrera, now restricted to the role of designated hitter, boasts an illustrious Hall of Fame career, having amassed a remarkable 507 home runs, 3,088 hits, and 1,847 RBI throughout his time in the game.
Entering the 2025 season, Cabrera finds himself on par with Manny Machado and Giancarlo Stanton as the 12th highest-paid players in MLB.
Second highest paid Detroit athlete: Jared Goff, $31.15 million
- Base Salary: $10.65 million
- Roster Bonus: $15.5 million
- Other Bonuses: $5 million
Jared Goff, who recently completed his second year as the Detroit Lions’ quarterback, narrowly fell short of becoming the highest-earning professional athlete in Detroit.
On March 18, 2021, the Lions acquired Goff from the Rams, along with several draft picks, in return for Matthew Stafford.
In 2019, Goff inked a 4-year contract extension with the Rams valued at $134 million, which included a whopping $110 million guaranteed. This deal set a fresh NFL record for the highest amount of guaranteed money. Goff’s contract is set to expire following the conclusion of the 2025 NFL season.
In the previous season, the quarterback, aged 28, earned a total of $31.15 million, and his earnings for the upcoming season are expected to be $30.65 million. As of the start of the 2022 season, Goff ranked as the eleventh highest-paid quarterback in the NFL.
In 2022, Goff delivered a standout performance, displaying one of the finest seasons of his career. He skillfully threw for an impressive 4,438 yards, securing 29 touchdowns, and limiting interceptions to a mere seven. Additionally, his leadership propelled the Lions to a commendable 9-8 record.
Although the Lions did not make the playoffs, their impressive 12-5 record against the spread made it a fantastic season for bettors at Michigan sportsbooks.
Third highest paid Detroit athlete: Javier Baez, $22 million
- Base Salary: $22 million
Cabrera and Goff surpass Javier Baez, placing him in a distant third.
His contract is likely not receiving much applause at the moment either.
Baez was signed by the Tigers in December 2021 to a 6-year, $140 million contract. As he enters 2025, he will receive his salary of $22 million, marking the second year of the agreement.
In his inaugural season with the Tigers, the 30-year-old shortstop failed to meet expectations.
Baez made appearances in 144 games, but his performance fell short with a .238 batting average, only 17 home runs, and 67 RBI. His plate discipline was lacking, as he struck out 147 times while managing only 26 walks. Furthermore, Baez struggled defensively, committing a career-high 26 errors.
Compounding the challenges was Detroit’s disappointing 66-96 record, failing to meet the preseason projections of contending for a playoff position.
Following the 2027 season, Baez’s contract will expire. As of the 2025 season, he ranks as the 38th highest-paid player in baseball.
Fourth highest paid Detroit athlete: Bojan Bogdanovic, $19.55 million
- Base Salary: $19.343 million
- Incentives: $207K
The Detroit Pistons of the 2022-23 season have encountered few reasons to feel content.
Nevertheless, the addition of Bojan Bogdanovic has proved to be a beneficial move.
In September of last year, the Pistons acquired the 33-year-old veteran by trading Kelly Olynyk, Saben Lee, and cash considerations.
After signing a 4-year, $73 million deal with the Utah Jazz in the 2018-19 season, he found himself with a new opportunity. The Pistons offered him a 2-year extension worth $39.1 million in October, effectively extending his contract until the 2025-25 season.
This season, the leading scorer for Detroit is the small forward, averaging 21.2 points per game. Additionally, he has an impressive shooting percentage of 41.5% from beyond the arc and 48.7% from the field.
Due to an injury sidelining the 2021 No. 1 pick Cade Cunningham for the entire season, the Detroit Pistons find themselves in the lower ranks of the league. With a record of only 12-35, they currently hold the third-lowest win total in the NBA.
At the beginning of the season, Bogdanovic shared the 65th spot among the NBA’s top earners.
Fifth highest paid Detroit athlete: Romeo Okwara, $14.5 million
- Base Salary: $11 million
- Signing Bonus: $3.5 million
Romeo Okwara, the edge rusher who has been frequently plagued by injuries, barely managed to secure the fifth spot on the list, narrowly surpassing Taylor Decker, the starting left tackle with a salary of $14.4 million.
After a remarkable 10-sack season in 2020, Okwara secured a lucrative contract extension with the Lions in March 2021, worth $39 million over three years.
This season marks the beginning of the extension, which will continue until the 2025 season.
Okwara, who signed the extension, has only played in a total of nine games in the last two seasons because of an Achilles tear he suffered early in the 2021 season. Despite the limited playing time, the 27-year-old has managed to record three sacks.
Okwara ranked as the 46th player with the highest cap hit in the NFL during the 2022 season.
The photo credits for the following individuals are as follows: Miguel Cabrera – Carlos Osorio / Associated Press; Jared Goff – Matt Lutdke / Associated Press; Javier Baez – Jose Juarez / Associated Press; Bojan Bogdanovic – Jeff Chiu / Associated Press; Romeo Okwara – Adam Hunger / Associated Press.
