Padel is the fastest growing sport in the world, but do the top players earn millions from it? Compared to tennis and soccer, the earnings of padel players still seem modest, but the growth of the sport and the prize money in tournaments is rising rapidly. In this blog on Justpadel.com , we dive into the figures and see if padel players can really become millionaires.
How much do professional padel players earn?
To understand the earnings of the best padel players, we need to look at two main sources of income:
- Prize money – This is the amount players earn for their performance in tournaments.
- Sponsorship deals and events – Approximately 70% of a player's total income comes from sponsorship, clinics, and promotional activities.
In 2024, the Premier Padel Tour was the only major professional padel tour, making prize money earnings easier to compare. The highest-earning players, Agustín Tapia and Arturo Coello, each earned €475,375 purely from prize money.
Prize money: How much does a tournament pay?
The amount of prize money varies per tournament. The largest amounts are earned at the Premier Padel Majors, such as those in Qatar, Paris, and Mexico, where winners receive €47,500 per player. The runners-up receive less, but still a considerable amount.
By way of comparison, a player such as Pablo Cardona, who is among the top 16 in 2024, earned €76,235 in prize money. This is a nice amount, but nowhere near enough to become a millionaire without additional sponsorship contracts.
Top 10 earners in padel in 2024
According to the available figures, the best-performing padel players in 2024 earned the following in prize money:
| Position | Player(s) | Prize money 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Agustín Tapia & Arturo Coello | €475,375 |
| 2 | Ale Galán | €299,438 |
| 3 | Fede Chingotto | €271,626 |
| 4 | Martín Di Nenno | €169,907 |
| 5 | Franco Stupaczuk | €169,408 |
| 6 | Juan Lebrón | €175,782 |
| 7 | Mike Yanguas | €152,660 |
| 8 | Javi Garrido | €107,691 |
| 9 | Momo González | €108,409 |
| 10 | Paquito Navarro | €106,908 |
This prize money does not include taxes, travel expenses, coaching, and physical therapy. After deducting expenses, there is less left over than many people think.
Can padel players become millionaires?
The absolute top of the padel world probably earns more than €1 million per year through sponsorship. Although prize money currently remains below €1 million, top stars can cash in big time with sponsorship deals, social media, and their own product lines.
A few reasons why padel players could earn millions in the future:
- Growth of Premier Padel: The sport is attracting more and more major sponsors.
- Comparison with tennis: Padel is following the growth path of tennis, where players such as Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz earn tens of millions per year.
- More international media attention: Major brands are increasingly seeing potential in padel, leading to higher sponsorship contracts.
Conclusion:
Based on prize money alone, even the best padel players cannot yet buy a Lamborghini. But if you include sponsorship contracts and additional income, some players are definitely millionaires. The future of padel looks bright, and it is only a matter of time before the first padel players earn millions per year!
What do you think? Will padel players ever earn as much as top tennis players?