How Much Do These 30 Star Athletes Pay in Taxes?

It’s easy to envy sports stars and their giant salaries, but come tax time, professional athletes pony up a big portion of their paychecks to help keep their local, state and federal governments up and running. In fact, the highest-taxed athletes in sports forfeit half their income or more to their civic duty of paying the government. And in some states with higher tax rates, the payroll deductions for taxes can be hefty.
To find out which athletes have the highest tax bills, GOBankingRates used salary data from Spotrac to identify the MLB, NFL and NBA players with the highest salaries, then used its own internal tax calculators to assess the rates and dollar amounts that those athletes paid in state and federal taxes.
Note that NBA stars Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, who appear on this list, recently were traded. Their tax information reflects their tax bills in the states where their teams were based when they started the season last fall.
Corey Seager
- Team: Texas Rangers
- League: MLB
- Salary: $35,500,000
- Federal taxes paid: $13,090,208
- State taxes paid: $0
- FICA taxes paid: $841,564
- Take-home salary (after taxes): $21,568,228
- Total taxes paid: $13,931,772
- Effective tax rate: 39.24%
Ryan Tannehill
- Team: Tennessee Titans
- League: NFL
- Salary: $38,600,000
- Federal taxes paid: $14,237,208
- State taxes paid: $0
- FICA taxes paid: $914,414
- Take-home salary (after taxes): $23,448,378
- Total taxes paid: $15,151,622
- Effective tax rate: 39.25%
T.J. Watt
- Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
- League: NFL
- Salary: $24,368,694
- Federal taxes paid: $8,971,624
- State taxes paid: $748,119
- FICA taxes paid: $579,975
- Take-home salary (after taxes): $14,068,973
- Total taxes paid: $10,299,771
- Effective tax rate: 42.27%
Jared Goff
- Team: Detroit Lions
- League: NFL
- Salary: $31,150,000
- Federal taxes paid: $11,480,708
- State taxes paid: $1,323,875
- FICA taxes paid: $739,339
- Take-home salary (after taxes): $17,606,078
- Total taxes paid: $13,543,922
- Effective tax rate: 43.48%
Chris Jones
- Team: Kansas City Chiefs
- League: NFL
- Salary: $29,415,667
- Federal taxes paid: $10,839,004
- State taxes paid: $1,558,158
- FICA taxes paid: $698,582
- Take-home salary (after taxes): $16,319,923
- Total taxes paid: $13,095,744
- Effective tax rate: 44.52%
Nolan Arenado
- Team: St. Louis Cardinals
- League: MLB
- Salary: $35,000,000
- Federal taxes paid: $12,905,208
- State taxes paid: $1,854,128
- FICA taxes paid: $829,814
- Take-home salary (after taxes): $19,410,850
- Total taxes paid: $15,589,150
- Effective tax rate: 44.54%
Patrick Mahomes
- Team: Kansas City Chiefs
- League: NFL
- Salary: $35,793,381
- Federal taxes paid: $13,198,758
- State taxes paid: $1,896,177
- FICA taxes paid: $848,458
- Take-home salary (after taxes): $19,849,988
- Total taxes paid: $15,943,393
- Effective tax rate: 44.54%
Carson Wentz
- Team: Washington Commanders
- League: NFL
- Salary: $28,294,119
- Federal taxes paid: $10,424,032
- State taxes paid: $1,626,396
- FICA taxes paid: $672,226
- Take-home salary (after taxes): $15,571,465
- Total taxes paid: $12,722,654
- Effective tax rate: 44.97%
Aaron Rodgers
- Team: Green Bay Packers
- League: NFL
- Salary: $28,533,569
- Federal taxes paid: $10,512,628
- State taxes paid: $2,175,006
- FICA taxes paid: $677,853
- Take-home salary (after taxes): $15,168,082
- Total taxes paid: $13,365,487
- Effective tax rate: 46.84%
Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Team: Milwaukee Bucks
- League: NBA
- Salary: $42,492,492
- Federal taxes paid: $15,677,430
- State taxes paid: $3,242,864
- FICA taxes paid: $1,005,888
- Take-home salary (after taxes): $22,566,310
- Total taxes paid: $19,926,182
- Effective tax rate: 46.89%
Damian Lillard
- Team: Portland Trail Blazers
- League: NBA
- Salary: $42,492,492
- Federal taxes paid: $15,677,430
- State taxes paid: $4,204,823
- FICA taxes paid: $1,005,888
- Take-home salary (after taxes): $21,604,351
- Total taxes paid: $20,888,141
- Effective tax rate: 49.16%
Francisco Lindor
- Team: New York Mets
- League: MLB
- Salary: $34,100,000
- Federal taxes paid: $12,572,208
- State taxes paid: $3,501,528
- FICA taxes paid: $808,664
- Take-home salary (after taxes): $17,217,600
- Total taxes paid: $16,882,400
- Effective tax rate: 49.51%
Gerrit Cole
- Team: New York Yankees
- League: MLB
- Salary: $36,000,000
- Federal taxes paid: $13,275,208
- State taxes paid: $3,708,628
- FICA taxes paid: $853,314
- Take-home salary (after taxes): $18,162,850
- Total taxes paid: $17,837,150
- Effective tax rate: 49.55%
Aaron Judge
- Team: New York Yankees
- League: MLB
- Salary: $40,000,000
- Federal taxes paid: $14,755,208
- State taxes paid: $4,144,628
- FICA taxes paid: $947,314
- Take-home salary (after taxes): $20,152,850
- Total taxes paid: $19,847,150
- Effective tax rate: 49.62%
Justin Verlander
- Team: New York Mets
- League: MLB
- Salary: $43,333,333
- Federal taxes paid: $15,988,541
- State taxes paid: $4,507,961
- FICA taxes paid: $1,025,647
- Take-home salary (after taxes): $21,811,184
- Total taxes paid: $21,522,149
- Effective tax rate: 49.67%
Max Scherzer
- Team: New York Mets
- League: MLB
- Salary: $43,333,333
- Federal taxes paid: $15,988,541
- State taxes paid: $4,507,961
- FICA taxes paid: $1,025,647
- Take-home salary (after taxes): $21,811,184
- Total taxes paid: $21,522,149
- Effective tax rate: 49.67%
Kevin Durant
- Team: Brooklyn Nets
- League: NBA
- Salary: $44,124,845
- Federal taxes paid: $16,281,400
- State taxes paid: $4,594,236
- FICA taxes paid: $1,044,248
- Take-home salary (after taxes): $22,204,961
- Total taxes paid: $21,919,884
- Effective tax rate: 49.68%
Stephen Strasburg
- Team: Washington Nationals
- League: MLB
- Salary: $35,000,000
- Federal taxes paid: $12,905,208
- State taxes paid: $3,745,176
- FICA taxes paid: $829,814
- Take-home salary (after taxes): $17,519,802
- Total taxes paid: $17,480,198
- Effective tax rate: 49.94%
Bradley Beal
- Team: Washington Wizards
- League: NBA
- Salary: $43,279,250
- Federal taxes paid: $15,968,530
- State taxes paid: $4,635,195
- FICA taxes paid: $1,024,376
- Take-home salary (after taxes): $21,651,149
- Total taxes paid: $21,628,101
- Effective tax rate: 49.97%
Kirk Cousins
- Team: Minnesota Vikings
- League: NFL
- Salary: $31,416,668
- Federal taxes paid: $11,579,375
- State taxes paid: $3,441,424
- FICA taxes paid: $745,606
- Take-home salary (after taxes): $15,650,263
- Total taxes paid: $15,766,405
- Effective tax rate: 50.18%
Aaron Donald
- Team: Los Angeles Rams
- League: NFL
- Salary: $27,000,000
- Federal taxes paid: $9,945,208
- State taxes paid: $3,564,231
- FICA taxes paid: $641,814
- Take-home salary (after taxes): $12,848,747
- Total taxes paid: $14,151,253
- Effective tax rate: 52.41%
Joey Bosa
- Team: Los Angeles Chargers
- League: NFL
- Salary: $28,250,000
- Federal taxes paid: $10,407,708
- State taxes paid: $3,730,481
- FICA taxes paid: $671,189
- Take-home salary (after taxes): $13,440,622
- Total taxes paid: $14,809,378
- Effective tax rate: 52.42%
Mike Trout
- Team: Los Angeles Angels
- League: MLB
- Salary: $37,116,666
- Federal taxes paid: $13,688,374
- State taxes paid: $4,909,747
- FICA taxes paid: $879,556
- Take-home salary (after taxes): $17,638,989
- Total taxes paid: $19,477,677
- Effective tax rate: 52.48%
Anthony Rendon
- Team: Los Angeles Angels
- League: MLB
- Salary: $38,571,428
- Federal taxes paid: $14,226,636
- State taxes paid: $5,103,231
- FICA taxes paid: $913,743
- Take-home salary (after taxes): $18,327,818
- Total taxes paid: $20,243,610
- Effective tax rate: 52.48%
Klay Thompson
- Team: Golden State Warriors
- League: NBA
- Salary: $40,600,000
- Federal taxes paid: $14,977,208
- State taxes paid: $5,373,031
- FICA taxes paid: $961,414
- Take-home salary (after taxes): $19,288,347
- Total taxes paid: $21,311,653
- Effective tax rate: 52.49%
Paul George
- Team: Los Angeles Clippers
- League: NBA
- Salary: $42,492,568
- Federal taxes paid: $15,677,458
- State taxes paid: $5,624,742
- FICA taxes paid: $1,005,889
- Take-home salary (after taxes): $20,184,479
- Total taxes paid: $22,308,089
- Effective tax rate: 52.50%
Kawhi Leonard
- Team: Los Angeles Clippers
- League: NBA
- Salary: $42,492,492
- Federal taxes paid: $15,677,430
- State taxes paid: $5,624,732
- FICA taxes paid: $1,005,888
- Take-home salary (after taxes): $20,184,442
- Total taxes paid: $22,308,050
- Effective tax rate: 52.50%
LeBron James
- Team: Los Angeles Lakers
- League: NBA
- Salary: $44,474,988
- Federal taxes paid: $16,410,953
- State taxes paid: $5,888,404
- FICA taxes paid: $1,052,476
- Take-home salary (after taxes): $21,123,155
- Total taxes paid: $23,351,833
- Effective tax rate: 52.51%
Russell Westbrook
- Team: Los Angeles Lakers
- League: NBA
- Salary: $47,063,478
- Federal taxes paid: $17,368,694
- State taxes paid: $6,232,673
- FICA taxes paid: $1,113,306
- Take-home salary (after taxes): $22,348,805
- Total taxes paid: $24,714,673
- Effective tax rate: 52.51%
Stephen Curry
- Team: Golden State Warriors
- League: NBA
- Salary: $48,070,014
- Federal taxes paid: $17,741,113
- State taxes paid: $6,366,543
- FICA taxes paid: $1,136,959
- Take-home salary (after taxes): $22,825,399
- Total taxes paid: $25,244,615
- Effective tax rate: 52.52%
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Methodology: For this piece GOBankingRates first sourced the top 10 highest paid players in the NFL, NBA, and MLB and sourced each player’s (1) current or upcoming seasons salary. With these 30 athletes isolated, GOBankingRates then used our in-house federal and state income tax calculators to find each athlete’s: (2) federal income taxes paid; (3) state income taxes paid; (4) FICA taxes paid; (5) income after taxes; (6) total income taxes paid; and (7) effective tax rate for each athlete. All income tax calculations were made assuming a single filer, filing their taxes in the state in which their team/employer is located. GOBankingRates used 2022 federal tax brackets and standard deductions and 2022 state tax brackets and standard deductions, all sourced from Tax Foundation. All data was collected and is up to date as of Feb. 7, 2023.
Jami Farkas contributed to the reporting of this article.
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