The NBA’s got some of the biggest paychecks in sports, with players raking in a combined $4.9 billion last year. But here’s the twist—another industry managed to out-earn them, hitting $6.6 billion in 2024. Crazy, right? And wait until you hear about one fan who dropped millions on a creator. Let’s just say, loyalty hit a whole new level.
Sophie Rain, the social media influencer and adult content creator, has everyone talking after dropping a bombshell about her OnlyFans income. In a post on X, she casually revealed she pulled in an eye-popping $43.4 million last year. Think about that—she made $400K more than Luka Doncic and $200K more than Anthony Davis. Wild, right?
This stat has left Stephen A. Smith stunned. “More money on only fans. Then many of the NBA’s biggest stars, Ladies and gentlemen, look at this list right here. Anthony Davis, Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Anthony Edwards. Look at the money that they’re making 43, 43 43, 42 million for Anthony Edwards, right? In fact, this platform has grown so much that in 2023. OnlyFans content creators earned a total of 6.6 billion dollars which exceeds the total of salaries earned by the entire National Basketball Association which was at $4.9 billion according to Basketball Forever.” said SAS on his podcast.
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One man called Charlie even spent $5 million alone on Rain’s Onlyfans! Talk about being loyal. This prompted SAS to call Charlie, “the horniest man in America”.
The collective earnings of OnlyFans creators might outpace NBA salaries, but let’s be real—the average NBA player still pulls in way more than most content creators. That said, the highest-earning creators on OnlyFans are now going toe-to-toe with pro athletes, sometimes even surpassing them.
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Stephen A. Smith the face of ESPN
Stephen A. Smith is on the verge of a major deal with ESPN that could see him expand his role beyond just sports. After months of back-and-forth, sources say both sides are hopeful they’ll seal the deal soon. The new contract might even give Smith a “first-look” opportunity for projects across Disney’s entertainment empire.
ESPN’s been busy locking down big names lately, like Troy Aikman and Joe Buck for “Monday Night Football,” and adding Pat McAfee and Jason Kelce to the mix. Smith, who’s never been shy about speaking his mind on “First Take,” has made it clear he wants to be the highest-paid personality at ESPN. That’s led to some speculation about whether he and ESPN will come to an agreement, especially with Disney balancing traditional TV and its streaming push.
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USA Today via Reuters Feb 9, 2023; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Pat McAfee (left) interviews Stephen A. Smith on the FanDuel set on radio row at the Super Bowl LVII media center at the Phoenix Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Smith’s contract runs through 2025, but reports from June say he’s been offered a whopping $18 million per year, a solid 50% raise from his current $12 million. Beyond sports, Smith has shown interest in branching out, with upcoming appearances on Fox News’ Sean Hannity interview show and some late-night-style content on ESPN+. It looks like Smith’s ready to take his career to a whole new level.