Highest paid mascot in sports is Rocky the Mountain Lion with an annual salary of $625,000. Rocky represents the NBA team Denver Nuggets.
The mascots represent the symbol and the identity of the team during games and other events. The teams use them for merchandising along with goodwill ambassadors.
Such amulets bring about excitement and entertainment for the fans during the games to make it more enjoyable and fun. They have their own skill sets and also have several pranks that they perform.
How much does a professional mascot make depends on the franchise and league they belong to. It actually depends on what they bring and how important they are during games.
The pay structure of the mascots is different from one another and could be paid hourly or on a per match basis. The NBA pays the most for the mascots followed by the MLB and the NFL.
How Much Does A Mascot Make By Sport
| Rocky the Mountain Lion | $625,000 (NBA) |
| Harry the Hawk | $600,000 (NBA) |
| Benny the Bull | $400,000 (NBA) |
| Wally the Green Monster | $250,000 (MLB) |
| Go the Gorilla | $200,000 (NBA) |
| Mr. Met | $200,000 (MLB) |
| Phillie Phanatic | $200,000 (MLB) |
| Rowdy | $65,000 (NFL) |
| Pat Patriot | $65,000 (NFL) |
| Sourdough Sam | $60,000 (NFL) |
Rocky the Mountain Lion - NBA ($625k Per Annum)
Rocky the Mountain Lion is the highest paid mascot in NBA at $625,000 per annum. Rocky earns almost ten times more than the average salary.
Rocky is the official mascot for the Denver Nuggets and stands 5' 10" tall. He debuted on December 15, 1990, at a home game against the Phoenix Suns. He also happens to be the only mascot in the Nuggets' history.
The Moutain Lion is considered one of the funniest mascots and is a fan favorite making him one of the most popular talismans in the NBA. He is a Mascot Hall of Fame inductee in 2006.
Rocky is not only renowned for his comical role but is also famous for his acrobatic dunks during home games. The Nuggets' championship-winning season could also have earned Rocky a bonus in his salary.
Harry the Hawk - NBA ($600k Per Annum)
Harry the Hawk is not far behind when it comes to being the mascot with a six-figure salary. The Hawk earns an annual salary of $600,000.
Harry is the official mascot for the NBA's franchise Atlanta Hawks. He made his debut on October 25, 1986, and was one of the first mascots in the history of the sport.
The always-energized mascot and exceptionally skilled dance also happen to be one of the fan favorites in the NBA community. He is also famous for injuring himself during his performances.
The Atlanta Hawks also had Skyhawk as their mascot previously. Skyhawk was famous for his slam dunks that he performed during breaks.
Benny the Bull - NBA ($400k Per Annum)
The Chicago Bulls' official mascot Benny the Bull earns $400,000 annually. Moreover, Benny has more than 5.5 million followers on TikTok.
Benny debuted in 1969 and has become a household name for the Bulls. He is a very popular figure in the Bulls' history similar to Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and more.
The mascot was named after the franchise's first Public Relations Manager and Stadium Announcer Ben Bentley. Benny's grandfather was the first mascot for the Bulls and since then, has had several family members as amulet for the NBA team.
In 2013, Forbes named Benny the most famous mascot in sports. He is also famous for performing acrobatic dunks, halfcourt backward shots, and dancing among a few tricks up his sleeve.
Wally the Green Monster - MLB (250K Per Annum)
Boston Red Sox has Wally the Green Monster as its official mascot. Wally earns $250,000 annually which is the highest MLB mascot salary.
The big mascot is named after the Green Monster, the nickname of the wall on the left field at Fenway Park that stands at 37' 2" tall. He earns between $1,000-$2,000 per game and $2,000 per hour salary.
The friendly monster made in debut on April 13, 1997. He is said to be a Fenway Park resident with the Green Monster wall being his residence since 1947 according to the fictional biography. He dons a #97 Red Sox jersey.
Wally was not accepted by the older fans when he debuted even though he was well-received by the children. Jerry Remy, who was a broadcaster for the team, narrated fictional stories about Wally and only then was he accepted by fans of all ages.
Wally's favorite vacation spot is Ft. Myers, FL, and Monster Inc. is his favorite movie. His favorite songs include "Dirty Water" and "Shipping Up to Boston".
Go the Gorilla - NBA ($200k Per Annum)
Go the Gorilla has been the mascot for Pheonix Suns since he made his debut in 1988. He is dressed in a Suns jersey along with a pair of shorts.
Go the Gorilla is among the Top 5 highest-paid mascots in the NBA with an annual salary of $200,000. He also appears in several charity functions and events making him popular in the Suns' culture.
The creation of the mascot is credited to the marketing department of the Phoenix Suns and has appeared in a number of commercials. He is famous for his dance moves, wild antics, stunts, and dunks.
Mr. Met - MLB ($200k Per Annum)
Mr. Met is among the few of the MLB mascots who have an annual salary of $200,000. He was named the no. 1 sports mascot in 2012 by Forbes.
Mr. Met was first seen on April 11, 1962. Although he was first seen in 1962, he made his MLB debut on April 17, 1964, and stands at 6' 10" tall. He was also the MLB's first-ever live-action mascot which earned him a Rookie of the Year award.
Mr. Met has been portrayed by several people over the years and Dan Reilly was the first person to do so in 1964. AJ Mass and Matt Golden also portrayed the team amulet previously.
Mr. Met has an unusually large baseball for a head and is seen in the Mets' uniform. The cherished and loved talisman has also appeared in many commercials and is also a Mascot Hall of Fame inductee.
Phillie Phanatic - MLB ($200k Per Annum)
Phillie Phanatic of the Phillies is another member of the $200,000 club. The flurry and flightless bird in green was first seen on April 25, 1978.
The Phanatic can be seen riding around on an ATV and wandering about the stadium during the games. He is famous for mocking opposition fans by dancing in front of the opposition's dugout.
His antics also include shooting hot dogs with a pneumatic gun that is attached to his ATV into the stands and also pours popcorn on the broadcasters as part of his pranks. He makes $1,500 per match for entertaining the crowd.
Rowdy - NFL ($65k Per Annum)
Rowdy is the highest paid mascot in NFL with an annual salary of $65,000. Rowdy was developed in the 1990s by NFL Properties as "Big D".
It was only in 1996 that he made his official NFL debut as Rowdy for the Dallas Cowboys and had changes made to his character design.
He can be seen in the Cowboys' uniform combined with classic Western attire comprising a cowboy hat, boots, and chaps that resonate with the team's identity.
Rowdy has also appeared in several TV events including ESPN's Alumni Beach Bowl and the Special Olympics among a few others. He earns $50 per hour whenever he makes an appearance.
He tosses t-shirts into the stands while he drives on his four-wheeler and also mocks the opposition. Rowdy is involved in every home game and travels with the team to select away games.
Pat Patriot - NFL ($65k Per Annum)
New England Patriots have Pat Patriot as their official mascot who makes $65,000 yearly. Pat is the highest-paid mascot in NFL alongside Rowdy.
Pat Patriot or commonly known as "Pat the Patriot" was developed in the 1990s by the NFL Properties. His actual birthdate is said to be July 4, 1776, and dons the #1 jersey.
He has appeared in ten Super Bowls and has been on the sideline cheering for the Patriots and helping them win six Super Bowl Championships. Pat Patriot is also a seven-time Pro Bowler.
Sourdough Sam - NFL ($60k Per Annum)
The official mascot for the San Francisco 49ers, Sourdough Sam is a gold miner and is famous for his love of sourdough bread. He makes $45 per hour and is the joint third-highest earner in the NFL.
Sourdough Sam can be seen wearing the franchise's cardinal jersey and #49 is his jersey number. He wears a pair of Levi's Jeans along with a gold handkerchief around his neck. The team's official logo is embedded on his large hat.
He has quite a few changes to his appearance and currently has a beard with blue eyes. Sam knows how to pump up the 49ers fans during games and is available for all home games. He is known to be kind-hearted, energetic, and funny.
