In a world where professional athletes command sky-high salaries, former NFL player-turned-actor Terry Crews recently reignited a contentious debate about earnings in sports versus medicine.
During a March 2024 episode of “Club Shay Shay” with Shannon Sharpe, Crews laid out his provocative view: athletes should earn more than medical professionals. His rationale? The sheer volume of people they entertain.
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Crews’ Argument
“The key is serving the most amount of people. The more you serve, the more money you make,” Crews, whose estimated net worth is $25 million, explained.
He dismissed the common argument that doctors — there are more 1.1. million in the United States — given their life-saving work, deserve higher pay.
“The doctor got 30 patients, well you got 30 patient money,” Crews rationalized.
In contrast, he pointed out the vast audience size for top-tier athletes like LeBron James, remarking, “But how many people are enjoying watching LeBron play? Hundreds of millions. So, he gets hundreds of millions of dollars.”
The “America’s Got Talent” host’s perspective drew immediate backlash when the clip surfaced on Evolventrepreneurs’ Threads profile.
One critic commented, “Thats ridiculous. If that were the case why aren’t fast food workers millionaires? Or delivery people riding around in gold-plated limos?”
Another voice chimed in, “That was entirely nonsense. So a special education teacher who may work with one student, and one student only, with extreme needs should get pennies?”
Yet another critic highlighted a flaw in Crews’ logic, noting, “This is one of those arguments that sounds good until you actually think about it.”
A fourth comment read, “Then why owners of the teams make more money than atheletes.. who do they serve?”
A deeper critique pointed out a fundamental issue with Crews’ argument: “Terrible point. It’s about the perceived value impact that you create,” before adding, “Doing a Heart transplant for 100 customers will be more valuable than being a foreman for 1,000 customers. Yes, the amount of people you interact with helps, but at the end it all comes down to the value you provide.”
Value vs. Volume
This debate touches on broader societal perceptions of value.
Medical professionals undeniably save lives and contribute to public health, but their financial rewards pale compared to the entertainment value offered by athletes. But in the long run, who really makes out better?
MedPage Today’s Jordan Frey examined this topic in 2023, in an article titled, “Are Doctors or Professional Athletes Better Off Financially?” Frey analyzed the financial outlook for each profession, focusing on averages rather than outliers like superstar athletes.
According to Frey, an average doctor in 2020 earned about $250,000 annually, equating to lifetime earnings of $7.5 million over a 30-year career. Even after accounting for student loan interest, this hypothetical doctor could net over $7 million in a lifetime.
By contrast, the average professional athlete, across the board (not just the NFL and NBA) earned $51,729 in 2021, with an average career span of around 10 years. This shorter career results in total earnings of about $519,290, far less than the average doctor’s.
While some elite athletes achieve significant wealth through endorsements and sponsorships, many face financial difficulties after their playing careers end.
Mismanagement of finances and lack of solid financial guidance often lead to reduced net worth post-retirement. The contrast highlights that, for the average individual in each field, a medical career offers greater financial stability.
Sports Offer More Than The Contract, Medicine Does Not
Beyond base salaries, the earnings gap between athletes and medical professionals raises questions about societal values.
The perceived value of an athlete’s impact—providing entertainment to millions—often translates into lucrative endorsement deals and brand partnerships, inflating their total earnings.
Many top college athletes today make substantial income through partnerships and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals, especially with the rise of social media influence.
The debate remains open-ended, shaped by questions of value, service, and societal priorities. While both athletes and doctors contribute to society, how we value their work —and pay them accordingly — reveals much about our cultural and economic landscape.