After a months-long contract standoff with the Bulls, Australian point guard Josh Giddey has signed a four-year contract extension to keep him in Chicago.
The new deal puts the 22-year-old right at the pointy end of the rankings when it comes to Australia's highest-paid athletes.
Just like Giddey, all Australia's top earners ply their trade overseas
Australia's highest-paid athletes
1. Oscar Piastri
AU$41 million
McLaren - Formula 1
Currently leading the race for the F1 championship, Piastri was richly rewarded for his impressive sophomore year with McLaren in 2024, in which he claimed his maiden Grand Prix victories and helped his team to the Constructors' Championship.
Since signing the new deal in March 2025, Piastri has gone to another level, collecting seven race wins to lead the championship.
His deal, which ties him to McLaren until the end of 2028, is worth a reported £20 million per year (AU$41 million).
2. Josh Giddey
AU$38 million
Chicago Bulls - NBA
After emerging as the Bulls' main man following the departure of Zach LaVine, the Australian point guard became locked in a stalemate of sorts as his contract expired at the end of the 2024-25 season.
With the new campaign fast approaching, Giddey held his nerve and, while the final agreement fell short of the US$30 million his management proposed, the four-year US$100 million deal makes him the best-paid Aussie hooper after Ben Simmons' blockbuster contract finally ran out.
3. Jordan Mailata
AU$33 million
Philadelphia Eagles - NFL
Having established himself as one of the best players in his position, the former Rabbitohs rugby league prospect signed a three-year, US$66 million contract with the Eagles.
That placed him among the top five highest-earning offensive tackles in the National Football League.
Less than a year after signing that deal, he'd become the first Australian to play in and start a Super Bowl victory, after Philadelphia defeated the Chiefs.
4. Josh Green
AU$21 million
Charlotte Hornets - NBA
After a standout high school and college career, Green set about making a name for himself in Dallas.
Then 22, Green signed a three-year, US$41 million contract with the Mavericks, before helping them to the NBA finals the next year.
Green has since been traded to the Hornets, but his contract sees him through to the end of the 2026-27 season.
5. Matisse Thybulle
AU$18 million
Portland Trail Blazers - NBA
An injury-hit campaign in 2024-25 limited Thybulle to just 15 games but the all-action defender will be hoping to remind everyone what he's capable of when on the court.
The 28-year-old exercised a player option in his contract, seeing him remain at the Blazers on a deal worth more than US$11 million for the upcoming season.
NB: The contract details of LIV Golfers such as a Cam Smith and Marc Leishman are not publicly available. This list is based only on contract value, not endorsements, prizemoney or bonuses.