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Are actors and professional athletes paid too much?

In other jobs, people don't need to sacrifice their life style. In above two professions, they need to. Considering that, they should get pay more.
 
They get what the market dictates. They deserve every cent they get.
 
In other jobs, people don't need to sacrifice their life style. In above two professions, they need to. Considering that, they should get pay more.

Can you please elaborate on this. What do you mean exactly by "sacrifice their life style"? Trabel around the world, spend time away from family and stay healthy?
 
Mostly yes.

In my opinion athletes and actors get grossly over paid.

Travelling around the world is part and parcel of the deal & is something which millions of people dream to do but can not afford to. To say that someone should get millions to travel around the world and have everything paid for them whilst they (usually) stay in 4 or 5 star hotels is a pretty tall ask in my opinion.

As for staying fit - you have to stay on top of your craft if you want to remain on the top of your field, regardless of what you do. For an athlete and actor this will mean to stay fit and remain healthy. For other professionals, such as doctors, engineers, architects & lawyers it will mean constantly studying and educating yourself regarding the latest advancements in your respective field. If you do not do that then you will fall behind regardless of if you are a professional athlete or an engineer.

Staying away from Family - sure this can be tough. However, this is part of the deal & they know this is the case when they are going in. There are many other professionals who need to spend a large amount of time on the road and as a result end up staying away from family & they do not get paid atrocious amounts for it. Personally speaking, both myself and my dad need to travel near enough every month due to work related commitments, yet we aren't earning millions for it. You have people like sales reps & lorry drivers who spend their whole time on the road and they are by no means earning anywhere near the figure which actors and athletes are earning. If anything, the athletes and actors are travelling around the world and living such a high profile life style that they can afford to even take their families with them on a couple of trips a year. This is a luxury people in most other professions can not afford.

In my opinion these "life style sacrifices" are made in every career path & if you do not make them you will by no means be able to get to the top of your respected field.

I remember when the figures were released last month for how much our players earned in 2015. MashAllah do not get me wrong - I am glad our players are earning well & good for them. However, their base salary was over a 100 times greater than what the average salary in Pakistan was - the people who they are representing - which is insane in my opinion.

Ok fine Pakistan is a poor country - lets look elsewhere. Our cricketers MashAllah are earning more than 10 times the amount junior doctors in the UK earn. Please keep in mind this is the basic salary we are talking about - before sponsorship deals, TV appearances, cricket leagues, domestic competitions, special appearances etc. Please also keep in mind we are talking about Pakistani cricketers here who are no where near the highest paid cricketers in the world - never mind the highest paid athletes.

No one can turn around and say that the junior doctor who is working 80-90 hours a week with no sleep, has to constantly stay alert and on top of their craft & if they slip up will cost someone their life hasn't made lifestyle sacrifices.

Don't get me wrong - if you are playing for your national team you are supposedly the best in the country at what you do so you deserve a good salary. However, for simply hitting a cricket ball, or acting on screen - in my opinion these guys are paid way way way too much. However, rather than questioning it - we just accept it because unfortunately it is now just the norm.
 
In my opinion athletes and actors get grossly over paid.

Travelling around the world is part and parcel of the deal & is something which millions of people dream to do but can not afford to. To say that someone should get millions to travel around the world and have everything paid for them whilst they (usually) stay in 4 or 5 star hotels is a pretty tall ask in my opinion.

As for staying fit - you have to stay on top of your craft if you want to remain on the top of your field, regardless of what you do. For an athlete and actor this will mean to stay fit and remain healthy. For other professionals, such as doctors, engineers, architects & lawyers it will mean constantly studying and educating yourself regarding the latest advancements in your respective field. If you do not do that then you will fall behind regardless of if you are a professional athlete or an engineer.

Staying away from Family - sure this can be tough. However, this is part of the deal & they know this is the case when they are going in. There are many other professionals who need to spend a large amount of time on the road and as a result end up staying away from family & they do not get paid atrocious amounts for it. Personally speaking, both myself and my dad need to travel near enough every month due to work related commitments, yet we aren't earning millions for it. You have people like sales reps & lorry drivers who spend their whole time on the road and they are by no means earning anywhere near the figure which actors and athletes are earning. If anything, the athletes and actors are travelling around the world and living such a high profile life style that they can afford to even take their families with them on a couple of trips a year. This is a luxury people in most other professions can not afford.

In my opinion these "life style sacrifices" are made in every career path & if you do not make them you will by no means be able to get to the top of your respected field.

I remember when the figures were released last month for how much our players earned in 2015. MashAllah do not get me wrong - I am glad our players are earning well & good for them. However, their base salary was over a 100 times greater than what the average salary in Pakistan was - the people who they are representing - which is insane in my opinion.

Ok fine Pakistan is a poor country - lets look elsewhere. Our cricketers MashAllah are earning more than 10 times the amount junior doctors in the UK earn. Please keep in mind this is the basic salary we are talking about - before sponsorship deals, TV appearances, cricket leagues, domestic competitions, special appearances etc. Please also keep in mind we are talking about Pakistani cricketers here who are no where near the highest paid cricketers in the world - never mind the highest paid athletes.

No one can turn around and say that the junior doctor who is working 80-90 hours a week with no sleep, has to constantly stay alert and on top of their craft & if they slip up will cost someone their life hasn't made lifestyle sacrifices.

Don't get me wrong - if you are playing for your national team you are supposedly the best in the country at what you do so you deserve a good salary. However, for simply hitting a cricket ball, or acting on screen - in my opinion these guys are paid way way way too much. However, rather than questioning it - we just accept it because unfortunately it is now just the norm.

this is POTW :14: [MENTION=9]Saj[/MENTION] [MENTION=8]MIG[/MENTION] [MENTION=66397]Green[/MENTION]Roar take note
 
In my opinion athletes and actors get grossly over paid.

Travelling around the world is part and parcel of the deal & is something which millions of people dream to do but can not afford to. To say that someone should get millions to travel around the world and have everything paid for them whilst they (usually) stay in 4 or 5 star hotels is a pretty tall ask in my opinion.

As for staying fit - you have to stay on top of your craft if you want to remain on the top of your field, regardless of what you do. For an athlete and actor this will mean to stay fit and remain healthy. For other professionals, such as doctors, engineers, architects & lawyers it will mean constantly studying and educating yourself regarding the latest advancements in your respective field. If you do not do that then you will fall behind regardless of if you are a professional athlete or an engineer.

Staying away from Family - sure this can be tough. However, this is part of the deal & they know this is the case when they are going in. There are many other professionals who need to spend a large amount of time on the road and as a result end up staying away from family & they do not get paid atrocious amounts for it. Personally speaking, both myself and my dad need to travel near enough every month due to work related commitments, yet we aren't earning millions for it. You have people like sales reps & lorry drivers who spend their whole time on the road and they are by no means earning anywhere near the figure which actors and athletes are earning. If anything, the athletes and actors are travelling around the world and living such a high profile life style that they can afford to even take their families with them on a couple of trips a year. This is a luxury people in most other professions can not afford.

In my opinion these "life style sacrifices" are made in every career path & if you do not make them you will by no means be able to get to the top of your respected field.

I remember when the figures were released last month for how much our players earned in 2015. MashAllah do not get me wrong - I am glad our players are earning well & good for them. However, their base salary was over a 100 times greater than what the average salary in Pakistan was - the people who they are representing - which is insane in my opinion.

Ok fine Pakistan is a poor country - lets look elsewhere. Our cricketers MashAllah are earning more than 10 times the amount junior doctors in the UK earn. Please keep in mind this is the basic salary we are talking about - before sponsorship deals, TV appearances, cricket leagues, domestic competitions, special appearances etc. Please also keep in mind we are talking about Pakistani cricketers here who are no where near the highest paid cricketers in the world - never mind the highest paid athletes.

No one can turn around and say that the junior doctor who is working 80-90 hours a week with no sleep, has to constantly stay alert and on top of their craft & if they slip up will cost someone their life hasn't made lifestyle sacrifices.

Don't get me wrong - if you are playing for your national team you are supposedly the best in the country at what you do so you deserve a good salary. However, for simply hitting a cricket ball, or acting on screen - in my opinion these guys are paid way way way too much. However, rather than questioning it - we just accept it because unfortunately it is now just the norm.

Game. Set. Match. Right there.
 
Depends.

But in most cases they get paid in line with the financial value they provide to their employers so no.

If they were actually getting paid too much their employers would actually be going broke which isn't the case when tv rights deals are in the billions of dollars
 
In other jobs, people don't need to sacrifice their life style. In above two professions, they need to. Considering that, they should get pay more.

Police officers, Military men and activists sacrifice their lives as well. They don't get paid high wages. What about child labours and sweat shop workers ? They work hard and don't get paid high wages. You get paid based on your market value and not what you do. Why do you think 17 and 18 year old youtubers make millions and 100,000s a year making youtube video of themselves playing a video games ?
 
The society accepts that in order to become an accountant or a bio-med student, that one must study 3 hrs a day for 6 days a week. The society accepts that a student must volunteer, work as an intern for free, do masters and etc just earn a $30,000 starting salary. But for some weird reason, people think being an athlete comes easy.
 
In my opinion athletes and actors get grossly over paid.

Travelling around the world is part and parcel of the deal & is something which millions of people dream to do but can not afford to. To say that someone should get millions to travel around the world and have everything paid for them whilst they (usually) stay in 4 or 5 star hotels is a pretty tall ask in my opinion.

As for staying fit - you have to stay on top of your craft if you want to remain on the top of your field, regardless of what you do. For an athlete and actor this will mean to stay fit and remain healthy. For other professionals, such as doctors, engineers, architects & lawyers it will mean constantly studying and educating yourself regarding the latest advancements in your respective field. If you do not do that then you will fall behind regardless of if you are a professional athlete or an engineer.

Staying away from Family - sure this can be tough. However, this is part of the deal & they know this is the case when they are going in. There are many other professionals who need to spend a large amount of time on the road and as a result end up staying away from family & they do not get paid atrocious amounts for it. Personally speaking, both myself and my dad need to travel near enough every month due to work related commitments, yet we aren't earning millions for it. You have people like sales reps & lorry drivers who spend their whole time on the road and they are by no means earning anywhere near the figure which actors and athletes are earning. If anything, the athletes and actors are travelling around the world and living such a high profile life style that they can afford to even take their families with them on a couple of trips a year. This is a luxury people in most other professions can not afford.

In my opinion these "life style sacrifices" are made in every career path & if you do not make them you will by no means be able to get to the top of your respected field.

I remember when the figures were released last month for how much our players earned in 2015. MashAllah do not get me wrong - I am glad our players are earning well & good for them. However, their base salary was over a 100 times greater than what the average salary in Pakistan was - the people who they are representing - which is insane in my opinion.

Ok fine Pakistan is a poor country - lets look elsewhere. Our cricketers MashAllah are earning more than 10 times the amount junior doctors in the UK earn. Please keep in mind this is the basic salary we are talking about - before sponsorship deals, TV appearances, cricket leagues, domestic competitions, special appearances etc. Please also keep in mind we are talking about Pakistani cricketers here who are no where near the highest paid cricketers in the world - never mind the highest paid athletes.

No one can turn around and say that the junior doctor who is working 80-90 hours a week with no sleep, has to constantly stay alert and on top of their craft & if they slip up will cost someone their life hasn't made lifestyle sacrifices.

Don't get me wrong - if you are playing for your national team you are supposedly the best in the country at what you do so you deserve a good salary. However, for simply hitting a cricket ball, or acting on screen - in my opinion these guys are paid way way way too much. However, rather than questioning it - we just accept it because unfortunately it is now just the norm.

Post #21
 
The society accepts that in order to become an accountant or a bio-med student, that one must study 3 hrs a day for 6 days a week. The society accepts that a student must volunteer, work as an intern for free, do masters and etc just earn a $30,000 starting salary. But for some weird reason, people think being an athlete comes easy.

Is it harder to become a doctor or accountant than a athlete?
 
Is it harder to become a doctor or accountant than a athlete?

Depends. It is much more difficult to become a doctor than an accountant period. Becoming a doctor in Canada is much more difficult than it is in India, Pakistan or even in the US. Becoming an athlete in a competitive, demanding sport may or may not be difficult based on your initial talent and the passion you have. It is much more harder to become a doctor in Canada than become an NHL player if you don't love the medical field. If you love it, then it won't hard. I know a woman who doesn't study 15 hrs a day before the exam but still does well because she is in love with her medical field, she wants to be a doctor and that is her only plan. Therefore, she LEARNS rather than trying to recall answers and put them down on a paper.

Then again, you are paid as per your value, not per your "hard work". Yes doctors are valuable, but people can make more money out of Ishant Sharma than any doctor. A doctor may save 100 lives in a year, but those 100 lives don't make others rich.
 
Only international stars get paid well. That is just 20-30 out of millions. You need to have special talent to make it to that level , so my answer is no.
 
Are actors and professional athletes paid too much?
Ever heard of supply and demand? Translated as the popularity, and therefore public demand, for that actor's or athlete's performances, their public image, and therefore their value to broadcasters, and to sponsors marketing campaigns for their products?
 
In Indian TV serial's the central character is always a woman. There is no male hero.

You don't know what you are talking about. The guys I me tioned have drawn viewers. Not all serials are only about saas bahu. Did you watch bade achhe lagte hain?
 
You don't know what you are talking about. The guys I me tioned have drawn viewers. Not all serials are only about saas bahu. Did you watch bade achhe lagte hain?

For someone who doesn't understand Hindi, you have surprisingly good knowledge about Indian TV shows.
 
For someone who doesn't understand Hindi, you have surprisingly good knowledge about Indian TV shows.

I understand Hindi to good extent though I am not an expert. My wife and I watch all Bollywood movies and star plus Sony TV serials.
 
Depends.

But in most cases they get paid in line with the financial value they provide to their employers so no.

If they were actually getting paid too much their employers would actually be going broke which isn't the case when tv rights deals are in the billions of dollars

Truer words have not been spoken.
 
What if they under performance but end up getting the money anyway? Do they still deserve every cent they get.

If that's what the market decides then yes. But they will most likely lose their job if they aren't performing at the highest level.
 
I think they are paid fair market price. There is a demand for their trade and craft and there is willingness to pay from the consumers perspective. If athletes salaries were reduced, it would just mean the corporations behind the athletes would make more profit. The total amount of money going into Pro Sports would remain the same.

Probably true for artists as well.
 
I think their earnings are justified considering the amount of money they generate for their teams/production companies. For example, A Salman Khan/SRK movie almost guarantees a 100 crore, regardless of the content. Similarly, having a Messi or Ronaldo in your team is surely going to boost revenues for the club.
 
Depends. It is much more difficult to become a doctor than an accountant period. Becoming a doctor in Canada is much more difficult than it is in India, Pakistan or even in the US. Becoming an athlete in a competitive, demanding sport may or may not be difficult based on your initial talent and the passion you have. It is much more harder to become a doctor in Canada than become an NHL player if you don't love the medical field. If you love it, then it won't hard. I know a woman who doesn't study 15 hrs a day before the exam but still does well because she is in love with her medical field, she wants to be a doctor and that is her only plan. Therefore, she LEARNS rather than trying to recall answers and put them down on a paper.

Then again, you are paid as per your value, not per your "hard work". Yes doctors are valuable, but people can make more money out of Ishant Sharma than any doctor. A doctor may save 100 lives in a year, but those 100 lives don't make others rich.

I think u are severely underestimating how difficult it is to become a pro athlete. Even if a person didn't work hard and was blessed with natural athletic skill, that's still a rare quality.
Most people with training can become a doctor, engineer or whatever..hence the reason we have tens of 1000s of them in each country. Much harder to perform at the highest level of a sport and be one of the select few who is deemed good enough out of millions who have the same exact dream.
 
In my opinion athletes and actors get grossly over paid.

Travelling around the world is part and parcel of the deal & is something which millions of people dream to do but can not afford to. To say that someone should get millions to travel around the world and have everything paid for them whilst they (usually) stay in 4 or 5 star hotels is a pretty tall ask in my opinion.

As for staying fit - you have to stay on top of your craft if you want to remain on the top of your field, regardless of what you do. For an athlete and actor this will mean to stay fit and remain healthy. For other professionals, such as doctors, engineers, architects & lawyers it will mean constantly studying and educating yourself regarding the latest advancements in your respective field. If you do not do that then you will fall behind regardless of if you are a professional athlete or an engineer.

Staying away from Family - sure this can be tough. However, this is part of the deal & they know this is the case when they are going in. There are many other professionals who need to spend a large amount of time on the road and as a result end up staying away from family & they do not get paid atrocious amounts for it. Personally speaking, both myself and my dad need to travel near enough every month due to work related commitments, yet we aren't earning millions for it. You have people like sales reps & lorry drivers who spend their whole time on the road and they are by no means earning anywhere near the figure which actors and athletes are earning. If anything, the athletes and actors are travelling around the world and living such a high profile life style that they can afford to even take their families with them on a couple of trips a year. This is a luxury people in most other professions can not afford.

In my opinion these "life style sacrifices" are made in every career path & if you do not make them you will by no means be able to get to the top of your respected field.

I remember when the figures were released last month for how much our players earned in 2015. MashAllah do not get me wrong - I am glad our players are earning well & good for them. However, their base salary was over a 100 times greater than what the average salary in Pakistan was - the people who they are representing - which is insane in my opinion.

Ok fine Pakistan is a poor country - lets look elsewhere. Our cricketers MashAllah are earning more than 10 times the amount junior doctors in the UK earn. Please keep in mind this is the basic salary we are talking about - before sponsorship deals, TV appearances, cricket leagues, domestic competitions, special appearances etc. Please also keep in mind we are talking about Pakistani cricketers here who are no where near the highest paid cricketers in the world - never mind the highest paid athletes.

No one can turn around and say that the junior doctor who is working 80-90 hours a week with no sleep, has to constantly stay alert and on top of their craft & if they slip up will cost someone their life hasn't made lifestyle sacrifices.

Don't get me wrong - if you are playing for your national team you are supposedly the best in the country at what you do so you deserve a good salary. However, for simply hitting a cricket ball, or acting on screen - in my opinion these guys are paid way way way too much. However, rather than questioning it - we just accept it because unfortunately it is now just the norm.

U sound extremely bitter.
 
In my opinion athletes and actors get grossly over paid.

Travelling around the world is part and parcel of the deal & is something which millions of people dream to do but can not afford to. To say that someone should get millions to travel around the world and have everything paid for them whilst they (usually) stay in 4 or 5 star hotels is a pretty tall ask in my opinion.

To me, who has a sitting job, above seems a nice opportunity. All paid travelling + staying sounds lucrative. isn't it? But to a person, who is always travelling in most of the time of a year, a 5 star hotel is nothing compared to a few days at home with time spending among family members.

While travelling all the time, you will probably miss....

Failing to be there when your wife is pregnant.

The first step of your kid.

The first day of your kids school.

His/her graduation.

No 5 star hotel can replace this.

As for staying fit - you have to stay on top of your craft if you want to remain on the top of your field, regardless of what you do. For an athlete and actor this will mean to stay fit and remain healthy. For other professionals, such as doctors, engineers, architects & lawyers it will mean constantly studying and educating yourself regarding the latest advancements in your respective field. If you do not do that then you will fall behind regardless of if you are a professional athlete or an engineer.

You are right. But this is just a part of the whole picture. I'll give an example.

An actor, excluding studying the art of acting,drama.... also needs to study about various different aspects time to time depending upon his role. If an actor is portraying a doctor, such as the one in Dr. House, you NEED to study about medicine too. Yes, I'll agree not on the level of the people in the profession but that's a study none the less. For those who commits to acting, they need to put extra effort.

Studying on a micro level is easier than studying a variety of subjects. I chosed medical because i found biology easy. While i excelled in university, i was a mediocore student in school because i was poor in mathematics and physics.

A job of an actor comes with a burden.

The field of an entertainment is probably one of the few fields where physics, chemistry, mathematics, economics, marketing.... everything comes together with direct involvement.


Staying away from Family - sure this can be tough. However, this is part of the deal & they know this is the case when they are going in. There are many other professionals who need to spend a large amount of time on the road and as a result end up staying away from family & they do not get paid atrocious amounts for it. Personally speaking, both myself and my dad need to travel near enough every month due to work related commitments, yet we aren't earning millions for it. You have people like sales reps & lorry drivers who spend their whole time on the road and they are by no means earning anywhere near the figure which actors and athletes are earning. If anything, the athletes and actors are travelling around the world and living such a high profile life style that they can afford to even take their families with them on a couple of trips a year. This is a luxury people in most other professions can not afford.

When it comes to lorry drivers, i'll say that, for some, it is apporpriate but for some others, it was a misfortune. A few drivers ARE in low paying jobs because THEY didn't put much effort in the time of need. And when i was working in agricultural sector in himachal in india, i came to know that they used to drive for 6 months in a year. Rest, they spent with the family (to cope up with the mental stress from being far away from the family).

In my opinion these "life style sacrifices" are made in every career path & if you do not make them you will by no means be able to get to the top of your respected field.

Exactly. I agree. Only difference is, in my opinion, actors and athletes need drastic changes to adapt,

I remember when the figures were released last month for how much our players earned in 2015. MashAllah do not get me wrong - I am glad our players are earning well & good for them. However, their base salary was over a 100 times greater than what the average salary in Pakistan was - the people who they are representing - which is insane in my opinion.

Players aren't average people. So their salary won't be average. The ones representing team are top on the starta. If you want to compare regular salary, then compare that with a first class cricketer. NOT with the players in national team.

They aren't the on the level of clerk in an office. They will be in the rank of directors, executive members of a office/company.

Ok fine Pakistan is a poor country - lets look elsewhere. Our cricketers MashAllah are earning more than 10 times the amount junior doctors in the UK earn. Please keep in mind this is the basic salary we are talking about - before sponsorship deals, TV appearances, cricket leagues, domestic competitions, special appearances etc. Please also keep in mind we are talking about Pakistani cricketers here who are no where near the highest paid cricketers in the world - never mind the highest paid athletes.

No one can turn around and say that the junior doctor who is working 80-90 hours a week with no sleep, has to constantly stay alert and on top of their craft & if they slip up will cost someone their life hasn't made lifestyle sacrifices.

Don't get me wrong - if you are playing for your national team you are supposedly the best in the country at what you do so you deserve a good salary. However, for simply hitting a cricket ball, or acting on screen - in my opinion these guys are paid way way way too much. However, rather than questioning it - we just accept it because unfortunately it is now just the norm.

Junior doctor is just a transition phase. After finishing interneship, your salary jumps up 10 times than the amount you are getting.

I'll say, A few doctors are overpaid.

I am not talking about the hard working ones. But you can just pass the MBBS and yet earn around 70K INR in india without giving any efforts.

Yes, that's an overpaid.
 
Generic question, but to answer, no, they are not overpaid. They earn what they deserve. Simple supply and demand. THe need and desire for entertainment, whether it be sports or otherwise, has been increasing rapidly in the past century, and so these superstars are earning more, and rightfully so. Just like with other jobs, you will see a greater demand for software engineers at times depending on their demand in a given time period and location.

Also becoming an actor or a professional sportsman is not a hit and giggle fun ride. It takes a lot of dedication and you have to be absolutely best of the best in your field as an actor or sportsman to earn 6 figures, so in that sense, you have to work harder than if you were studying to become a doctor or something.

Becoming a doctor or engineer, no one will question your "talent". As long as you work hard enough you'll get there.

But with becoming an actor or say, a cricketer, people judge your natural talent. And you literally have to be one in a million to be earning a million in such a field.

However, once you become a successful actor or sports guy, then life is pretty much set, and AS LONG AS YOU ARE PERFORMING, you will have a generally easier life than a doctor or banker.

But once you stop performing, let's say, not getting good roles in a movie, or all movies being flops, or getting injured as a sportsman, or being out of form, then your stocks will plummet as will your earnings.

So knowing what it takes to become one of the best, I'll have equal respect for Ronaldo, Kohli, and a good doctor who saves lives.

Not everyone will agree, but that is okay, bhai is an open minded guy and will entertain all opinions.
 
Generic question, but to answer, no, they are not overpaid. They earn what they deserve. Simple supply and demand. THe need and desire for entertainment, whether it be sports or otherwise, has been increasing rapidly in the past century, and so these superstars are earning more, and rightfully so. Just like with other jobs, you will see a greater demand for software engineers at times depending on their demand in a given time period and location.

Also becoming an actor or a professional sportsman is not a hit and giggle fun ride. It takes a lot of dedication and you have to be absolutely best of the best in your field as an actor or sportsman to earn 6 figures, so in that sense, you have to work harder than if you were studying to become a doctor or something.

Becoming a doctor or engineer, no one will question your "talent". As long as you work hard enough you'll get there.

But with becoming an actor or say, a cricketer, people judge your natural talent. And you literally have to be one in a million to be earning a million in such a field.

However, once you become a successful actor or sports guy, then life is pretty much set, and AS LONG AS YOU ARE PERFORMING, you will have a generally easier life than a doctor or banker.

But once you stop performing, let's say, not getting good roles in a movie, or all movies being flops, or getting injured as a sportsman, or being out of form, then your stocks will plummet as will your earnings.

So knowing what it takes to become one of the best, I'll have equal respect for Ronaldo, Kohli, and a good doctor who saves lives.

Not everyone will agree, but that is okay, bhai is an open minded guy and will entertain all opinions.

That's a good point. Financial security.

You can get millions of dollars in a specific period of time but if you can't keep up the performance, you may lose your house if the downward spiral continues.

Compare that to any medium - top officials in a government sector / company. The repercussion of lack of performance won't be that drastic. You may get transfer to a less significant department but that'll be the end of it.
 
Attending an American university is often an eye-opener when it comes to this topic. Universities here are known less for their academic programs, and more for their sports teams. Universities turn down very many strong candidates, yet sports prospects with little to show for academically get free rides.

I've related this story once before too, but it bears repeating. One of my professors was a noted researcher in the field of Computer Security, and he was selected (alongside many others) to receive a prestigious National Science Foundation award. The reception was at a swank hotel in Manhattan. He arrived, and walked into a ornate hall, because he had assumed that that was where the event would take place. Soon enough, he saw several stereotypical "jocks" walk in. He was eventually whisked away to a much smaller, much less elaborate room. The large hall had been reserved for the National Football League draft. He said he realized that day how America's priorities are skewed: instead of celebrating academics and researchers, it is athletes who are the toast of modern society.

The trigger for this story was him walking into class and picking up a discarded newspaper. The headline at the top bemoaned the fact that the University football coach had broken his leg. Right at the bottom was a tiny article about Saddam Hussein having been sentenced to hang.
 
I actually think they don't get paid enough in lieu of their market value and what they generate. I am a believer in free matkets, and often athletes get a pittance of the value they create and what they earn for their teams, agencies etc.
 
I actually think they don't get paid enough in lieu of their market value and what they generate. I am a believer in free matkets, and often athletes get a pittance of the value they create and what they earn for their teams, agencies etc.

Underpaid? We see cricketers getting gifted an Audi every other month, surely not underpaid I think..
 
No they aren't.

There are only a handful of good actors and a handful of athletes who win every Grand Slam or become Kobe Bryant because they are best IN THE WORLD.

Anyone can become a doctor or engineer if they study hard enough.

Yes I said it right.

ANYONE CAN.

But everyone can't win a Grand Slam no matter how much tennis hours he puts in, everyone can't become an actor no matter how many hours he practices in rehearsals.

Either you have it or you don't.

And if you can AWE THE ENTIRE WORLD BECAUSE YOU HAVE IT, you deserve MORE MONEY.

End of.
 
Underpaid? We see cricketers getting gifted an Audi every other month, surely not underpaid I think..

i mean they get paid handsomely in most cases and certainly have nothing to complain

I am talking from an economic point of view

this is a case of some franchises earning lets say $100. But only $30-$35 is spent of wages and salaries. And of these the top earners are all executives, and board members whereas it is the athletes who are actually putting out the product bringing in the moolah.

the earnings of the club/team/franchise is largely dependant on the product put out by the players, coach and team management whereas it is often the appointed board members who rake in majority of the earnings. If these members are replaced it will often make little impact on the long term success and earnings whereas it is not the case for the players and managers of a successful team. So from that angle the players are not getting the percent they deserve for their contribution in putting out the final product which brings in the money
 
No they aren't.

There are only a handful of good actors and a handful of athletes who win every Grand Slam or become Kobe Bryant because they are best IN THE WORLD.

Anyone can become a doctor or engineer if they study hard enough.

Yes I said it right.

ANYONE CAN.

But everyone can't win a Grand Slam no matter how much tennis hours he puts in, everyone can't become an actor no matter how many hours he practices in rehearsals.

Either you have it or you don't.

And if you can AWE THE ENTIRE WORLD BECAUSE YOU HAVE IT, you deserve MORE MONEY.

End of.

Totally agreed. Anybody with a slightly average intelligence can get a degree if they work hard enough.

The skills required to be a successful entertainer or athlete are just so rare. U need the exact right mix of inborn skill, IQ, hard work to get to the top of the tree in something as competitive as sports or entertainment.
 
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Yes but who leads the more exciting and thrilling life? If you had to choose to live one of their lives, who would you choose?

Making computers, and closing deals, or playing in front of millions of people chanting your name and cheering you on every time you go airborne for a slam dunk.
 
Totally agreed. Anybody with a slightly average intelligence can get a degree if they work hard enough.

The skills required to be a successful entertainer or athlete are just so rare. U need the exact right mix of inborn skill, IQ, hard work to get to the top of the tree in something as competitive as sports or entertainment.

Slightly above average intelligence*
 
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To me, who has a sitting job, above seems a nice opportunity. All paid travelling + staying sounds lucrative. isn't it? But to a person, who is always travelling in most of the time of a year, a 5 star hotel is nothing compared to a few days at home with time spending among family members.

While travelling all the time, you will probably miss....

Failing to be there when your wife is pregnant.

The first step of your kid.

The first day of your kids school.

His/her graduation.

No 5 star hotel can replace this.

You are right. But this is just a part of the whole picture. I'll give an example.

An actor, excluding studying the art of acting,drama.... also needs to study about various different aspects time to time depending upon his role. If an actor is portraying a doctor, such as the one in Dr. House, you NEED to study about medicine too. Yes, I'll agree not on the level of the people in the profession but that's a study none the less. For those who commits to acting, they need to put extra effort.

Studying on a micro level is easier than studying a variety of subjects. I chosed medical because i found biology easy. While i excelled in university, i was a mediocore student in school because i was poor in mathematics and physics.

A job of an actor comes with a burden.

The field of an entertainment is probably one of the few fields where physics, chemistry, mathematics, economics, marketing.... everything comes together with direct involvement.

When it comes to lorry drivers, i'll say that, for some, it is apporpriate but for some others, it was a misfortune. A few drivers ARE in low paying jobs because THEY didn't put much effort in the time of need. And when i was working in agricultural sector in himachal in india, i came to know that they used to drive for 6 months in a year. Rest, they spent with the family (to cope up with the mental stress from being far away from the family).

Exactly. I agree. Only difference is, in my opinion, actors and athletes need drastic changes to adapt,

Players aren't average people. So their salary won't be average. The ones representing team are top on the starta. If you want to compare regular salary, then compare that with a first class cricketer. NOT with the players in national team.

They aren't the on the level of clerk in an office. They will be in the rank of directors, executive members of a office/company.

Junior doctor is just a transition phase. After finishing interneship, your salary jumps up 10 times than the amount you are getting.

I'll say, A few doctors are overpaid.

I am not talking about the hard working ones. But you can just pass the MBBS and yet earn around 70K INR in india without giving any efforts.

Yes, that's an overpaid.

So as you said - you are also making "life style sacrifices". You gave up on the lucrative offer of fully paid travelling around the world and being paid to do it as you live in luxury hotels.

I'm not saying that these guys do not make life style sacrifices, I am saying that everyone, in all walks of life makes life style sacrifices. I'm sure you and I both know our own family members who live far away from their families because they want to provide their family with a better quality of life. They also miss all those key events in their families lives but no one pays them millions.

As for the example you gave about the actors needing knowledge of different disciplines - I am sorry but I will have to disagree with that. The actors do not need to study medicine to play the role of a doctor. You look at shows like Big Bang Theory where these guys play the role of science geeks. If you watch their interviews they don't have a clue what they are talking about on the show. It is the writers and the producers who come up with all the technical things which these actors just say on screen. I also know for a fact that on Big Bang Theory they have actually hired scientists who verify everything that the writers produce to ensure it is scientifically accurate. At no stage is the actor expected to know if what they are saying is technically sound or not. All these actors need to do is learn to act as these characters which is what their job is and is what they are expected to do. They are not expected to learn all - or even some - of the technical stuff which a doctor or an engineer would learn.

Exactly - so for any profession where people have to spend a large amount of time on the road (6-7 months a year) people will have to stay away from family. So again, this isn't a life style sacrifice which is not exclusive to actors or athletes and warrants them the insane amount of money they get IMO.

Lets look at how much first class cricketers get paid in Pakistan & India and compare that with the top level cricketers. I remember watching an interview with Mohammad Hafeez a few years ago when he was playing first class cricket in Pakistan and needed to get the bus everywhere and couldn't afford new shoes, because he needed to take all the money he made back hope to feed his family. And as I said in my previous post I appreciate these guys cannot be compared to the average since they are at the top of their field and deserve a good salary. But they are at the top of their field at kicking a football or throwing a cricket ball - lets not lose perspective here.

I am sure there are some doctors who are over paid - specially in places like India & Pakistan where contacts and corruption gets you way further than hard work ever can. However I do not have a great amount of knowledge regarding salaries in Pakistan and India so wouldn't feel comfortable commenting on that.

Lets look at the UK. The average basic salary for a consultant (who is the 'top dog' when it comes to medicine in the UK as far as I am aware) is between £76,000-£102,0000/year. On top of that if the consultant wants to make more money they need to do private clinic either close to home, or away from home, or I know consultants who travel to different parts of the world to work with universities in research & examinations all year round (not just during cricket season) & I would say that is also a life style sacrifice.

A top level domestic cricketer in the UK who literally play for 4-6 months a year, hardly anyone even knows who he is and serves very little purpose to society earns in the range of £80-100k. Now to think that someone playing domestic cricket in front of empty stands at Hove Cricket Ground is earning as much as a consultant is crazy in my opinion.

Lets compare these number to international cricketers. The likes of Ian Bell, James Anderson, Stuard Broad, Moeen Ali etc. have a contract with the ECB which pays them £700,000/year. That is 7 times the amount of a top level consultant in the UK is earning. On top of that they get £12,000/Test Match, £5,000/ODI & £2,500/T20 match which they play. On the side they will also be earning money from sponsorship deals, county cricket, T20 leagues around the world and special appearances. In 2014 Aliaster Cook's net worth was estimated at £5.6 million!

Now I am sorry - I agree that these guys are at the top of their field and deserve a good salary - but this is just funny money & in my opinion and way way way too much for hitting a cricket ball. I understand it's all to do with supply and demand but if you compare what athletes and actors do and what purpose they really serve in our societies and compare that to other professions - in my opinion they do get overpaid. Yes they are important, yes they do deserve a good salary, yes they make life style sacrifices and work hard - but at the end of the day for them to get paid such insane amounts for playing compared to other professions is insane in my opinion. Let's not lose perspective here of the larger picture.
 
Please care to elaborate? :)

Don't wish to get involved in this debate further but I hope u realize the market dictates what these athletes make and they are blessed with skills ur average doctor or engineer is not.
 
Don't wish to get involved in this debate further but I hope u realize the market dictates what these athletes make and they are blessed with skills ur average doctor or engineer is not.

Thank you for your valuable input and contribution to this discussion. :)

Between stating that I sound bitter, and then going on to state the obvious about the market dictating the salary for these athletes, and athletes having skills which an average doctor and engineer do not have - I cannot decide which one of your contributions was most insightful.... :afaq
 
Thank you for your valuable input and contribution to this discussion. :)

Between stating that I sound bitter, and then going on to state the obvious about the market dictating the salary for these athletes, and athletes having skills which an average doctor and engineer do not have - I cannot decide which one of your contributions was most insightful.... :afaq

What can I say, I thought u sounded bitter about athletes making more money. Just my opinion :) And this topic was so 6 hours ago, don't have the energy to revisit it again unless somebody comes up with an interesting post. Apologies.
 
What can I say, I thought u sounded bitter about athletes making more money. Just my opinion :) And this topic was so 6 hours ago, don't have the energy to revisit it again unless somebody comes up with an interesting post. Apologies.

:)) so 6 hours ago :))

Anyway - in future I would suggest commenting on topics rather than posters. Just my opinion :)
 
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