Ohio State’s All-Time Highest-Paid Athletes as of June 2025 (via Spotrac)
| PLAYER (SPORT) | CAREER EARNINGS |
|---|---|
| 1. Mike Conley (NBA)* | $294,877,986 |
| 2. Joey Bosa (NFL)* | $246,584,417 |
| 3. D’Angelo Russell (NBA)* | $180,823,166 |
| 4. Cameron Heyward (NFL)* | $178,801,735 |
| 5. Nick Bosa (NFL)* | $150,065,777 |
| 6. Michael Thomas (NFL) | $131,588,424 |
| 7. Taylor Decker (NFL)* | $125,772,175 |
| 8. Ezekiel Elliott (NFL)* | $117,207,438 |
| 9. Marshon Lattimore (NFL)* | $114,950,563 |
| 10. Nick Mangold (NFL) | $106,724,330 |
| *Denotes active player | |
In 2009, Drake wisely remarked that some things never change. Sixteen years later, former Ohio State athletes are still raking in millions while playing the sports they love, bringing the #DevelopedHere slogan to life.
Building on an idea from Ben Koo of Awful Announcing, we explored the former Ohio State athletes in the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL who have achieved the highest career earnings as of June 2025.
A total of 14 alums from Ohio State have amassed over $100 million throughout their careers—three in the NBA, ten in the NFL, and one in MLB. Out of these, seven are still actively playing.
NFL Earnings
Among former Buckeyes in the NFL, the Bosa brothers hold two of the top three positions. While seven of the eight highest-paid ex-Ohio State players in the NFL remain active, Orlando Pace, a Pro Football Hall of Famer and Super Bowl champion, earned over $102 million and remains a top player despite his career ending in 2009.
NBA Earnings
Five out of the ten highest-paid Ohio State players in the NBA are still active, with Mike Conley leading as the highest-earning former Buckeye of all time. As of now, Conley has earned $294,877,986 in his career, wrapping up his 18th season and achieving notable awards for sportsmanship and teamwork.
MLB Earnings
Nick Swisher stands out in Ohio State history as the only former baseball player to earn over $100 million in the MLB. The only other OSU alums to exceed $4 million in MLB earnings are Cory Luebke, who pitched for four seasons, and Ryan Feltner, currently with the Colorado Rockies.
NHL Earnings
In the NHL, only three former Buckeyes have crossed the $7 million mark, with Ryan Kesler leading the pack at $77.55 million. RJ Umberger, another notable player, accumulated $37.14 million, becoming the highest NHL draft pick from OSU in 2001.
