Uncovering the Salaries of Your Favorite Pro Sports Mascots
Popular athletes around the world get paid handsomely for their efforts in their field of sports. The famous baseball champion Zack Gerink got paid a whopping $24 million in 2019, while the Quarterback champion Eli Manning took home a jaw-dropping $252.3 million. It’s true that athletes earn handsomely, but has it ever rang in your mind that your favorite Mascot could be earning more than you?
Well, sports mascots get paid, too, for being goofy and funny on and off the fields. You might not believe it, but most of these mascots earn more than most 9-5 jobholders. Their earnings may take you by surprise, but come along as we look into these secret salaries that these mascots get to take home.
1. Rocky
Team: Denver Nuggets
Salary: $625,000 per year
Rocky’s team may not be the best in the NBA, but it certainly has one of the highest-paid mascots. Since his first scene in 1992, Rocky has always cheered on his team, Denver Nuggets, at home. He also frequents schools in the Colorado community.
Given his frequent duties, it won’t be too difficult to believe that Rocky takes home $625,000 a year. This amount is almost ten times more than another’s Mascot’s earnings. The fact that he is also in the Mascot Hall of Fame may be one reason why Rocky is earning so much.
2. Gritty
Team: Philadelphia Flyers
Salary: $3,000 per hour
Gritty became one of the most popular mascots of all time. He first appeared in 2018 after a story was released that he was disturbed out of his cave by construction work.
After the first appearance in 2018, Gritty went to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon where he safely secured his famous icon. Gritty reportedly earns $3,000 per hour, which is pretty good money for any mascot.
3. Wally the Green Monster
Team: Boston Red Sox
Salary: $70,000
Wally made his first debut as the Mascot for the Boston Red Sox in 1997. His name comes from the iconic monstrous green wall located in left field at Fenway Park, the home field of the Red Sox. He was a favorite to many young people, but the adults took a long time to like him.
Adding to his in-house duties, Wally the Green Monster is a socially busy monster who appears at private events as well, making him around $50-70,000 annually. This amount is almost the same as a regular employee or more.
4. The Presidents
Team: Washington Nationals
Salary: $300 per appearance
These are not your usual Individual mascots; however, they do appear in every Washington Nationals home game entertaining fans as a team. They are vital in the Washington Nationals home games. In every game, there is The President’s Race that the crowd goes wild for at their appearance.
Details on what they earn are difficult to get, but they are likely to earn between $300-500 for each appearance.
5. Harry the Hawk
Team: Atlanta Hawks
Salary: $500 per hour
Harry is one busy hawk. When he is not at the team’s home games, he’s out there making $200-$300 for other appearances.
When compared with his counterparts, plus being busy, the money he earns could be meager. However, if you judge by Harry’s hourly rate, he could be making a six-figure amount annually.
6. Mr. Met
Team: NY Mets
Salary: $600 per hour
The New York Mets are a popular team with a popular mascot too. Mr. Met is always seen supporting his family in the field along with his female companion known as Mrs. Met.
Mr. Met topped the Forbes list of top mascots globally and is one of three MLB mascots to have joined the Mascots Hall of Fame. His estimated earnings are $600 per hour, and with his popularity, it is more likely that he could be bagging home more than that.
7. Poe
Team: Baltimore Ravens
Salary: $60,000
Poe has been the Mascot for this NFL team for over two decades. Poe got his name from the legendary Baltimore writer who wrote about the Raven knocking at his house. Yes, we’re talking about Edgar Allan Poe.
However, unlike the famous but horrifying Raven, Poe is playful and very interesting to watch. Poe also performs in schools for the Ravens. The $60,000 per year could be the tip of the iceberg of what the Mascot could be earning.
8. Benny the Bull
Team: Chicago Bulls
Salary: $200,000 per year
Benny the Bull is not just your regular bull. Forbes even named him the most famous Mascot. Benny happens to be the darling of the Chicago Bulls team, where he is earning a handsome amount each year.
He is also known for his funny theatrics of jumping and flipping while cheering on his team, the Chicago Bulls. He is also loved for his pranks of throwing popcorn at the fans while cheering on. Benny definitely takes home a considerable amount of cash each year.
9. Rowdy
Team: Dallas Cowboys
Salary: $65,000 per year
Rowdy earns more than most Americans do. Unlike most of his counterparts in his field, Rowdy can be classified as a calm class mascot but still gets his mascot job done.
It has not been all glittery with Rowdy; his salary came into the limelight when one of the team’s cheerleaders knew what he earned yearly. The cheerleader argued that the Mascot’s yearly earnings compared to what she was making was unfair. She even brought her argument to court!
10. Rumble the Bison
Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
Salary: $100,000
Unlike most of the other mascots we already listed, Rumble has not been in the field for long. His first debut happened when he was at a half-game in 2009. Rumble has won Mascot of the year in the NBA, and after that, he has become a favorite of many.
A single hour of appearance can earn this bison $650, which is a very high and welcoming wage, while for shorter appearances, Rumble can make from $400. Overall, this Rumble the Bison takes home over $100,00 a year.
11. Grizz
Team: Memphis Grizzlies
Salary: $300
Grizz made his first debut in 1995 when his team the Memphis Grizzlies were in Vancouver. The furry Mascot got a title as the NBA mascot of the year.
The Mascot has, however, not reached the levels of his fellow mascots but don’t be sorry; he still earns more than most people do. The Mascot also makes some private appearances where he charges people to add up to his cup. These appearances cost around $300 and don’t last over an hour.
12. Sluggerrr
Team: Kansas City Royals
Salary: $400
You wouldn’t believe that wearing a costume and waving your hands to entertain others could earn you an hourly rate of $400 per hour. The Mascot’s name comes from a brand of margarine.
Sluggerrr was in trouble since he was accused of throwing a hotdog at a fan, which was quite a scandalous deed. After this, Slaggerrr lost his paycheck, and an immediate replacement was made.
13. Mr. Redlegs
Team: Cincinnati Reds
Salary: $400 per hour
Mr. Redlegs started as the team’s uniform patch until 2007, when he came in as a real costume mascot. At one time, the head of this Mascot came off in the field, revealing the real human behind the costume.
Mr. Redlegs decided to poke fun at the next appearance when he wore the head with neck braces. Mr. Redlegs takes home $400 after every hour he works as he displays some funny moves to excite the crowd.
14. Thunderbug
Team: Tampa Bay Lightning
Salary: $40-45,000 a year
Tampa Bay Lightning has quite an unusual bug for a mascot. Many would think that the thunder bug is a bee, but actually, the bug only comes out when it’s time for harvest.
Thunderbug takes home $40-50,000 a year as his salary. He is known to walk around the field cheering on his team while still launching t-shirts to the fans. His job is to keep the fans excited in every game.
15. Bernie Brewer
Team: Milwaukee Brewers
Salary: $275 per hour
Here’s a mascot with the most touching history among his counterparts. In 1970, a great fan of the Milwaukee team sat on the scoreboard for forty days to attract crowds to the stadium. He sat there until 40,000 people showed up.
After three years the Mason passed away, and the team decided to come up with a mascot to honor him. The Mascot earns $275 per hour during his appearances. The fans of Milwaukee can get a slice of the team’s history by hiring the Mascot for $275 and for no longer than an hour. Nonprofits and other charities can also enjoy the mascot’s presence for a discount of $100 off the usual $275 per hour.
16. Jazz Bear
Team: Utah Jazz
Salary: $300 per hour
Utah Jazz Bear made his first debut in 1994. Since then, this fluffy bear has cheered on the Utah Jazz in more than 800 matches at their home games. The bear is also very famous in his home that one day, the governor of Utah had a day named after Jazz Bear (10th of October). He appears at many public events bringing in his new sets of hype on the occasions. The bear is also open to hiring for private appearances.
Jazz Bear charges $300 an hour, and considering that he is a busy bear, Jazz Bear takes home a mouth-watering money bag each year. The actor behind Jazz Bear was changed in 2018, which made a turnaround in how the Mascot plays around in the field.
17. Jaxson de Ville
Team: Jacksonville Jaguars
Salary: $400 per hour
The NFL team decided to name their Mascot Jaxson after their city to pay homage to it. The mascot appears in almost all of their homeland games. He is estimated to earn $400 per hour for his appearances.
This estimate might be close to what the long-standing mascot was earning before. Dvorak played the role for over two decades. Later on, he handled the mantle over to another person, saying it was time for ‘cooler opportunities.’ By the time he was handing over his role in 2015, Dvorak was making $400 for an hour and may be making even more today.
18. Paw
Team: Detroit Tigers
Salary: $200 per hour
With a good name to match the Detroit Tigers, Paw is the team’s Mascot who is also hired for other private appearances. The Mascot might seem to earn a considerably lower amount than most of his other mascot friends. However, Paw is really busy and smart, always playing his cards right to bag extra cash.
He sometimes gets hired for private parties and office occasions where he attracts more than $160 per hour, starting with the bookings. So don’t be sorry for him; he makes more than most Americans.
19. Steely MC Beam
Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Salary: $40,000 per year
He is a fitting mascot for the Pittsburgh Steelers and also has a matching name. It’s not new or surprising that the Mascot carries a steel beam under one of his arms when he is cheering for his team and entertaining the fans.
The Mascot is likely to be pulling a whole $40,000 each year. For most people, this is good money for the job of entertaining people and having fun while doing it.
20. NJ Devil
Team: New Jersey Devils
Salary: $1,200 per hour
He does not limit himself when it comes to cheering for his team, so you can decide to hire him for your private party for $1,200 per hour. If you need a devilish feel for your party or wish to move along to new dancing styles that the Mascot will teach you, then the NJ Devil is very affordable for any party you may have.
You might not believe it, but the pesky little boy is always fully booked. So, you might have a hard time getting him to your party. The fact that the NJ Devil keeps a full and busy schedule shows that this guy is quite wealthy, thanks to his funny, playful moves.
21. Moondog
Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Salary: $300 per hour
Perhaps he is a favorite to many because of his doggie nature. Most people love the scene of a fun-loving dog. Moondog got its name from the famous Dj Alan Freed, who also loved the name Moondog.
Cleveland decided to name their Mascot after this city legend. Although Moondog’s salary has never been publicly shared, it is an estimated $300 per hour as he showcases his funny side and cheers his team.
22. Ragnar the Viking
Team: Minnesota Vikings
Salary: $1,500 per game
Unlike most mascots, the Minnesota Vikings team’s Mascot does not put on full gear, but he puts on full Viking armor instead. This Mascot is the perfect definition of a strong and sturdy icon for the team. What better way to represent the Minnesota Vikings than with a Viking mascot?
For 20 years, Joseph Juranitch perfectly played the part, and until he left the mascot role, he was already earning $1,500 per game. However, in 2015, Juranitch wanted an incredibly large raise of up to $200,000 per game, but the team could not afford him. So in 2015, Juranitch left his armor for someone else to take over.
23. Lou Seal
Team: San Francisco Giants
Salary: $500 per hour
San Francisco clearly chose the fitting Mascot to represent them because seals are naturally endearing, loveable, and calm. Lou Seal joined the team in July 1996. The Mascot intrigues the crowds a lot with his playful role.
Lou Seal earned a spot in the Hulu series known as Behind the Mask. He is also one of the highest-paid mascots. He gets to take home more than $500 an hour after making his appearances.
24. The Baltimore Oriole Bird
Team: Baltimore Orioles
Salary: $350 per hour
The orange and blackbird mascot has been a darling to Orioles fans for a long time. He is known to be rich in entertaining the fans and cheerleading his team. He is also estimated to be a rich bird earning $350 per hour. $350 per hour is an amount that is way above many Americans’ wages per hour.
The bird does not always stay within his home nest as he enjoys entertaining crowds at other events as well. As a busy Baltimore bird earning $350 an hour, his annual income is definitely something to admire.
25. Iceburgh
Team: Pittsburgh Penguins
Salary: $250 per hour
Iceburgh has been the official Pittsburgh Penguins mascot since 1991. He and the Pittsburgh Penguins later became movie stars when they featured in the film, Sudden Death that starred the legendary Jean-Claude Van Damme.
The film was also shot in the Pittsburgh Paints Arena, thus bringing the stadium into the limelight. Iceburgh charges $250 per hour for his appearances. He also does private parties where people may hire him at the same hourly rate, which may amount to a handsome sum at the end of the year.
26. Swinging Friar
Team: San Diego Padres
Salary: $25,000 per year
The Swinging Friar has been a Padres mascot since before the team even came to the big leagues. He has supported his team throughout their time in the minor leagues. The team named their Mascot friar after their Spanish friars who established the city.
Over time, the friar has become one of the most popular mascots of all time. The San Diego Padres do not bring him out in every game they have, but on special occasions. However, his estimated earnings a year are $25,000, making it a great sum of money for a mascot that both entertains himself and entertains grand crowds.
27. Fredbird
Team: St. Louis Cardinals
Salary:$400 per hour
Fredbird has been a veteran in this mascot role for the St. Louis Cardinals since 1979 when he first joined the team. Fredbird is not as popular as his mascot fellows, but he is a favorite of the St. Louis Cardinals. He entertains and excites the St. Louis Cardinals fans as the team plays their home games.
He mainly entertains young people, but the adults also love when he is pulling off stunts. Fredbird not only appears at the field with his team to get paid; he also performs at private parties for $400 per hour of his expertise. However, when the spokesman was asked about the Mascot’s earnings, he responded by saying that he gets paid with kisses and hugs from little children.
28. Raymond
Team: Tampa Bay Rays
Salary: $300 per hour
According to his biography, Raymond was born in the Gulf of Mexico and later became the Rays’ Mascot. The blue furry boy always wears a basketball cap backwardly, revealing how funny he can be.
The Mascot has seen a lot of trouble in the field. At one time, a drunk man attacked him but still, he stood his ground as the best calm and entertaining Mascot his fans know him to be. This Mascot doesn’t appear only with the Rays’ team; he also appears with DJ Kitty, the street team. All of these appearances make Raymond a rich mascot as Raymond still charges $300 per hours for each appearance he makes.
29. Philly Phanatic
Team: Philadelphia Phillies
Salary: $600 per hour
The Philly Phanatic is the Philadelphia Phillies mascot who earns a whopping $600 every hour he appears on the field. He is a green creature with an unusually long mouth -or nose- which he always uses to cheer on his Philadelphia Phillies team.
The green furry creature has a fascinating biography. According to Philly Phanatic, he was born on the Galapagos Islands and came to support the Philadelphia Phillies because he is their greatest fan.
30. Nordy
Team: Minnesota Wild
Salary: $300 per hour
Having started his job in 2008, Nordy is one of the newest mascots on this list. He has a biography stating that he was born in the northern wilderness of Minnesota. He was found skating in the frozen cold when he was offered the job as a mascot, and he didn’t hesitate. He went ahead and took up the job.
Nordy is 6 feet, 5 inches tall, and the wildcat’s homeland is at Eveleth. At the stadium you may even see him in stuffed animal form for $25, but seeing the real performance will cost you $300 per hour.
31. Burnie
Team: Miami Heat
Salary: $100,000
Burnie is sometimes described as a terrifying mascot in Florida, and there’s some truth in it. Burnie is an anthropomorphic fireball that scares some children, but he is good at performing floor acrobatics, and he is almost an expert at hijinks.
He earns around $100,000 annually, which is way lower than other mascots. However, if you never knew how much other mascots make, you would never have thought this as this seems like a crazily good amount for a mascot. Burnie also never missed any of his team’s home games.
32. Pirate Parrot
Team: Pittsburgh Pirates
Salary: $38,623 per year
The Pirate Parrot is a creation in response to the Philly Phanatic. Pirate Parrot was born out of the rivalry between the Phillies and the Pirates. The two tend to be rivalries, but they originate from the same forest.
Pirate Parrot is a villain’s parrot derived from the Louis Stevenson book known as Treasure Island. The parrot makes $38,623 yearly.
33. K.C. Wolf
Team: Kansas City Chiefs
Salary: $500 per hour
The Chiefs football team formerly had a mascot of Indian origin which was later considered culturally insensitive. Therefore K.C. Wolf took over from the previous Mascot.
One of his favorite moments is when he helped the security stop a fan who ran out in the field. He makes $500 an hour from his appearances in the field, and he also gets paid to appear in other areas like basketball games.
34. Billy the Marlin
Team: Miami Marlins
Salary: $75,000 per year
Billy is always seen at every Miami Marlins home game. He weighs around 250 pounds, and he is also eight feet tall. He is sometimes referred to as a natural prankster for his tricks and good nature.
He got a new change of costume in 2019, which changed into a giant cartoon character.
35. Swoop
Team: Philadelphia Eagles
Salary: $65,000 per year
His full name is Eagles Forest, and according to his biography, he was born in Neshaminy State Park. He was born with poor eyesight and limited strength.
He then became a half-human, half-eagle when the Philadelphia Eagles gave him a jersey of their team. He is now in charge of entertaining the fans and getting rid of the booing.
36. Captain Fear
Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Salary: $60,000 per year
Captain Fear is the Buccaneers’ Mascot, who is very easy to spot with a giant head and human body costume, which he replaced in 2000.
According to the biography of Captain Fear, he is in charge of protecting the Raymond James Stadium, and he also has a pirate ship in the Buccaneers Cove.
37. The Raptor
Team: Toronto Raptors
Salary: $60,000 per year
The Toronto Raptors’ mascot is a bright red toothy velociraptor that was derived from the Jurassic Park film. He also has a jersey with the number 95, which represents 1995 as the year in which the Toronto Raptors was fully established in the NBA.
The raptor makes $60,000 a year plus other cash benefits which is a good gig for a mascot.
38. Slamson the Lion
Team: Sacramento Kings
Salary: $60,000 per year
He is the Sacramento Kings’ mascot, and his name came from the biblical strong and legendary Samson, with of course, “Slamson” being a clever basketball pun. According to his biography, he was born in South Africa by Slamet the Lion and his mother Slam.
This may very well be the richest lion we know. Slamson earns a considerable amount of money from his mascot role, bringing in around $60,000 every year.
39. Clutch the Bear
Team: Houston Rockets
Salary: $100,000 per year
He is the adorable mascot of the Houston Rockets, earning a jaw-dropping salary of $100,000 a year. Clutch the Bear became even more famous after he consoled a man who once proposed to his girlfriend.
He took a beer bottle from another fan and gave it to the Man while walking off the court. Clutch the Bear won the Mascot of the Year award in 2013. He is also a very famous mascot who both young and old fans adore.
40. Miles
Team: Denver Broncos
Salary: $10,000 per year
Miles debuted in the early nineties and then became a public mascot in 1995. His background story is that he was born in the same year that the Denver Broncos won the Super Bowl in 1999.
The native is then said to appear two years after the Super Bowl win. Miles now lives in Denver at Empower Field, appearing on other games and other community programs.