NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell made $44.2 million last year. Yes, you read that right. According to Sports Business Journal reporter Daniel Kaplan, Goodell took home a cool $35.1 million, PLUS $9.1 million in deferred payments for the fiscal year that ended on March 31, 2013.

Kaplan obtained a letter written by NFL owners Arthur Blank, Robert Kraft and Jerry Richardson that claimed "Goodell's compensation reflects our pay-for-performance philosophy and is appropriate given the fact that the NFL under his consistently strong leadership continues to grow."

BREAKING NEWS: NFL paid commissioner Roger Goodell $35.1 mln, plus $9.1 mln of deferred pay in year-ended March 31, ’13, for $44.2 mln total — daniel kaplan (@dkaplanSBJ) February 14, 2014

Goodell earned $29.5 mln previous year. New pay makes him likely highest paid sports exec in US, topping or close to MLB commish Bud Selig. — daniel kaplan (@dkaplanSBJ) February 14, 2014

For contrast, the President of the United States makes $400,000 a year* - just under 1/100th of Goodell's yearly salary.

*per MSN.com

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