Even the New York Yankees, the storied generators of domestic dollars, share a common interest in foreign oil.

The 27-time World Series champions are among six teams in the top 10 of the ESPN/SportingIntelligence Global Salary Survey whose business relationships have been buoyed by black gold.

This group includes Paris Saint-Germain of France's Ligue 1, which finished in the survey's top spot. PSG is owned by Qatar Sports Investments, an arm of the oil-rich country's sovereign wealth fund. The average annual salary for those on PSG's roster is $9.1 million, which places the team about $500,000 ahead of La Liga's Real Madrid ($8.64 million) and the EPL's Manchester City ($8.6 million).

"Foreign ownership, and oil money in particular, has transformed elite English soccer in the past decade and is now making a significant impression in other leagues -- and sports," says the editor of SportingIntelligence.com, Nick Harris, who has compiled the survey for ESPN since 2010. "Before Qatar Sports Investments bought France's PSG in 2011, they weren't among the top 10 French clubs in all-time title wins. Now they're on a hat trick of title wins and the world's richest sports team."

But it's the NBA that has the highest average per-player salary. At $4.6 million, the NBA ranks just ahead of India's IPL cricket ($4.3 million) and MLB ($4.2 million).

The top three NBA teams are the Brooklyn Nets ($6.2 million per player), New York Knicks ($5.9 million) and Los Angeles Clippers ($5.3 million). The Los Angeles Dodgers ($8.0 million) lead baseball and the Royal Challengers Bangalore ($4.5 million) head the IPL list. Wondering how NFL teams fare? The football team with the highest average salary, the Miami Dolphins ($2.3 million), doesn't crack the list until No. 124.

The survey reveals which teams spend the most on their players, including an analysis of 333 teams in 17 major pro leagues, covering seven sports, 13 countries and 9,731 athletes who are making a combined $17.94 billion.

Some of those big spenders have help. Abu Dhabi's International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC), for example, sponsors Real Madrid. Billionaire Sheikh Mansour owns Manchester City, which held the top spot in the survey the previous two years. Mansour is a member of Abu Dhabi's royal family, the deputy prime minister of the United Arab Emirates and a man whose wealth is derived from oil. Mansour also co-owns, with the Steinbrenner family (the Yankees' principal owners), the newly minted MLS franchise New York City Football Club -- so baseball royalty meets actual royalty.

The amount of wealth in the sports landscape can be staggering. The Yankees are spending an average of $7.3 million per player -- yet dropped from second to ninth on the overall list this year.

Along with PSG, Real Madrid and Manchester City, which held the top three spots in the 2015 survey, popular foreign soccer clubs Barcelona ($8.1 million) and Chelsea ($7.5 million) came in fourth and eighth, respectively. Roman Abramovich, a Russian whose billions were accrued in part from oil, owns Chelsea, which has won four EPL titles in the 12 seasons he has controlled the club.

In many cases, like that of Real Madrid, oil connections are indirect. Barcelona has a sponsorship deal with Middle East telecommunications giant Etisalat and a lucrative shirt deal with Qatar Airways. Etihad Airways and investment firm Aabar, both of which are based in the United Arab Emirates, also sponsor Manchester City.

PSG, for its part, appears in the survey for the first time because of the increased relevance of Ligue 1. It would have ranked 10th last year and 67th in 2013, providing some context for its rise to the top of the 2015 survey.

2015 Global Salary Survey The survey by ESPN The Magazine and SportingIntelligence reveals which teams spend the most on their players, including an analysis of 333 teams in 17 major pro leagues, covering seven sports, 13 countries and 9,731 athletes who are making a combined $17.94 billion. Rank

('14 rank) Team, League Avg. annual ($) Payroll

(rank) 1 (new) Paris Saint-Germain, Ligue 1 9.1M (n/a) 227.1M (2) 2 (4) Real Madrid, La Liga 8.6M (13.9%) 216M (4) 3 (1) Manchester City, EPL 8.6M (6%) 215M (5) 4 (5) Barcelona, La Liga 8.1M (8.6%) 202.1M (6) 5 (3) Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB 8M (3.1%) 272.8M (1) 6 (8) Manchester United, EPL 8M (22.2%) 200.6M (7) 7 (7) Bayern Munich, Bundesliga 7.7M (14.5%) 191.5M (8) 8 (10) Chelsea, EPL 7.5M (23.3%) 186.6M (10) 9 (2) New York Yankees, MLB 7.3M (-9%) 219.3M (3) 10 (11) Arsenal, EPL 7M (17.2%) 173.8M (12) 11 (6) Brooklyn Nets, NBA 6.2M (-8.3%) 93.7M (70) 12 (13) Detroit Tigers, MLB 6.2M (6.6%) 173.8M (11) 13 (17) San Francisco Giants, MLB 6.2M (12.3%) 172.7M (13) 14 (20) Liverpool, EPL 6M (16.3%) 150.4M (16) 15 (12) New York Knicks, NBA 5.9M (0.2%) 88.2M (75) 16 (29) Washington Nationals, MLB 5.7M (18.5%) 164.9M (14) 17 (15) Boston Red Sox, MLB 5.7M (-0.7%) 187.4M (9) 18 (26) Los Angeles Clippers, NBA 5.3M (8.2%) 80M (79) 19 (37) Sacramento Kings, NBA 5.1M (14.4%) 71M (105) 20 (35) Denver Nuggets, NBA 5M (12.3%) 75.6M (87) 21 (45) Toronto Raptors, NBA 5M (20.4%) 75.5M (89) 22 (33) Memphis Grizzlies, NBA 5M (9.3%) 75.1M (90) 23 (52) Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA 4.9M (21.4%) 74.2M (93) 24 (18) Juventus, Serie A 4.9M (-8.2%) 127.4M (19) 25 (28) Golden State Warriors, NBA 4.9M (1.8%) 73.4M (94) 26 (43) Washington Wizards, NBA 4.9M (14.1%) 73M (96) 27 (14) Philadelphia Phillies, MLB 4.9M (-16.2%) 135.8M (18) 28 (16) Miami Heat, NBA 4.8M (-13.2%) 72.5M (99) 29 (9) Chicago Bulls, NBA 4.8M (-20.2%) 67.6M (118) 30 (54) Tottenham, EPL 4.8M (19.4%) 120.5M (27) 31 (19) Los Angeles Lakers, NBA 4.8M (-7.4%) 72M (101) 32 (21) Boston Celtics, NBA 4.8M (-6%) 71.7M (104) 33 (23) Indiana Pacers, NBA 4.8M (-4.7%) 76.2M (82) 34 (22) Oklahoma City Thunder,

NBA 4.8M (-5.4%) 76M (84) 35 (30) Toronto Blue Jays, MLB 4.7M (-1.7%) 122.5M (23) 36 (65) Cincinnati Reds, MLB 4.7M (37.7%) 117.2M (35) 37 (32) New Orleans Pelicans, NBA 4.6M (0.8%) 69.6M (108) 38 (46) Portland Trail Blazers, NBA 4.6M (10.4%) 69.1M (111) 39 (36) Dallas Mavericks, NBA 4.6M (2.5%) 69M (112) 40 (42) San Antonio Spurs, NBA 4.6M (6.1%) 68.3M (117) 41 (40) Royal Challengers

Bangalore, IPL 4.5M (2.6%) 9.7M (253) 42 (44) Chennai Super Kings, IPL 4.5M (6.1%) 9.6M (257) 43 (24) Mumbai Indians, IPL 4.5M (-9.9%) 9.6M (258) 44 (34) Minnesota Timberwolves,

NBA 4.4M (-2.6%) 65.9M (125) 45 (98) Sunrisers Hyderabad, IPL 4.4M (73.5%) 9.4M (262) 46 (50) Houston Rockets, NBA 4.4M (5.9%) 65.5M (127) 47 (39) Kolkata Knight Riders, IPL 4.4M (-0.6%) 9.4M (264) 48 (41) Delhi Daredevils, IPL 4.3M (1.1%) 9.4M (265) 49 (38) Los Angeles Angels, MLB 4.3M (-2.3%) 150.9M (15) 50 (48) Texas Rangers, MLB 4.3M (4%) 142.1M (17) 51 (53) Charlotte Hornets, NBA 4.3M (6%) 64.5M (129) 52 (73) Seattle Mariners, MLB 4.3M (38.6%) 119.8M (28) 53 (51) Schalke, Bundesliga 4.3M (4.7%) 106.7M (54) 54 (66) Minnesota Twins, MLB 4.2M (23.4%) 108.9M (48) 55 (56) St. Louis Cardinals, MLB 4.2M (8%) 120.9M (26) 56 (69) Chicago White Sox, MLB 4.1M (24.1%) 115.2M (38) 57 (60) Utah Jazz, NBA 4.1M (9%) 57.6M (153) 58 (27) Milan, Serie A 4.1M (-16.2%) 118.5M (32) 59 (170) Rajasthan Royals, IPL 4.1M (137.4%) 8.8M (273) 60 (68) Kansas City Royals, MLB 4.1M (21.1%) 113.6M (41) 61 (103) Kings XI Punjab, IPL 4M (63%) 8.7M (274) 62 (47) Borussia Dortmund,

Bundesliga 4M (-3.3%) 100.5M (65) 63 (49) Detroit Pistons, NBA 4M (-3.7%) 59.6M (147) 64 (57) Atlanta Hawks, NBA 3.9M (3.4%) 59M (148) 65 (64) Phoenix Suns, NBA 3.9M (12.7%) 58.1M (150) 66 (25) Roma, Serie A 3.8M (-22.2%) 99.9M (66) 67 (59) Milwaukee Bucks, NBA 3.7M (-1.9%) 55.8M (155) 68 (89) Chicago Cubs, MLB 3.6M (35.5%) 119M (29) 69 (31) Internazionale, Serie A 3.6M (-23.2%) 99.8M (67) 70 (67) Baltimore Orioles, MLB 3.6M (4.8%) 110.1M (46) 71 (62) Colorado Rockies, MLB 3.5M (-4.6%) 102M (60) 72 (58) Milwaukee Brewers, MLB 3.5M (-8%) 105M (57) 73 (71) Atlanta Braves, MLB 3.5M (10.4%) 97.6M (69) 74 (87) New York Rangers, NHL 3.3M (24.8%) 76.8M (81) 75 (105) Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL 3.3M (35.7%) 73.3M (95) 76 (76) Chicago Blackhawks, NHL 3.3M (9.6%) 75.6M (86) 77 (72) New York Mets, MLB 3.3M (4.8%) 101.4M (62) 78 (new) Monaco, Ligue 1 3.2M (n/a) 81.2M (78) 79 (90) Napoli, Serie A 3.1M (18.5%) 75.6M (88) 80 (75) Aston Villa, EPL 3.1M (1.9%) 77.6M (80) 81 (81) Los Angeles Kings, NHL 3.1M (8.3%) 74.4M (92) 82 (74) Cleveland Indians, MLB 3.1M (0.6%) 86.1M (76) 83 (77) San Diego Padres, MLB 3.1M (5.2%) 100.7M (64) 84 (110) Toronto Maple Leafs, NHL 3M (24.7%) 72.6M (98) 85 (91) Atletico Madrid, La Liga 3M (13.7%) 74.9M (91) 86 (new) Lyon, Ligue 1 2.9M (n/a) 71.8M (102) 87 (88) Newcastle, EPL 2.9M (7.8%) 71.8M (103) 88 (78) Pittsburgh Pirates, MLB 2.8M (-1.2%) 88.3M (74) 89 (79) Philadelphia Flyers, NHL 2.8M (-1.8%) 75.9M (85) 90 (93) Everton, EPL 2.8M (6.9%) 70.1M (107) 91 (120) Tampa Bay Lightning, NHL 2.8M (22.6%) 66.6M (122) 92 (97) Detroit Red Wings, NHL 2.8M (9.8%) 72.1M (100) 93 (61) Arizona Diamondbacks,

MLB 2.8M (-25.6%) 91.5M (72) 94 (109) Sunderland, EPL 2.8M (14%) 69.3M (109) 95 (153) Swansea, EPL 2.8M (43.2%) 69.1M (110) 96 (63) Orlando Magic, NBA 2.8M (-21.9%) 41.3M (169) 97 (124) Edmonton Oilers, NHL 2.7M (23.2%) 68.4M (115) 98 (111) Wolfsburg, Bundesliga 2.7M (14.4%) 68.4M (116) 99 (104) St Louis Blues, NHL 2.7M (9.4%) 67.5M (119) 100 (82) Minnesota Wild, NHL 2.7M (-4.9%) 67.5M (120) 101 (101) Washington Capitals, NHL 2.7M (8.4%) 72.8M (97) 102 (new) Marseille, Ligue 1 2.7M (n/a) 66.7M (121) 103 (118) Winnipeg Jets, NHL 2.7M (15.7%) 61.1M (141) 104 (86) Fulham, EPL 2.7M (-0.9%) 66.3M (123) 105 (84) Nashville Predators, NHL 2.7M (-2%) 63.6M (131) 106 (85) Vancouver Canucks, NHL 2.6M (-2.3%) 65.9M (124) 107 (92) Boston Bruins, NHL 2.6M (0.3%) 68.5M (113) 108 (107) Bayer Leverkusen,

Bundesliga 2.6M (7.6%) 65.7M (126) 109 (117) West Bromwich

Albion, EPL 2.6M (13.7%) 65.4M (128) 110 (100) Oakland Athletics, MLB 2.6M (4.7%) 86.1M (77) 111 (122) Buffalo Sabres, NHL 2.6M (15.8%) 62.1M (137) 112 (95) San Jose Sharks, NHL 2.6M (1%) 64.4M (130) 113 (157) Florida Panthers, NHL 2.5M (37.8%) 61.2M (140) 114 (176) Miami Marlins, MLB 2.5M (63.7%) 68.5M (114) 115 (99) Carolina Hurricanes, NHL 2.5M (0.9%) 63.3M (132) 116 (136) Sevilla, La Liga 2.5M (18.5%) 62.6M (135) 117 (123) Colorado Avalanche, NHL 2.5M (11.9%) 62.3M (136) 118 (94) Montreal Canadiens, NHL 2.5M (-5.6%) 61.7M (139) 119 (131) West Ham, EPL 2.4M (11.7%) 61.1M (142) 120 (106) Dallas Stars, NHL 2.4M (-0.9%) 63M (134) 121 (155) Southampton, EPL 2.4M (27.5%) 60.4M (145) 122 (126) New Jersey Devils, NHL 2.4M (6.9%) 54.4M (159) 123 (174) Houston Astros, MLB 2.4M (47.1%) 70.9M (106) 124 (163) Miami Dolphins, NFL 2.3M (32.7%) 124.3M (20) 125 (150) Detroit Lions, NFL 2.3M (20.1%) 118.8M (30) 126 (138) Cincinnati Bengals, NFL 2.3M (11.3%) 123.3M (21) 127 (134) Green Bay Packers, NFL 2.3M (8%) 123.2M (22) 128 (new) Cardiff, EPL 2.3M (n/a) 57.8M (151) 129 (112) Stoke, EPL 2.3M (-2%) 57.8M (152) 130 (125) Denver Broncos, NFL 2.3M (4.2%) 122.3M (24) 131 (145) Tampa Bay Bucs, NFL 2.3M (13.5%) 122.2M (25) 132 (83) Tampa Bay Rays, MLB 2.3M (-18.5%) 76.1M (83) 133 (127) Ottawa Senators, NHL 2.3M (4.1%) 55.3M (156) 134 (114) Arizona Coyotes, NHL 2.3M (-1.8%) 55.1M (157) 135 (115) Minnesota Vikings, NFL 2.3M (-2.4%) 117.5M (34) 136 (128) Hamburg, Bundesliga 2.2M (2%) 56.1M (154) 137 (160) Buffalo Bills, NFL 2.2M (24.3%) 118.7M (31) 138 (137) Pittsburgh Steelers, NFL 2.2M (6.6%) 118.4M (33) 139 (165) New York Islanders, NHL 2.2M (27.1%) 60.2M (146) 140 (80) Philadelphia 76ers, NBA 2.2M (-22.9%) 30.9M (180) 141 (135) Philadelphia Eagles, NFL 2.2M (3%) 116.7M (36) 142 (162) Cleveland Browns, NFL 2.2M (23.1%) 114.2M (39) 143 (116) Seattle Seahawks, NFL 2.2M (-4.7%) 116.3M (37) 144 (121) Chicago Bears, NFL 2.2M (-2.1%) 111.6M (44) 145 (113) Stuttgart, Bundesliga 2.2M (-6.6%) 54.7M (158) 146 (102) Valencia, La Liga 2.2M (-12.7%) 54.2M (160) 147 (130) New Orleans Saints, NFL 2.2M (-1.9%) 112.1M (43) 148 (133) Tennessee Titans, NFL 2.2M (-0.1%) 114.1M (40) 149 (96) Lazio, Serie A 2.1M (-15.4%) 62.1M (138) 150 (148) San Diego Chargers, NFL 2.1M (7.5%) 113.2M (42) 151 (119) Anaheim Ducks, NHL 2.1M (-8.2%) 63.2M (133) 152 (129) Columbus Blue

Jackets, NHL 2.1M (-4.2%) 61M (143) 153 (158) Washington Redskins, NFL 2.1M (13.6%) 108.8M (49) 154 (173) Carolina Panthers, NFL 2.1M (23.8%) 106.7M (55) 155 (151) Fiorentina, Serie A 2.1M (7.5%) 60.5M (144) 156 (149) New England Patriots, NFL 2.1M (6.8%) 110.2M (45) 157 (139) New York Giants, NFL 2.1M (-0.9%) 109.8M (47) 158 (152) Baltimore Ravens, NFL 2M (6%) 108.6M (50) 159 (154) Atlanta Falcons, NFL 2M (5.8%) 108.2M (51) 160 (142) Houston Texans, NFL 2M (-0.9%) 108M (52) 161 (140) San Francisco 49ers, NFL 2M (-2.3%) 107.9M (53) 162 (144) Calgary Flames, NHL 2M (0.1%) 59M (149) 163 (182) Oakland Raiders, NFL 2M (69.9%) 106.1M (56) 164 (141) Norwich, EPL 2M (-3.6%) 49.7M (161) 165 (new) Lille, Ligue 1 2M (n/a) 49.2M (162) 166 (175) Jacksonville Jaguars, NFL 2M (24.8%) 104.3M (58) 167 (187) Arizona Cardinals, NFL 2M (74%) 103.6M (59) 168 (143) Indianapolis Colts, NFL 1.9M (-6.2%) 101.6M (61) 169 (108) Werder Bremen,

Bundesliga 1.9M (-21.4%) 47.9M (163) 170 (146) St. Louis Rams, NFL 1.9M (-6.3%) 100.8M (63) 171 (168) Borussia Monchengladbach,

Bundesliga 1.9M (8.4%) 47.2M (164) 172 (132) Kansas City Chiefs, NFL 1.9M (-13.4%) 99.7M (68) 173 (169) Hannover 96, Bundesliga 1.8M (4.7%) 45.1M (165) 174 (new) Hull City, EPL 1.8M (n/a) 45.1M (166) 175 (156) Dallas Cowboys, NFL 1.8M (-4.4%) 91.4M (73) 176 (159) New York Jets, NFL 1.7M (-4.2%) 91.9M (71) 177 (new) Crystal Palace, EPL 1.7M (n/a) 42.8M (167) 178 (171) Hoffenheim, Bundesliga 1.7M (-1.1%) 42.4M (168) 179 (161) Eintracht Frankfurt,

Bundesliga 1.6M (-8.2%) 41M (170) 180 (164) Athletic Bilbao, La Liga 1.6M (-7.5%) 40.7M (171) 181 (167) Celtic, SPL 1.5M (-11.4%) 40.2M (172) 182 (180) Mainz, Bundesliga 1.3M (5.3%) 32.8M (176) 183 (181) Nuremberg, Bundesliga 1.3M (6.1%) 32.8M (177) 184 (179) Genoa, Serie A 1.3M (-3.0%) 35.1M (175) 185 (new) Hertha Berlin, Bundesliga 1.3M (n/a) 31.5M (178) 186 (172) Malaga, La Liga 1.2M (-26.8%) 31.2M (179) 187 (new) Bordeaux, Ligue 1 1.2M (n/a) 30.8M (181) 188 (184) Getafe, La Liga 1.2M (1%) 29.2M (183) 189 (195) Torino, Serie A 1.1M (20%) 27.4M (189) 190 (205) Shandong Luneng, CSL 1.1M (44%) 39.9M (173) 191 (new) Saint-Etienne, Ligue 1 1.1M (n/a) 27.7M (187) 192 (new) Villarreal, La Liga 1.1M (n/a) 27.6M (188) 193 (183) Yomiuri Giants, NPB 1.1M (-6.2%) 29.8M (182) 194 (185) Real Sociedad, La Liga 1.1M (-8.4%) 26.5M (190) 195 (178) Guangzhou Evergrande,

CSL 1.1M (-26.2%) 35.9M (174) 196 (194) Parma, Serie A 1M (4.5%) 28.8M (184) 197 (188) Bologna, Serie A 980K (-12.2%) 28.5M (185) 198 (177) Sampdoria, Serie A 980K (-31.8%) 28.4M (186) 199 (192) Espanyol, La Liga 980K (-7.7%) 24.4M (192) 200 (206) Real Betis, La Liga 950K (26.3%) 23.8M (194) 201 (208) Fukuoka SoftBank

Hawks, NPB 950K (29.4%) 25.6M (191) 202 (197) Augsburg, Bundesliga 930K (5.3%) 23.3M (195) 203 (190) Atalanta, Serie A 893K (-18.8%) 24.1M (193) 204 (214) Toronto FC, MLS 891K (48.7%) 20.5M (204) 205 (196) Freiburg, Bundesliga 881K (-5.8%) 22M (197) 206 (new) Verona, Serie A 826K (n/a) 23.1M (196) 207 (new) Eintracht Braunschweig,

Bundesliga 821K (n/a) 20.5M (202) 208 (new) Nice, Ligue 1 821K (n/a) 20.5M (203) 209 (202) Catania, Serie A 814K (0.9%) 22M (198) 210 (191) Udinese, Serie A 784K (-26%) 21.2M (199) 211 (new) Rennes, Ligue 1 780K (n/a) 19.5M (205) 212 (224) Hanshin Tigers, NPB 767K (57.1%) 20.7M (201) 213 (new) Sassuolo, Serie A 752K (n/a) 21M (200) 214 (198) Osasuna, La Liga 739K (-15.6%) 18.5M (207) 215 (193) Granada, La Liga 728K (-27.7%) 18.2M (208) 216 (new) Montpellier, Ligue 1 698K (n/a) 17.4M (212) 217 (221) Tohoku Rakuten Golden

Eagles, NPB 662K (29.6%) 17.9M (210) 218 (200) Chunichi Dragons, NPB 624K (-23.9%) 16.9M (215) 219 (204) Cagliari, Serie A 623K (-21.6%) 17.4M (213) 220 (new) Toulouse, Ligue 1 616K (n/a) 15.4M (218) 221 (207) Chievo, Serie A 611K (-17.2%) 17.7M (211) 222 (217) Levante, La Liga 609K (10%) 15.2M (222) 223 (new) Nantes, Ligue 1 605K (n/a) 15.1M (223) 224 (220) Chiba Lotte Marines, NPB 591K (15.5%) 16M (216) 225 (new) Sochaux, Ligue 1 585K (n/a) 14.6M (225) 226 (new) Valenciennes, Ligue 1 579K (n/a) 14.5M (226) 227 (new) Reims, Ligue 1 575K (n/a) 14.4M (227) 228 (212) Hokkaido Nippon

Ham Fighters, NPB 572K (-8.5%) 15.4M (217) 229 (231) Los Angeles Galaxy, MLS 569K (67%) 15.4M (219) 230 (223) Orix Buffaloes, NPB 569K (16.2%) 15.3M (220) 231 (219) Tokyo Yakult Swallows,

NPB 566K (3%) 15.3M (221) 232 (258) Shanghai Shenhua, CSL 553K (230.1%) 18.8M (206) 233 (213) Celta Vigo, La Liga 553K (-8.4%) 13.8M (231) 234 (new) New York City FC, MLS 536K (n/a) 15M (224) 235 (new) Bastia, Ligue 1 534K (n/a) 13.3M (235) 236 (222) Saitama Seibu Lions,

NPB 532K (4.5%) 14.4M (228) 237 (new) Elche, La Liga 528K (n/a) 13.2M (236) 238 (new) Livorno, Serie A 521K (n/a) 14.1M (230) 239 (new) Almeria, La Liga 510K (n/a) 12.8M (238) 240 (254) Beijing Guoan, CSL 504K (163.6%) 18.1M (209) 241 (new) Orlando City, MLS 500K (n/a) 13.5M (233) 242 (225) Guangzhou R&F, CSL 500K (4.9%) 17M (214) 243 (new) Ajaccio, Ligue 1 499K (n/a) 12.5M (240) 244 (210) Valladolid, La Liga 494K (-28.9%) 12.3M (241) 245 (226) Hiroshima Toyo

Carp, NPB 489K (8.5%) 13.2M (237) 246 (228) New York Red Bulls, MLS 481K (24.8%) 13.5M (234) 247 (230) Seattle Sounders, MLS 481K (27.7%) 12.5M (239) 248 (new) Lorient, Ligue 1 472K (n/a) 11.8M (243) 249 (new) Evian, Ligue 1 460K (n/a) 11.5M (244) 250 (227) Yokohama DeNA

Bay Stars, NPB 457K (15.8%) 12.3M (242) 251 (218) Rayo Vallecano, La Liga 454K (-17.9%) 11.4M (245) 252 (new) Guingamp, Ligue 1 451K (n/a) 11.3M (246) 253 (new) Urawa Red Diamonds,

J.League 422K (n/a) 10.6M (249) 254 (283) Jiangsu Shuntian, CSL 404K (292.2%) 13.7M (232) 255 (259) Changchun Yatai, CSL 395K (140.7%) 14.2M (229) 256 (281) New England

Revolution, MLS 316K (191.2%) 7.3M (283) 257 (new) Cerezo Osaka, J.League 306K (n/a) 8M (278) 258 (256) Tianjin Taida, CSL 306K (79.2%) 11M (247) 259 (new) Yokohama F · Marinos,

J.League 297K (n/a) 8.6M (275) 260 (new) Vissel Kobe, J.League 288K (n/a) 8.1M (277) 261 (new) Gamba Osaka, J.League 277K (n/a) 7.5M (280) 262 (233) Sydney Swans, AFL 271K (8.2%) 10.8M (248) 263 (new) Henan Jianye, CSL 269K (n/a) 9.7M (254) 264 (new) Nagoya Grampus,

J.League 263K (n/a) 7.9M (279) 265 (new) FC Tokyo, J.League 257K (n/a) 6.9M (284) 266 (243) Geelong, AFL 256K (12.1%) 10.2M (250) 267 (236) Greater Western

Sydney, AFL 249K (4.2%) 10M (251) 268 (247) Fremantle, AFL 247K (9%) 9.9M (252) 269 (240) Hawthorn, AFL 241K (5.4%) 9.7M (255) 270 (235) Aberdeen, SPL 241K (0.7%) 6.5M (286) 271 (251) North Melbourne, AFL 241K (14.6%) 9.6M (256) 272 (238) West Coast Eagles, AFL 239K (4%) 9.6M (259) 273 (242) Essendon, AFL 237K (4.1%) 9.5M (260) 274 (239) Carlton, AFL 236K (2.8%) 9.4M (261) 275 (244) Richmond, AFL 235K (3.2%) 9.4M (263) 276 (246) Melbourne, AFL 233K (2.2%) 9.3M (266) 277 (234) Collingwood, AFL 232K (-3.5%) 9.3M (267) 278 (245) Adelaide Crows, AFL 231K (1.6%) 9.3M (268) 279 (250) Port Adelaide, AFL 230K (8%) 9.2M (269) 280 (237) Gold Coast, AFL 228K (-0.9%) 9.1M (270) 281 (260) Portland Timbers, MLS 228K (39.7%) 5.9M (290) 282 (248) Brisbane Lions, AFL 228K (1.6%) 9.1M (271) 283 (new) Sanfrecce Hiroshima,

J.League 227K (n/a) 6.6M (285) 284 (249) Western Bulldogs, AFL 227K (5.5%) 9.1M (272) 285 (new) Kawasaki Frontale,

J.League 226K (n/a) 6.3M (289) 286 (new) Omiya Ardija, J.League 222K (n/a) 6.4M (288) 287 (241) St Kilda, AFL 215K (-5.9%) 8.6M (276) 288 (229) Dalian Aerbin, CSL 215K (-43.8%) 7.3M (281) 289 (262) Chicago Fire, MLS 211K (34.2%) 5.3M (295) 290 (new) Kashiwa Reysol,

J.League 207K (n/a) 5.6M (292) 291 (new) Kashima Antlers,

J.League 203K (n/a) 5.7M (291) 292 (290) Hangzhou Greentown,

CSL 202K (142.5%) 7.3M (282) 293 (268) Houston Dynamo, MLS 195K (52%) 4.5M (306) 294 (270) FC Dallas, MLS 194K (57.3%) 4.8M (299) 295 (255) Vancouver Whitecaps,

MLS 192K (5.4%) 5.4M (294) 296 (215) Guizhou Renhe, CSL 190K (-68.3%) 6.5M (287) 297 (277) Sporting Kansas City,

MLS 183K (59.1%) 4.4M (310) 298 (265) San Jose Earthquakes,

MLS 179K (27.2%) 4.6M (302) 299 (252) Hibernian, SPL 175K (-13.5%) 4.4M (311) 300 (new) Shimizu S-Pulse,

J.League 174K (n/a) 5.4M (293) 301 (289) Columbus Crew, MLS 170K (81.7%) 4.2M (315) 302 (266) Philadelphia Union, MLS 168K (25.1%) 4.5M (305) 303 (269) DC United, MLS 166K (31%) 4.2M (316) 304 (253) Montreal Impact, MLS 164K (-17.9%) 4.6M (304) 305 (267) Real Salt Lake, MLS 163K (22.4%) 4.4M (309) 306 (new) Vegalta Sendai, J.League 161K (n/a) 4.4M (312) 307 (257) Dundee United, SPL 157K (-6.5%) 4.1M (318) 308 (261) Shanghai Shenxin, CSL 149K (-6.6%) 5.1M (296) 309 (276) Colorado Rapids, MLS 140K (21%) 3.6M (319) 310 (new) Albirex Niigata, J.League 138K (n/a) 3.6M (320) 311 (274) St Mirren, SPL 134K (12%) 3.4M (322) 312 (263) Kilmarnock, SPL 129K (-14.3%) 3.2M (324) 313 (294) Shanghai Dongya, CSL 119K (181.9%) 4.3M (313) 314 (272) St Johnstone, SPL 117K (-3.7%) 2.9M (325) 315 (273) Motherwell, SPL 116K (-3.6%) 2.9M (326) 316 (280) Calgary Stampeders, CFL 115K (5.9%) 5.1M (297) 317 (278) Hamilton Tiger-Cats, CFL 113K (0%) 5M (298) 318 (275) Saskatchewan

Roughriders, CFL 110K (-7.8%) 4.8M (300) 319 (232) Heart of Midlothian, SPL 110K (-56.7%) 2.7M (329) 320 (285) BC Lions, CFL 108K (7.3%) 4.8M (301) 321 (287) Winnipeg Blue Bombers,

CFL 104K (5.1%) 4.6M (303) 322 (new) Sagan Tosu, J.League 103K (n/a) 2.9M (327) 323 (new) Ventforet Kofu, J.League 101K (n/a) 2.8M (328) 324 (284) Toronto Argonauts, CFL 101K (-2.2%) 4.4M (307) 325 (279) Montreal Alouettes, CFL 100K (-9.3%) 4.4M (308) 326 (271) Liaoning Hongyun, CSL 100K (-18.6%) 3.4M (321) 327 (286) Edmonton Eskimos, CFL 97K (-3.7%) 4.3M (314) 328 (new) Harbin Yiteng, CSL 95K (n/a) 3.2M (323) 329 (new) Ottawa Redblacks, CFL 94K (n/a) 4.1M (317) 330 (291) Inverness Caledonian

Thistle, SPL 92K (13.8%) 2.2M (331) 331 (new) Tokushima Vortis,

J.League 91K (n/a) 2.7M (330) 332 (new) Partick Thistle, SPL 78K (n/a) 2M (332) 333 (293) Ross County, SPL 62K (4.4%) 1.5M (333)

Methodology

To find out which teams shell out the most dough on their players, 333 teams in 17 major pro leagues, covering seven sports, spanning 13 countries, comprising 9,731 athletes making a combined $17.94 billion in salary were surveyed. Nick Harris, editor of Sportingintelligence.com, compiled the final numbers. "Average Annual Pay" is calculated from base player salaries from current or most recently completed seasons from each sport.

All totals exclude endorsements, performance bonuses, appearance fees and any other source of extra compensation. All figures converted to U.S. dollars. The lists include money paid in salaries to players who form the 'first-team squad' (active roster) across a season. Salaries for the survey are taken from the following years:

MLB, MLS: 2015

NBA, NHL: 2014-15

NFL, CSL (Chinese Super League, soccer), J. League (Japanese League, soccer) NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball), AFL (Australian Football League) and CFL (Canadian Football League): 2014

EPL, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue 1 and SPL: 2013-14

IPL (Indian Premier League, cricket): Annual pay extrapolated from 2014 tournament

Editor's note: A different methodology was used for the nine IPL clubs on the list. Those clubs -- Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Delhi Daredevils, Chennai Super Kings, Pune Warriors, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kings XI Punjab, Rajasthan Royals -- play a six-week season. Because the season is so short, Harris derives their placement by determining the amount a team pays out on a weekly basis and then multiples that figure by 52 weeks. Therefore, the average annual pay for these nine IPL clubs is not an amount of money that the club actually pays, but a reflection of what they would pay out to their players if the IPL had more of a year-round season.