I read over the weekend that Rick Reilly’s annual salary at ESPN is rumored to be $2 million. That’s pretty wild. I wouldn’t have thought a sports writer could make that much.
I also read last weekend that Arthur Kornberg died. I didn’t know him, but as a science major in college I learned about the research he performed. He won the Nobel Prize in medicine in 1959. He was a superstar in biochemistry, kind of like the Ted Williams of the lab.
After reading the Kornberg obituary I wondered how the Nobel Prize stacked up, money-wise, to what Reilly is reported to earn at ESPN. The 2007 Nobel Prizes were awarded a little while back and I went through the news stories in the New York Times to see what each winner got:
Economics – $1.56 million, split three ways
Peace – $1.5, split 2 ways
Literature – $1.6 million
Physics – $1.5 million, split two ways
Medicine – $1.54 million, split three ways
Chemistry – $1.5 million
Not bad, even when you have to share the money. Still, for a lifetime of work that benefits mankind in one way or another, it’s kind of slim.
And then there’s Alex Rodriguez, who is turning down approximately $25 million a year from the Yankees and entering the free agent market where it’s been speculated that he will get around $30 million annually. (The Cot’s site still has A-Rod listed with the Yankees; I expect he’ll be moved over to the free agent list soon.)
So for one year of playing baseball Alex Rodriguez will be worth about 20 Nobel Prizes. Or 15 Rick Reilly’s.
Oy.
