Why sport stars are wealthier than ever -- but they still may not be getting their fair share

Analysis by Harry Enten, CNN

Updated 1207 GMT (2007 HKT) August 9, 2022

Juan Soto recently turned down a $440 million deal with the Washington Nationals.

(CNN)Sometimes, it's tough for the average person to comprehend how much money some professional athletes make. Witness the recent MLB trade deadline. We saw the Washington Nationals trade away Juan Soto after the left fielder turned down a $440 million (!) deal.

Likewise, the NFL preseason has begun, and the top salaries there seem no less outlandish. We're talking $50 million per year. Indeed, the average professional athlete in the United States is making near record amounts, so it's tough for us to put ourselves in their shoes. But a look at the data reveals that their share of the sports revenue pie is actually shrinking compared to the owners, and their minor league counterparts continue to make very little. To be clear, major league salaries have exploded over the last three decades. Take a look at the MLB, NBA and NFL — consider these all approximations because, sometimes, sports contracts are complex.Back in 1990, the average MLB player made about $1.4 million with inflation taken into account. This year, the average player makes about $4.4 million — or roughly three times higher.Read MoreFor the NBA, the increase has been even greater: $1.9 million in 1990 to $9.6 million now — roughly five times more. NFL players make and made the least: $790,000 in 1990 to about $3.3 million — roughly fourtimes higher — for the average annual value at the end of last season. All told, the average player in these sports is earning three to five times more than they did three decades ago, even when taking inflation into account. The average, though, masks to some degree how