5 Most Expensive Sports You’ll Probably Never Do in 2024

Sports are the world’s favorite pastime. They’re fun to watch and fun to participate in: especially when the stakes are high. Stakes are at their highest when it comes to the world’s most expensive sports because at any given moment thousands, if not millions, of dollars are on the line. Most of us will never be able to afford to compete in these events, but we can still sit by and watch anxiously as the world’s elite play with money.

1. Equestrianism

When you think of equestrianism do you think of European Royals riding around on horses that cost more than your car? If that’s the image you’ve got seared into your brain for this sport, you’re on to something, because equestrianism is so expensive that it really is only for the most elite of the elite.

What’s so expensive about equestrianism? First of all, you need a dressage horse. A quick browse through DressageStar.com yields horses in the tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars. This is a small price to pay for a horse that can dance to music! Unfortunately, most of us don’t have the money to spend on a dancing horse, so we’re left watching Royals compete in the Olympics.

2. Modern Pentathlon

Modern Pentathlon tops the list of most expensive sports for the sheer amount of pricy equipment and training that goes into it. Mod-pen is an Olympic sport that is made up of five events (hence the pentathlon)—fencing, swimming, show jumping, pistol shooting, and running. Any of these sports on their own might not be horribly expensive to participate in (with the exception of show jumping, again because of the horse), but combined there’s no way that this is a sport for anyone other than elites. Mod-pen athletes spend buckets of cash on horses, guns, equipment, and training for five sports—while most of us couldn’t even afford the same quality of equipment for one of them!

3. Sky Diving

A sport involving a carefully calibrated descent from thousands of feet off the ground might be expensive? This unsurprising finding is true: you can get a full parachute package that includes your main chute, your reserve shoot, and the harness for the not-so-low price of $7,089. And don’t forget everything else you’ll need–skyhook, hip and chest rings, and jumpsuit and helmet of course. All told you’re going over $8,000, and probably beyond. And that’s not including the plane.

Perhaps that isn’t bad though, for a sport where you get to go as close to infinity, and beyond as humanly possible.

4. Cycling

Interested in climbing Alps like Lance Chris Froome? To do it at speed, you’re going to need a nice bike. Fully carbon, using technology originally developed for Formula 1. You’ll need the best (and lightest) components possible to keep your ride fast going up–and top-notch aerodynamics to get you down in front and in one piece.

A bike like the Pinarello Dogma 65.1 Think2 is probably what you need. And it has a price tag to match the name: $11,999, fully built. Well, not quite fully–you’ll need to bring pedals, as well as your gear. And at the Tour de France, the gear doesn’t come cheap–you need a full team with a car and multiple replacement bikes. That’s right, to really compete, you don’t need one $12,000 bike–you need several. If you want to ride with the best, you better start saving.

5. Formula 1

Formula 1 is an insanely expensive sport because it requires purchasing multiple cars for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Car companies that participate in sponsoring these races have budgets of billions of dollars. The engine of an F1 car alone can cost upwards of $8 million. In it’s most frugal form, Formula 1 racing will cost a couple of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Of course, the costs of F1 racing are somewhat justified by the fact that people’s lives and safety are at risk when they participate. That being said, I’m not sure I could convince myself to drive an F1 car knowing that if I crashed it I would have thrown millions of dollars away!

Key Insights

• Equestrianism: The sport is synonymous with wealth, requiring dressage horses that can cost tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars. The exclusivity of the sport is highlighted by its association with European royals and Olympic-level competition.
• Modern Pentathlon: This Olympic sport comprises fencing, swimming, show jumping, pistol shooting, and running, making it one of the most expensive due to the extensive and costly equipment and training needed for each event. The combined financial burden ensures it remains accessible primarily to the elite.
• Sky Diving: The sport’s expenses include parachute packages exceeding $8,000 and additional gear costs. Despite the high cost, sky diving offers a unique thrill, justifying the investment for many enthusiasts.
• Cycling: High-end cycling, especially at competitive levels like the Tour de France, demands bikes costing around $12,000 and additional gear. The financial demands increase with the need for multiple bikes and a support team, making it a sport for those with substantial financial backing.
• Formula 1: Formula 1 racing is one of the most expensive sports due to the need for multiple high-cost cars and engines, with budgets often running into billions. The high expenses are partly justified by the critical focus on safety in this high-risk sport.

FAQ

1. Why is equestrianism so expensive?
   Equestrianism is costly due to the price of high-quality dressage horses, which can range from tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Additionally, the sport involves significant expenses for training, equipment, and maintenance.
2. What makes modern pentathlon one of the most expensive sports?
   The modern pentathlon includes five distinct sports, each requiring specialized equipment and training. The combined cost of fencing gear, swimming training, show jumping horses, pistol shooting equipment, and running gear makes it prohibitively expensive for most people.
3. How much does it cost to get started in sky diving?
   Getting started in sky diving can cost over $8,000. This includes a full parachute package, a skyhook, hip and chest rings, a jumpsuit, and a helmet. Additional costs can arise from the need for regular practice jumps and potential equipment upgrades.
4. What kind of bike do you need for competitive cycling, and how much does it cost?
   For competitive cycling, such as racing in the Tour de France, you need a high-end bike like the Pinarello Dogma 65.1 Think2, which costs around $12,000. You also need high-quality gear, multiple replacement bikes, and a support team, significantly increasing the overall cost.
5. Why is Formula 1 racing considered an expensive sport?
   Formula 1 racing is expensive due to the high cost of the cars, with engines alone costing upwards of $8 million. Teams require multiple cars and extensive support, with overall budgets often reaching into billions. The costs are partly justified by the need for advanced safety measures in this high-risk sport.

By Jenny Chang

Jenny Chang is a senior writer specializing in SaaS and B2B software solutions. Her decision to focus on these two industries was spurred by their explosive growth in the last decade, much of it she attributes to the emergence of disruptive technologies and the quick adoption by businesses that were quick to recognize their values to their organizations. She has covered all the major developments in SaaS and B2B software solutions, from the introduction of massive ERPs to small business platforms to help startups on their way to success.