Mike Conley, Joey Bosa and D'Angelo Russell Top the List of Ohio State's Highest-Paid Professional Athletes Ever

Those were the wise words Drake once said in “Uptown” in 2009.

Sixteen years later, that still rings true today, as former Ohio State athletes continue to make millions of dollars playing the games they love, making the #DevelopedHere slogan a reality.

Thanks to an idea brought on by Awful Announcing owner Ben Koo, we researched to find the former Ohio State athletes in the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL who have made the most money as professional athletes (as of June 2025).

In all, 14 Ohio State alums have made more than $100 million in their respective careers in the NBA (three), NFL (10) and MLB (one). Of those, seven are still active in their respective sport.

NFL

The Bosa brothers take two of the top three spots among former Buckeyes in the NFL.

While seven of the eight highest-paid former Ohio State players on the gridiron are still active, Pro Football Hall of Famer, Super Bowl champion and former No. 1 overall pick Orlando Pace made more than $102 million and remains among Ohio State’s 10 highest-paid NFL players ever even though his 13-year career ended in 2009 before the NFL salary cap skyrocketed to what it is today.

If 2023 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud continues on the path that he showcased in his first NFL season and rebound from his sophomore slump last season, the 23-year-old will become one of Ohio State's highest-paid professional athletes of all-time on his second NFL contract, given that most of the NFL’s top quarterbacks now make more than $50 million per year.

(Note: Given that NFL contracts aren't fully guaranteed – unlike the NBA, MLB and NHL – the remaining contract numbers could change for some of the active players listed.)

NBA

Five of the top 10 highest-paid Ohio State players on the hardwood are still active, with 37-year-old Mike Conley – the highest-paid former Buckeye ever – leading the way as Ohio State’s highest-paid pro athlete ever. Conley just concluded his 18th NBA season and has won the NBA's Sportsmanship Award a record four times while also taking home the NBA's Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year in 2023-24.

MLB

There's a reason Ohio State's field at Bill Davis Stadium is named “Nick Swisher Field.” Swisher is the only former OSU baseball player to notch nine figures in the MLB, and one of just three former Buckeyes to make more than $4 million in the MLB. The others are pitcher Cory Luebke, who spent four seasons in the MLB in 2010-12 and 2016, and Ryan Feltner, who is currently a starting pitcher for the CoIorado Rockies.

NHL

While only three former Buckeyes have made more than $7 million in the NHL, former Ohio State center Ryan Kesler has the lead by a wide margin, as Kesler's $77.55 million is more than double RJ Umberger's $37.14 million. Umberger spent five seasons with the Blue Jackets, returning to Columbus after standing out for the Buckeyes on the ice from 2001-03. He became the highest NHL draft pick in Ohio State history when he was selected No. 16 overall in the 2001 NHL draft.

Former Buckeye Mason Lohrei will vault up the list after the 2025-26 season, as he has earned $1,549,298 in his career thus far but signed a two-year, $6.4 million deal with the Boston Bruins this offseason.