Champions League Contenders Inter and Paris Eye Remarkable Potential Prize Funds
Munich's Champion Cash Bonanza
The Champions League isn't just a sports spectacle in European football; it's a financial goldmine too. Thanks to UEFA's new competition format and distribution keys, the contestants this season, namely Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Inter Milan, have bagged more dough than ever before. The grand winner could pocket an eye-watering €150 million! Last year's victors, Real Madrid, managed a mere €138.8 million in comparison.
On the grand finale stage in Munich on Saturday, the ace in the hole takes home 10.5 million euros. Strictly for accounting purposes, about 4 million euros of that is earmarked as a participation bonus for the UEFA Super Cup, a match against the victors of the Europa League, Tottenham Hotspur, in this case.
The Fattest Wallets in the League
Both teams have already hoovered up more than €135 million this season. The group stage valued each competitor with a starting bonus of 18.62 million euros. Since Inter Milan started the ball rolling, won more games, and ended up fourth in the table, they bagged more in this stage than PSG, who barely managed to scrape into 15th. The knockout rounds, with victories in the round of 16, quarter-finals, and semi-finals, then brought in another 57 million euros each.
There are also proportional special payments from a giant kitty, into which broadcast money from various countries trickles in. Since French broadcasters pay more than their Italian counterparts, PSG snatched a larger share than Inter.
A Cash Cow Industry
The combined earnings of all the Champions League and Super Cup participants this season amounted to an astronomical 2.467 billion euros. Despite the number of participants increasing from 32 to 36, revenues increased on average. Last year, the total distribution among the 32 Champions League participants was limited to 2.002 billion euros.
According to financial estimates and available data (for the 2024/25 Champions League season), here's a breakdown for both finalists:
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG):- Prize Money: Approximately €142 million (£121.7 million)- Total Future Earnings (includes UEFA Super Cup and other competitions): €40+ million
Inter Milan:- Prize Money: Approximately €134 million (£115.1 million)- Total Future Earnings: None (as runner-up)
These figures primarily reflect prize money and broadcast revenue from UEFA, not additional commercial or matchday earnings. For both clubs, reaching the Champions League final is a financial bonanza, with the winner securing even greater rewards through future competitions.
The Champions League presents a unique blend of sports and finance, serving as a lucrative goldmine for participating clubs. In the forthcoming season, both Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Inter Milan have amassed more than €135 million, with financial projections suggesting that PSG might secure an additional €142 million in prize money. On the other hand, Inter Milan, as runners-up, won't receive any additional future earnings, highlighting the significant financial edge that the Champions League winners can enjoy.
