— The Reference

Understand the money
behind the game.

Evergreen breakdowns of how the business of sports actually works. Contracts, caps, exceptions, valuations. The rules underneath the headlines.

NBA · 2025-26
$207.8M
01 · Basketball

How does the NBA salary cap actually work?

The cap isn't a hard limit — it's a threshold with three levels, six exceptions, and one hard wall that changed the league forever.

Read the explainer →
World Cup Cycle
$13B
02 · Soccer

How did FIFA build a $13 billion empire?

A Swiss nonprofit that generates $13B every four years by selling access to one month of soccer. Broadcasting, sponsorship, hosting, licensing — the machine behind the World Cup.

Read the explainer →
NFL · Coming Soon
Vol. 03
03 · Coming Soon

How do NFL guaranteed contracts really work?

Why "guaranteed" money in the NFL isn't actually guaranteed the way you think it is.

In progress
Athletes · Coming Soon
Vol. 04
04 · Coming Soon

What is an athlete's true net worth?

Public estimates vs. actual liquid capital. Why most reported net worths are fiction.

In progress
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