Want to make it rich from playing professional sport?

Here are some tips.

Practice.

Be old.

Perhaps play golf.

Otherwise, take part in a sport where your life is in danger.

Or maybe get good at a sport played internationally – and then move overseas.

BRW magazine has released its annual list of Australia's richest sports stars and the results probably tell us nothing new beyond there's gold in them far off hills.

Greg Norman, an ageing golfer beyond his prime who now plays his sport part-time, brings home $15 million a year according to the report.

Norman, though, doesn't make most of his money from playing golf – it's course design and merchandise that brings home his bacon.

NBA basketballer Andrew Bogut is second on the list with an estimated income of $14 million. Bogut, 25 years old, is exceptionally talented but would admit he doesn't hog the NBA spotlight too often with his unglamorous Milwaukee Bucks basketball team.

Milwaukee is often best-known across the rest of the USA for its beer-brewing expertise, including the inspiring Milwaukee Best brand that retails at around $6 for 12 cans.

Over in Europe, where they mostly play football (or soccer, or whatever you want to call it), Harry Kewell brings home an estimated $9.5 million per year, according to the report.

Kewell plays for Galatasaray, one of the biggest clubs in Turkey in one of Europe's less-rich leagues.

Tim Cahill may be making a run at Kewell's crown as our most feted footballer but the Everton midfielder is "only" tenth on the list with $4.6 million.

Maybe the upcoming FIFA World Cup and its potential gold pot of endorsements will boost Cahill's private claims to be top Socceroo.

Formula One driver Mark Webber is not yet top of his field but participating in a sport that literally pumps money places him fifth with earnings of around $9 million.

Who knew motocross was a money mine? Chad Reed gets across the line in fifth with $8.8 million.

The highest-earning female? Tennis player Samantha Stosur (35th!) with earnings of $1.53 million.

The key here is internationalism – or American money.

Australia's cricketers, rugby players, and Aussie Rules footballers may be high profile stars at home (Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting is 14th on the list with $4.26 million earnings in an Ashes year) but if you want to play with the big boys then you have to take on the world at their own games.

The risks are greater, the talent pool larger, but the rewards are higher.

The Top Australian Money Makers in Sport during 2009, according to BRW
Magazine:

1. Greg Norman (Golf) $15m
2. Andrew Bogut (Basketball) $14m
3. Harry Kewell (Soccer) $9.5m
4. Mark Webber (motor sport - Formula One) $9m
5. Chad Reed (motor sport - motocross) $8.8m