Ridiculous History – "CLASSIC: Who was the highest paid athlete in history?"

Podcast by iHeartPodcasts – January 3, 2026 | Hosts: Ben Bolan & Noel Brown

Episode Overview

This episode takes a deep dive into the world of ancient sports to answer a surprising question: who is the highest paid athlete in history? The hosts explore the life and times of Gaius Appuleius Diocles—a Roman charioteer who, adjusted for inflation, out-earned today’s sporting superstars. Through historical anecdotes, expert studies, and lively banter, Ben and Noel unravel the spectacle and absurdity of wealth, risk, and fame in sports, then and now.

Main Discussion Points

1. Setting the Scene: Modern Sports and Historical Context

• The episode opens with banter about live sporting events and the appeal of being in the crowd, even for non-sports fans. (00:09–00:46)
• Ben and Noel reminisce about Atlanta’s sports venues and the shared human experience of watching games with “bread and circuses” for entertainment. (00:48)

2. Introducing the Central Question

• The hosts ask, “Who was the highest paid athlete in history?” noting that most pro athletes—even today—do not reach elite earning status. (01:04–01:24)
• The episode is dedicated to their producer, Max, “who knows way more about sports than we ever will.” (01:47)

3. Unveiling the Answer: Gaius Appuleius Diocles, Charioteer Rockstar

• According to Dr. Peter Struck (University of Pennsylvania), the answer isn’t a modern footballer or basketball player, but a Roman charioteer: Gaius Appuleius Diocles. (06:48)
• Diocles’ career spanned an impressive 24 years—a “brutal and dangerous” era when most charioteers died young. (08:41)
• The dangers: racing lightweight, fragile chariots, with reins tied around the waist—accidents could be “tremendously damaging to the body and punishing to the mind.” (09:18–09:50)

4. Chariot Racing: The Ancient Extreme Sport

• Chariot racing was “bigger than NASCAR is now”—the main event at religious festivals and citywide contests. (11:15)
• Descriptions of the Circus Maximus and how the races worked: up to 6 chariots, seven laps around the course, often with teams and “dirty tricks” like blades on wheels. (10:53–12:36)
• Most drivers died by age 24, but Diocles retired at 42—a remarkable feat. (12:36)

5. The Money: Just How Rich Was Diocles?

• According to Dr. Struck, Diocles’ total winnings would equal about $15 billion today. (“15 billion with a B.”) (17:57)
• His prizes included enough to “feed all of Rome for a year,” and his income dwarfed that of top officials or even the Roman army’s payroll. (18:46–19:28)
• “[In] two months, he would earn what Rome’s highest paid provincial governor could expect to earn in one year.” (19:28)

Quote:

“Doctor Strzok found that Diocles’ total earnings would have equated to roughly $15 billion in modern terms. 15 billion with a B.” — Ben Bolan (17:57)

6. Stats, Career, and Tactics

• The stone monument in Rome details Diocles’ stats: 4,257 races, 1,463 wins, 92 major prizes—sometimes against overwhelming odds or in less popular teams for higher take-home pay. (20:50–21:50)
• Diocles switched factions for better career prospects—leaving powerful teams for smaller ones to become a “bigger fish in a smaller pond.” (32:20)
• His signature tactic: the “strong final dash”—conserving energy until the end for a dramatic victory. (35:22)

7. The Spectacle and Violence of Chariot Racing

• Chariot racing was socially intense—fans formed factions so passionate that “charioteer hooligans” existed, and riots or even suicides followed their idol’s fate. (25:11–26:07)
• “In 69 AD, Emperor Vitellius had some commoners executed because they talked trash about the Blue faction.” (26:12)
• High risk for both participants and spectators: flying debris, risk of trampling, and crowd violence were common. (26:28–27:16)

Quote:

“Chariot races were also dangerous for the audience because the rivalry went beyond lighthearted competition. It became as high risk as the races themselves. … Charioteer hooligans.” — Ben Bolan (25:11)

8. Comparative Perspective: Who’s the Modern Diocles?

• The hosts contrast Diocles with modern athletes and identify Floyd Mayweather (boxing) as the current highest earner: $285 million in a single year (mainly from one fight). (36:46–38:35)
• Even with today’s astronomical salaries, “no one has beaten the record that Diocles the Charioteer established way back in ancient Rome.” (38:37)

Quote:

“All the money in the world still, with our current level of medical technology, will not help you fully recover from decades of brutal concussions.” — Ben Bolan (38:35)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the enduring risks of sport:
  “We are at our best, only human.” — Ben Bolan (09:50)

• On sports tribalism:
  “It hits all the same notes of tribalism, you know what I mean? And identifying with something larger than oneself.” — Ben Bolan (25:11)

• Spectator fanaticism:
  “One guy learned about the death of one of the best charioteers in the Red Faction and he threw himself on the funeral pyre to be burned alongside his sports idol.” — Ben Bolan (25:11)

• On playing the long game:
  “He was playing the long game… he certainly knew how to show off and have some flourishes. He had his own signature style… called the strong final dash.” — Noel Brown (35:21)

• Modern context:
  “Floyd Mayweather knocked all of that out of the water with something that happened very recently, right?” — Noel Brown (37:30)

Timeline of Key Segments

• 00:09–01:24: Opening banter, theme introduction, and why the episode topic matters.
• 06:48–08:41: The reveal of Diocles, via Dr. Peter Struck’s research.
• 09:18–12:36: The perilous and extravagant world of chariot racing.
• 17:57–19:28: Economic context—Diocles’ insane earnings and historical comparison.
• 20:50–21:50: Diocles' career stats, strategic career moves, and his “baseball card” legacy.
• 22:34–27:16: Chariot racing’s social impact, violence, and fanatical culture.
• 32:20–35:40: Diocles’ clever career decisions and the “strong final dash.”
• 36:46–38:35: Modern highest paid athletes—Mayweather’s earnings compared to Diocles.
• 38:57–40:36: Playful debate on whether the hosts would attempt a chariot race.
• 39:53: Comic recommendation: Britannia—an ancient Roman detective series.

Tone & Style

The episode’s tone is witty, enthusiastic, and a touch irreverent, blending historical fact with pop culture references and personal anecdotes. Ben and Noel’s banter keeps the energy lively, punctuated by genuine awe at the absurdity of both ancient and modern sports economies.

Final Takeaways

• The true “GOAT” of sports earnings isn’t Jordan, LeBron, or Mayweather—it’s Gaius Appuleius Diocles, who turned ancient chariot carnage into a $15 billion fortune (today’s value).
• While modern sports prize money is jaw-dropping, it’s a mere shadow of what was at stake in Rome—both in cash and in risk.
• The passions of sport—tribalism, spectacle, glory, and tragedy—are as old as civilization itself.
• One last memorable send-off:

  “Let us know if you’d do a chariot race. I think it would be a lot of fun.” — Ben Bolan (39:18)

Recommended Media:

• Britannia comic series
• Further reading on chariot history: Dr. Peter Struck, Lapham’s Quarterly