Super Bowl LX was held yesterday at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, so yeah, the state’s high income taxes—through what’s called the “jock tax”—really cut into the players’ bonuses.
Winners get a hundred seventy-eight thousand dollars each, losers a hundred three thousand. But California taxes non-resident athletes based on “duty days” spent in the state, including practices and the game—usually around eight to ten days. With the top rate at thirteen point three percent (plus extras), it applies to a slice of their whole season’s
For some players, like Seahawks QB Sam Darnold, the California tax bill was estimated at around two hundred forty-nine thousand if his team won—more than the bonus itself—meaning a net loss just from playing
After all taxes (federal plus state), winners might take home roughly eighty-six thousand from that bonus, losers around fifty thousand. It’s a classic case of high-tax state drama hitting the big payout. Crazy how it can wipe out the win money for some guys.
Winners get a hundred seventy-eight thousand dollars each, losers a hundred three thousand. But California taxes non-resident athletes based on “duty days” spent in the state, including practices and the game—usually around eight to ten days. With the top rate at thirteen point three percent (plus extras), it applies to a slice of their whole season’s
For some players, like Seahawks QB Sam Darnold, the California tax bill was estimated at around two hundred forty-nine thousand if his team won—more than the bonus itself—meaning a net loss just from playing
After all taxes (federal plus state), winners might take home roughly eighty-six thousand from that bonus, losers around fifty thousand. It’s a classic case of high-tax state drama hitting the big payout. Crazy how it can wipe out the win money for some guys.
