The 10 Highest-Earning Mascots In College Sports According To Appearance Fees

We here at BroBible.com are big proponents of mascots, both in the professional and college sports worlds.

Even if those mascots are, occasionally, a little out of left field. But the life of a mascot isn’t always just fun and games. The job can be extremely arduous, both physically and mentally. Not only do mascots attend countless sporting events throughout the year, but they’re also often contracted out for private events.

Anybody who attended a sizable university has probably seen their alma mater’s mascot at some sort of wedding, or corporate event, or something similar.

As it turns out, these events can bring in big money for the universities, which charge thousands of dollars to have your favorite furry characters out at events.

Thanks to former BroBible editor David Covucci and his newsletter, FOIAball, we now know which college mascots rake in the biggest paydays for their respective universities via public appearances.

10) Raider Red – Texas Tech – $49,850

The most common mascot associated with Texas Tech is the Masked Rider, who rides into football games on the back of his horse.

But on Sept. 10, 1971, the school introduced Raider Red, a Yosemete Sam-looking Cowboy with pistols in tow who would accompany the football team to away games in the wake of a rule banning live animals at away football games.

Since then, Raider Red has become immensely popular, and he racked up nearly $50,000 in revenue for the school in the last fiscal year.

9) Hook ‘Em – Texas – $50,175

Like with Raider Red, Hook ‘Em certainly isn’t the most famous mascot associated with the University of Texas.

That honor, of course, goes to Bevo, the live Texas Longhorn steer with burnt orange and white markings. But in 1974, the school introduced the costumed mascot much for the same reason that Tech introduced Raider Red, a rule outlawing live mascots at away games.

Like with his counterpart, Hook ‘Em has become wildly popular with fans, drawing over $50,000 in earnings last year.

8) Oregon – The Duck – $76,613

Surprisingly, the Oregon Duck, who is not actually known as Puddles, contrary to popular belief, does not find himself higher on this list despite being one of the most famous mascots in all of college sports.

According to Covucci, the Oregon Duck had five brand deals last year, billing $10,000 for each, including one with Marriott.

Perhaps no mascot is as widely recognized as the Oregon Duck, owing in part to the fact that its design scheme is based on Walt Disney’s iconic Donald Duck character.

7) Ramses – North Carolina – $82,173

The 2025-26 athletic year was one to forget for the University of North Carolina. Early returns on the hiring of legendary NFL head coach Bill Belichick to lead its football program are less than ideal. And the Tar Heels parted ways with basketball coach Hubert Davis after yet another disappointing season.

But don’t tell that to the Tar Heels’ mascot, Ramses, who booked an impressive 259 appearances and brought home the bacon for the university to the tune of over $80,000.

6) Mr. & Mrs. Wuf – North Carolina State – $83,636

Perhaps this isn’t a fair fight between North Carolina and rival NC State. After all, when you book North Carolina State’s famed mascots, Mr. and Mrs. Wuf, you get two for the price of one!

Mr. Wuf made his first appearance as the school’s official mascot in the early 1960s, and then he left bachelor life behind for good in 1975 when Mrs. Wuf was officially introduced.

Together, the power couple made 248 paid appearances last fiscal year and barely edged past Ramses, raking in over $83,000 for the Wolfpack.

5) Cocky – South Carolina – $84,207

When we informed BroBible writer Jacob Elsey, a noted South Carolina grad, that this piece was going to be written, he pointed out that he’s seen the South Carolina mascot, Cocky, at countless weddings in recent years.

As it turns out, Covucci’s report backs that up and then some.

Cocky made a jaw-dropping 351 event appearances in the previous fiscal year and raked in $84,207 for the university, an impressive total that would be even more jaw-dropping if not for the name right above him on this list.

4) The Tiger & Cubby – Clemson – $95,771

Once again, this feels like a situation where it isn’t a fair fight between in-state rivals. But Clemson’s Tiger and Cubby, another mascot duo, checks in just above Cocky at No. 4 to claim South Carolina supremacy.

But these mascots are out here grinding for every dollar.

According to Covucci’s filing, the Tiger attended both a birthday party and a wedding on April 12, 2025. The next day, it went to a minor league hockey team’s mascot party and a home baseball game. He then popped into a donor event and a softball game the day after, and wrapped up the four-day stretch with another donor event before a children’s literacy function.

Is there a mascot union out there? If not, it seems like there probably should be.

3) Sparty – Michigan State – $99,600

While Clemson’s mascots take the quantity over quality approach, it appears that Michigan State mascot Sparty has the opposite approach, charging $1,500 per 45-minute wedding appearance. And you best believe he’ll be watching the clock.

Still, Michigan State fans and alums were happy to pay. Sparty appeared at 18 weddings over the course of the year, racking up $27,000 in fees along the way.

In total, the mascot made 222 paid appearances and brought home nearly $100,000 for the athletic department, which places him third in the rankings.

2) Goldy – Minnesota – $119,605

Now we’re getting into the real heavy hitters, and I bet you didn’t expect to see Minnesota’s mascot, Goldy the Gopher, sitting at No. 2 on our list.

But Goldy also comes with some additional options.

Outside of athletic outfits, he’ll show up to your event in a cap and gown, but only for actual graduation ceremonies. He will wear a tuxedo to your wedding, but only if your guests are also in Black Tie, and there’s even an option for him to show up to an event in scrubs/a lab coat.

Last year, Goldy booked 264 appearances, including several weddings at a rate of $400 an hour, totaling nearly $120,000 for the Minnesota athletic department.

1) Brutus – Ohio State – $130,028

If The Duck isn’t the most famous mascot in all of college sports, the only other one that has an argument tops our list: Brutus the Buckeye.

Brutus, an anthropomorphic nut, cashed in to the tune of over $130,000 last year. And hey, maybe he/she/it has earned it. At the UCA College Nationals in January, Brutus took the top spot in the mascot competition by 0.14 points ahead of Goldy, so clearly the mascots know what they’re doing.

It also helps that Brutus cashed in as part of an ad for DoorDash alongside Hook ‘Em, Alabama’s Big Al, and Georgia’s Hairy Dog. While Ohio State didn’t say what Brutus made for the appearance, Hook ‘Em charged $6,125.

Additionally, Brutus has the whole of Columbus to explore. So perhaps the giant costumed nut is onto something. It’s certainly hard to argue with the financial statements.