According to reports, the Denver Nuggets mascot, Rocky the Mountain Lion, makes about $625K per year, which is nearly ten times the amount the average NBA mascot earns annually. Unlike his contemporaries around the league, Rocky's stage presence isn't largely based on comedic antics, galvanizing a live audience and athleticism. Rocky is a high-flying act who often takes risks high above the ground with ladders, trampolines, and spirited climbs to the top of the Pepsi Center. Needless to say, whoever dons Rocky's costume has to be an exceptional athlete with an incredible workout regime. The only other mascot who draws somewhat of a comparison to Rocky is the Chicago Bulls mascot, Benny. But his yearly pay ($200K) is less than a third of what Rocky rakes in.
From a financial standpoint, there are other interesting comparisons to make when measuring salaries against the earnings of Rocky the Mountain Lion. For example, the lowest-paid player in the NBA makes $92,857 per year, the average lawyer in America makes about $144,230 per year, and the Mayor of Denver (Michael Hancock) earns about $179,842 per year. If you add all their salaries up, it still doesn't equal the amount of money that Rocky the Mountain Lion earns.
Rocky the mountain lion was inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame back in 2006. The Denver Nuggets' season opener is this Friday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder.