Highly paid athletes and entertainers are a fortunate and privileged group. Few people can earn so much money for what they do, and at times this seems unfair. This is especially so when someone who makes meaningful contributions to a field such as medicine or education remains largely unrecognized and poorly compensated. Many people consider the work of athletes and entertainers frivolous by comparison. Do they deserve such high salaries? In my opinion, they must; otherwise, society would not choose to give them so much money.

Although the salaries of athletes and entertainers seem exorbitant, there are valid reasons why they receive them. First of all, they work in a free market. If what they did was not valued by society, they would not be so well-paid. It must also be considered that entertainers do make a contribution to society because they amuse people and help them to relax and forget their troubles. Second, athletes and entertainers, no matter how talented, invest a lot in training for their careers. And, unlike other more conventional professions , success is by no means guaranteed or evenlikely. When they choose to pursue sports or the arts full-time, they make a gamble, and such high salaries could be considered the reward for this risk. Last but not least, athletes and entertainers are excellent role models for young people. They demonstrate that it is possible to pursue a dream and beat the odds. They inspire many children to pursue their own dreams, and the possibility of a high salary may be an important part of the incentive.

To sum up, although the salaries of some professional athletes and entertainers seem excessive, there are convincing reasons why they receive them. Their contributions to society may not seem as important as those of scientists, doctors and statesmen, but they are valued by the general public. If they were not, we would not pay them so well.