Yes, pickleball is a professional sport. Here's how much top players make.

Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America, amassing legions of recreational players across diverse ages. But it's also a professional sport that top-tier athletes rely on for a paycheck. 

If they play their shots right, the best players can take home more than $1 million a year through a combination of appearance fees, prize money and sponsorship deals. 

However, these top earners are largely the exception rather than the rule. Most players earn far less, with some up-and-comers in the sport holding full-time day jobs and competing for prize money on weekends.