Why are the spanish soccer teams so rich?

[buritobr]

Spain is not the richest country in Europe. Germany has the biggest GDP.

However, Barcelona, Real Madrid and (nowadays) Athletico Madrid have the most expensive players. Why are they richer than Bayern Munchen and Borussia Dortmund?

[Illiniwek]

While I do pay attention to soccer, I am by no means an expert. But my guess is that:

Spain produces the best soccer players (who will end up being paid the most), and those players are more likely to play in their national home. A few big names leave, but you are still going to find the most Spanish players in Spain. Plus its easier for Spanish teams to scout these young players.

Spain also probably has a bit of a pipeline from Latin America. If you are willing to leave your home country of Argentina to go play in Europe, perhaps you would prefer to play in a country that speaks (pretty much) the same language and is more similar culturally. Once again, its not a 100% rule, but perhaps more players are willing to make the jump to Spain rather than make a jump to England or Germany.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Also, my impression is that the Bundesliga has more good teams which means the talent pool willing to play in Germany is spread out over more teams.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Well strictly speaking they should all be bankrupt, but it helps to have friends in high places.

[Tetro Kornbluth]

Spanish teams which aren't the top three are basically economically ruined and this close to bankruptcy these days. All of them. A major part of the reason for this is that TV rights are negotiated by club, rather than shared collectively which is what happens in the Premier League and, I think, the Bundesliga. This means the huge bulk of TV rights money goes to Real and Barcelona and crumbs to the rest.

Also, what Al said.

[Santander]

Well strictly speaking they should all be bankrupt, but it helps to have friends in high places.

[buritobr]

Yeah,

The German and the English leagues have more equilibrium than the Spanish one

[Lothal1]

The Spanish teams (Real Madrid/Barca) have a long history of extreme success. When teams are extremely successful, they get loads of money from investors, fans, Arabs, etc.
Next, they buy 50 mil € players to continue the success, and then repeat. Moneyball is dominate.

[Asian Nazi]

They are literally being propped up by the Spanish government.  One of the major differences between the American franchise model and European soccer is that European soccer clubs aren't run like businesses at all.  Very few are profitable or designed to be so.  Big clubs these days tend to be either owned by incredibly wealthy individuals and/or propped up by states.