I just read a history of the National Hockey League. In it the writer mentions that when Bob Goodenow took over the NHL Players Association in the early 90's his goal was to drive up salaries so high that after their playing days were over retired players would be set for life. There are two funny things about this. When he said this, average salaries already were at a level (in the middle 6 figures on average, with top players already in low 7 figures) high enough so that even if one had only an average length career in the league (five years) one would be set for life (assuming living at a modest middle class life style during one's playing career and investing the rest of course).
The other funny thing was that this comment provoked all kinds of disbelief, with the assumption that salaries would have to skyrocket to enable players to be set for life.
Of course now hockey salaries, like other pro sport salaries are much higher, and I'm guessing that the typical athlete is nowhere nearer to being "set for life" due to horrendous spending decisions that they make while in their short, never to be seen again, window of massive income years.