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Bayern Munich are the kings when it comes to earnings from the Champions League.
However the financial findings by a German news agency will raise a few eyebrows - especially after Bayern's recent claim that they cannot compete with Europe's big guns due to a lack of funds.
Bayern's general manager Uli Hoeness said earlier this year the German champions may never win the Champions League again because they cannot compete with other teams in terms of television revenues.
But figures released by news agency DPA reveal that Bayern have earned more from the Champions League since its inception in 1992-93 than any other club.
The 2001 champions' revenues from television rights and prize money comes to 210 million euros (267 million dollars).
After their gate receipts for the 54 home matches Bayern have played in the competition is taken into account, that sum rises to 300 million euros (381 million dollars).
In comparison record nine-time European champions Real Madrid are not even on the same playing field, having earned only 194 million euros (247 million dollars).
The Spanish giants lie joint second with Manchester United.
Disgraced Italian giants Juventus are next with 172 million euros ahead of Arsenal with 171 million euros, AC Milan on 147 million euros and current European champions Barcelona with 143 million euros.
Bayern, who were also European Cup winners three times in a row from 1974-76, begin this season's campaign on Tuesday night against Spartak Moscow.
While Barca earned 32 million euros (40.7 million dollars) last season, that pales in comparison to Bayern's best season in 2001 when they earned 46 million euros (58.5 million dollars).
When asked in April if Bayern could win another Champions League crown, Hoeness had moaned: "The probability is not very big.
"Juventus earn 118 million euros per season from selling television rights, we get 16 million. Over five years, that makes a difference of 500 million euros (636 million dollars)."
Coach Felix Magath was following a similar line on Monday when he claimed the best Bayern could hope for this season was merely making it out of the group stages.
"We need to get past the group stage and that is what can be expected of us. After that a lot depends on the draw," Magath said in an interview with Kicker magazine.
"The main target is to still be in the competition in 2007."
However the financial findings by a German news agency will raise a few eyebrows - especially after Bayern's recent claim that they cannot compete with Europe's big guns due to a lack of funds.
Bayern's general manager Uli Hoeness said earlier this year the German champions may never win the Champions League again because they cannot compete with other teams in terms of television revenues.
But figures released by news agency DPA reveal that Bayern have earned more from the Champions League since its inception in 1992-93 than any other club.
The 2001 champions' revenues from television rights and prize money comes to 210 million euros (267 million dollars).
After their gate receipts for the 54 home matches Bayern have played in the competition is taken into account, that sum rises to 300 million euros (381 million dollars).
In comparison record nine-time European champions Real Madrid are not even on the same playing field, having earned only 194 million euros (247 million dollars).
The Spanish giants lie joint second with Manchester United.
Disgraced Italian giants Juventus are next with 172 million euros ahead of Arsenal with 171 million euros, AC Milan on 147 million euros and current European champions Barcelona with 143 million euros.
Bayern, who were also European Cup winners three times in a row from 1974-76, begin this season's campaign on Tuesday night against Spartak Moscow.
While Barca earned 32 million euros (40.7 million dollars) last season, that pales in comparison to Bayern's best season in 2001 when they earned 46 million euros (58.5 million dollars).
When asked in April if Bayern could win another Champions League crown, Hoeness had moaned: "The probability is not very big.
"Juventus earn 118 million euros per season from selling television rights, we get 16 million. Over five years, that makes a difference of 500 million euros (636 million dollars)."
Coach Felix Magath was following a similar line on Monday when he claimed the best Bayern could hope for this season was merely making it out of the group stages.
"We need to get past the group stage and that is what can be expected of us. After that a lot depends on the draw," Magath said in an interview with Kicker magazine.
"The main target is to still be in the competition in 2007."