[MONEY MATTERS] The 2011 Los Angeles Galaxy is by far the most expensive MLS champion ever assembled. According to MLS Players' Union figures, the average guaranteed compensation of the Galaxy's 11 starters in Sunday's 1-0 win over the Houston Dynamo was $1,187,131 per player. By comparison, the Dynamo's starters averaged only $153,978. For how the previous four champions compare to the Galaxy ...

Since the MLS Players' Union began publishing player salaries in 2007, the highest average compensation of the starters on an MLS champion until this season was $167,273 for the 2010 champion Colorado Rapids.

Los Angeles Galaxy (2011 champion)
Josh Saunders (USA) $66,356
Sean Franklin (USA) $111,139
A.J. DelaGarza (USA) $77,600
Omar Gonzalez (USA) $197,000
Todd Dunivant (USA) $141,750
Juninho (Brazil) $100,000
David Beckham (England) $6,500,000
Landon Donovan (USA) $2,300,000
Mike Magee (USA) $105,350
Robbie Keane (Ireland) $3,417,243
Adam Cristman (USA) $42,000
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Total guaranteed compensation: $13,058,438
Average guaranteed compensation: $1,187,131

Houston Dynamo (2011 runner-up)
Tally Hall (USA) $94,375
Andre Hainault (Canada) $148,125
Bobbie Boswell (USA) $210,000
Geoff Cameron (USA) $245,000
Jermaine Taylor (Jamaica) $62,500
Danny Cruz (USA) $123,000
Luiz Camargo (Brazil) $178,000
Adam Moffat (Scotland) $56,700
Corey Ashe (USA) $84,500
Brian Ching (USA) $412,500
Calen Carr (USA) $79,063
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Total guaranteed compensation: $1,693,763
Average guaranteed compensation: $153,978

Colorado Rapids (2010 champion)
Matt Pickens (USA) $137,500
Kosuke Kimura (Japan) $57,500
Marvell Wynne (USA) $171,750
Drew Moor (USA) $162,389
Anthony Wallace (USA) $57,500
Brian Mullan (USA) $189,813
Pablo Mastroeni (USA) $300,500
Jeff Larentowicz (USA) $150,000
Jamie Smith (Scotland) $182,800
Omar Cummings (Jamaica) $80,250
Conor Casey (USA) $350,000
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Total guaranteed compensation: $1,840,002
Average guaranteed compensation: $167,273

Real Salt Lake (2009 champion)
Nick Rimando (USA) $116,000
Robbie Russell (USA) $103,335
Jamison Olave (Colombia) $172,500
Nat Borchers (USA) $137,500
Chris Wingert (USA) $84,000
Andy Williams (Jamaica) $105,000
Javier Morales (Argentina) $200,000
Kyle Beckerman (USA) $163,150
Will Johnson (Canada) $64,771
Robbie Findley (USA) $72,560
Yura Movsisyan (Armenia) $70,583
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Total guaranteed compensation: $1,289,399
Average guaranteed compensation: $117,218

Columbus Crew (2008 champion)
William Hesmer (USA) $70,000
Frankie Hejduk (USA) $175,000
Chad Marshall (USA) $148,000
Danny O'Rourke (USA) $69,148
Gino Padula (Argentina) $145,000
Eddie Gaven (USA) $165,000
Brian Carroll (USA) $126,500
Brad Evans (USA) $33,000
Robbie Rogers (USA) $57,500
Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Argentina) $375,000
Alejandro Moreno (Venezuela) $131,000
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Total guaranteed compensation: $1,495,148
Average guaranteed compensation: $135,923

Houston Dynamo (2007 champion)
Pat Onstad (Canada) $168,000
Craig Waibel (USA) $85,000
Eddie Robinson (USA) $110,000
Ryan Cochrane (USA) $66,149
Wade Barrett (USA) $141,750
Brian Mullan (USA) $125,000
Richard Mulrooney (USA) $233,200
Dwayne De Rosario (Canada) $325,000
Brad Davis (USA) $120,000
Nate Jaqua (USA) $119,525
Joseph Ngwenya (Zimbabwe) $62,023
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Total guaranteed compensation: $1,555,647
Average guaranteed compensation: $141,422

Source: MLS Players' Union.