As of 2008, thirty one individual major league baseball players have amassed lifetime career earnings of over $100 million. Baseball contracts often allow for multi million dollar salaries, though only the top baseball players manage to reach above the 100 million dollar mark. Still, even the most inexperienced and mediocre baseball players make over a million dollars a year in salary and bonuses. For the best players, signing bonuses totaling millions of dollars are common. Signing bonuses are paid to players who sign baseball contracts, and are upfront payments paid simply for signing a contract. In addition, players may gain additional monetary bonuses for performance related milestones and goals. These monetary bonuses are in addition to a baseball player's regular annual salary, which is on average a few million dollars. Exceptional baseball players who enjoy long careers may be able to make over 100 million dollars during their career, putting them in the top tier of baseball players.