Top 10 Richest Olympic Athletes
Top 10 Richest Olympic Athletes.
- Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss
- Michael Jordan
- Anna Kasprzak
- Ion Tiriac
- LeBron James
- Magic Johnson
- Roger Federer
- Floyd Mayweather Jr.
- Christiano Ronaldo
- Shaquille O’Neal
1. Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss
Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss are former American rowers who each have a net worth of over $3 billion. After rowing at Harvard, the identical twins placed sixth in the Olympic Rowing competition at the 2008 Beijing Games. The Winklevoss twins went on to become successful entrepreneurs and investors, currently holding over $1 billion each in cryptocurrency. They are also famous for their involvement in the creation of the social media giant Facebook.
2. Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan is arguably the greatest basketball player of all time, with an estimated net worth of $1.7 billion. He was a member of the United States Olympic team for the 1984 and 1992 Summer Olympic Games, winning the gold medal both times. Other than that, Jordan amassed his wealth through his contracts in the National Basketball Association, endorsement deals with companies like Nike, Gatorade, and Coca-Cola, and major investments. He is a partial owner of the NBA team, the Charlotte Hornets, and owns a large portion of his namesake brand, Air Jordan, a brand under Nike’s umbrella.
3. Anna Kasprzak
Anna Kasprzak is a former Danish dressage rider who has a net worth of over $1.4 billion. Anna, along with her mother Hanni Toosbuy Kasprzak and André Kasprzak, own Danish shoe manufacturer ECCO. The company was started in 1963 by Anna’s grandfather Karl Toosbuy. Anna Kasprzak represented Denmark in the 2012 and 2016 Olympics. Her best finish was at the 2012 London Olympics in the team dressage event, where she placed fourth.
4. Ion Tiriac
Ion Tiriac is a multi-sport athlete from Romania with a net worth of $1.3 billion. Having played ping-pong when he was a child as well as tennis and ice hockey, Tiriac is undoubtedly talented. He made his first Olympic appearance in 1964 as an ice hockey player at the Winter Games. Following his ice hockey career, he moved on to tennis and competed in many tournaments but never made it to the Olympics. Currently, Ion Tiriac is the current president of the Romanian Tennis Federation. As a result, Forbes wrote in an article that Tiriac is one of the richest businessmen in Romania, but it is important to note that his net worth is not all from his athlete status.
5. LeBron James
LeBron James is one of the best basketball players ever and has a net worth of over $850 million. He has represented the United States at the 2004, 2008, and 2012 Olympic Games. He won gold at the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Games and bronze at the 2004 Athens Games. James is one of the most recognizable athletes of the 21st century and has numerous endorsement deals with large brands such as Nike, 2K Sports, and Coca-Cola. Along with his endorsements, Lebron James also has sizable investments that boost his net worth. These include investments in Blaze Pizza and Fenway Sports Group, which owns the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool F.C.
6. Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson is a retired Hall of Fame basketball player with a total net worth of $600 million. Johnson is best known for being a three-time NBA MVP and five time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers as one of the greatest point guards of all time. Johnson’s Olympiad status comes courtesy of his role on the “Dream Team,” the 1992 Team USA basketball team that is widely considered to be the greatest basketball lineup ever assembled. Since his retirement, Johnson has been a TV host, basketball analyst, and also went on to become a partial owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers and, later, an executive with the Los Angeles Lakers.
7. Roger Federer
Roger Federer is arguably one of the most famous men’s tennis players in the world, with a net worth of $550 million. Coming from Switzerland, Roger Federer has been turning heads in the tennis and Olympic world. However, Roger Federer places in the seventh spot for richest Olympians because his income is not just from the Olympics and endorsements, but from major tennis competitions as well. In fact, Federer can make nearly $3 million from winning in the US Open alone.
8. Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Floyd Mayweather, Jr is one of the biggest names in the boxing world, with a net worth of over $500 million. He is not only one of the most talented professional boxers of all time, but he is also an Olympic athlete. He competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics. While he did not win gold (he ended up winning a bronze medal), Floyd Mayweather excelled in the ring professionally. As a result, he became one of the highest-paid athletes of all time. While he only made one Olympic appearance, it does not take away from the fact that Mayweather is one of the richest former Olympic athletes ever.
9. Christiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the most famous and most talented soccer players of all time, with a net worth of over $500 million. Starting at a young age, Ronaldo has played all across the globe, from Portugal to Real Madrid. He has also made appearances in the Olympic Games. He made his first and only Olympic appearance in 2004 and has led the Portuguese national soccer team to many victories outside of the Olympics as well.
10. Shaquille O’Neal
Shaquille O’Neal is a legendary center best known for his dominance in the National Basketball Association and subsequently holds a net worth of $400 million. Over the course of his career, Shaq was a four-time NBA Champion, most notably securing three league titles with the Los Angeles Lakers alongside Kobe Bryant. He was a member of the 1996 U.S. Olympic basketball team that won the gold medal. Today, O’Neal serves as a basketball commentator on TNT. Shaq is well-known for his wildly successful investments, including over 100 car washes, 150 Papa John’s locations, and his self-named restaurant Shaquille’s. Outside of these brick and mortar investments, Shaq also invested in Vitamin Water and Muscle Milk, two wildly successful companies, early on in their respective existences. His dominant athletic career, highly-touted broadcasting career, and brilliant investing track record have all culminated in quite the fortune for Shaquille O’Neal.
Honorable Mentions
Serena Williams
Serena Williams is widely regarded as the best female tennis player ever and has a net worth of over $250 million. She is the highest-earning female tennis player to date. Along with her sister Venus, the two have paved the way for many young women in tennis. Serena has won four Olympic gold medals, her first one being at the 2000 Summer Olympics and her last at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Caitlyn Jenner
As a decathlon runner, Jenner earned a medal at the 1976 Olympics and has a net worth of over $100 million. In addition to athletics, she is also a major TV personality. Being related to the Kardashians and the Jenner family, she has been in the spotlight for quite some time. As a result, Caitlyn Jenner has a high net worth, which is earned through tv appearances, sponsorships, and endorsements. Thus, Jenner, being a former Olympian, is one of the richest athletes to have participated in the Olympic Games.
Usain Bolt
Usain Bolt is an Olympic track star with a net worth of $90 million and is often known as the fastest man alive. Bolt makes his money from his numerous records, eight Olympic gold medals, and brand endorsements throughout his career. Participating in the Olympics from 2008 through 2016, Bolt has broken many records, including the fastest 100m race, doing it in only nine seconds. In addition, he holds endorsements from brands like Visa, Puma, and Gatorade. Without a doubt, Usain Bolt is extremely talented, so it is no surprise that he is also one of the richest Olympians alive today.
Micheal Phelps
Micheal Phelps has been swimming in the Olympics since 2000 and has garnered a net worth of $80 million. Phelps has been a major force in the swimming world, becoming the most decorated Olympic athlete to date. Similar to many athletes, Phelps has been endorsed by a multitude of different brands, like Under Armor and Speedo, which has boosted his earnings over the past decade. However, his talent and years of breaking records have been a huge factor in his wealth as he has won over 28 Olympic medals in his career.
Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong is an American cycling superstar who has a net worth of $50 million. As a cyclist, Lance Armstrong has done it all, from winning the Tour De France multiple times in a row to winning an Olympic medal. Despite stirring controversy for his use of performance-enhancing drugs, it does not take away from the fact that Lance Armstrong is one of the richest Olympic athletes. At the peak of his career, Armstrong was worth over $125 million dollars. He has also made significant investments in companies like Uber, which add to his net worth. While Armstrong no longer cycles, he is still one of the richest athletes to compete in the Olympics.
Shaun White
Shaun White is a decorated American Olympic snowboarder who has a net worth of $60 million. It comes as no surprise that his snowboarding skills have made him one of the richest Olympians. Just from endorsement deals alone, White makes about $10 million per year. Aside from that, his three Olympic medals and multiple X-games wins have boosted his wealth. As a result, that also makes Shaun White one of the richest snowboarders in the world.
*Please note that these honorable mentions are not listed in order of wealth but instead are some of the most notable athletes in their respective sports.*
FAQ
How much do Olympic Athletes make for winning a medal?
Depending on the athlete’s placement in their event, along with the country in which they are from, the amount they make from winning a gold medal varies. In many countries, if an athlete was to win a medal, they would earn a bonus, and that bonus depends on if they win a gold, silver, or bronze medal. Contrary to popular belief, athletes do not get paid for simply participating in the Olympics, so medal bonuses are how most Olympic athletes make their money.
Do Olympic Athletes still have to pay a “victory tax?”
Currently, the IRS prohibits the taxation of medals or prize money awarded to Olympic athletes in the United States if they win gold, silver, or bronze medals at the Summer or Winter Olympics. Prior to the Obama administration, United States Olympic athletes had to pay a tax if they won any medals. However, President Obama put an end to the tax during his presidency, eliminating the victory tax altogether.
How do Olympic athletes make their money?
Olympic athletes make their money in two ways. One is through winning medals. When athletes place in the top three, often their countries give them a winning bonus. However, the amount they win varies. Olympic athletes can also make money through brand endorsements. For instance, Usain Bolt makes money off of his brand endorsement deal with brands such as Puma and Gatorade. Most Olympic athletes are endorsed by brands, especially high-profile athletes who often win big.
Do Olympic Athletes have jobs?
Whether or not an Olympic athlete has a job depends on their performance, fame, and earnings from brand endorsement deals. The amount of pay varies from sport to sport and from country to country. If they do not make very much, athletes often have side jobs unrelated to their Olympic sport. Examples of these jobs include but are not limited to accounting, construction work, and teaching.