The Net Worths Of The World’s Richest Olympians
Every four years, a select group of elite athletes is chosen to represent their country at the Olympic Games. From figure skating to track and field, these athletes train to become the absolute best. And, if they end up winning, the payout from various endorsement deals and professional offers can be quite something, not to mention those who jump into business ventures!
Keep reading and learn more about the richest Olympians in the world.
Carl Lewis: $16 Million
Throughout the '80s and '90s, Carl Lewis dominated the track. It's probably why he's the only Olympian to win gold in the same individual event in four consecutive Summer Games. All in all, Lewis is the proud holder of nine Olympic gold medals and one silver.
Named the Olympian of the Century by Sports Illustrated, Lewis finally retired from running in 1997. Afterward, he found himself on television, appearing in shows such as Perfect Strangers, Alien Hunter, and Material Girls. Most recently, he's been the assistant coach of the University of Houston track team. His current net worth is $16 million.
Brian Boitano: $18 Million
Figure skater Brian Boitano is famous for the iconic 1988 Winter Olympics' "Battle of the Brian's." Competing against Brian Orser, both skaters found themselves at the Olympic Games after winning a World title. The fact that each skater's performance was military-themed only added to the rivalry.
In the end, Boitano came home with the gold medal. After his time on the ice, Boitano made a career as a guest star on multiple television shows and films, including Hell's Kitchen, Ice Princess, and Blades of Glory. He even has his own series on the Food Network, What Would Brian Boitano Make? His net worth is $18 million.
Ray Bourque: $20 Million
In 1998, Ray Bourque represented Canada at the Olympic Games. While the ice hockey team didn't medal, it didn't stop Bourque from becoming one of the best players the Boston Bruins ever saw. He played on the team for 21 years, becoming the longest-serving captain and leading the team to the Stanley Cup finals in both 1988 and 1990.
Unfortunately, the Bruins lost in both instances. For his contributions to the sport, Bourque was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004. As of 2021, the 13-time NHL First Team player is worth $20 million.
Oksana Baiul: $20 Million
Oksana Baiul made history in 1994, becoming the first Olympic Champion of independent Ukraine. She won the gold medal in ladies' singles for figure skating. Her win opened a lot of doors, and Baiul decided to barrel on through them. After the games, Baiul followed one of her coaches to the United States, where she wanted to try making it as a professional skater.
She wound up snagging a million-dollar touring contract. Most recently, though, she married her manager, Carlo Farina. The pair now live in Las Vegas with their daughter. The former Olympian's net worth is now around $20 million.
Mark Spitz: $20 Million
Mark Spitz was the most successful Olympian during the 1972 Summer Games. As a swimmer, he wound up winning seven gold medals, all within record times. And that's not even including the two gold medals, the silver, and the bronze he won at the 1968 games!
After retirement, Spitz found himself in multiple television commercials, including one for Schick razors, Sprint PCS, and, most recently, KardiaMobile. As of 2021, the former Olympic swimmer's net worth is $20 million.
Jan Ullrich: $20 Million
Jan Ullrich represented Team Germany during the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. As a road bicycle racer, Ullrich made it home with not one but two medals, a gold and a silver. While he had a few bad instances post-Olympics, Ullrich is still widely considered one of the greatest road cyclists of all time.
In 2006, Ullrich married one of his former teammate's sisters, Sara Steinhauser. Together, they have three sons. As of 2021, Ullrich's net worth is a solid $20 million.
Eddy Merckx: $20 Million
While Eddy Merckx did poorly during the 1964 Olympic Games, finishing 12th, it didn't stop him from dominating other road bicycle racing tournaments. His victories include three World Championships, eleven Grand Tours, all five Monuments (one of three riders to do so), and every major one-day race aside from the Paris Tours.
People probably don't remember he didn't medal during the Summer Games with all of those wins. Over his 18-year career, Merckx snagged a total of 525 wins. Since retiring, the former biker started his own chain, Eddy Merckx Cycles. As of 2021, his net worth is $20 million.
Scott Hamilton: $30 Million
As a figure skater, Scott Hamilton can do a trick not many people dare try -- a backflip. The skill might be one of the reasons he won gold during the 1984 Winter Olympic Games. And that's not even his most impressive feat.
During his heyday, Hamilton won four consecutive World Championships and four consecutive U.S. championships. Since retiring from the sport, Hamilton has been involved in various charity organizations and has even authored three books. His most current being the 2018 book Finish First: Winning Changes Everything. As of 2021, his net worth is around $30 million.
Zara Tindall: $20 Million
In 2012, Zara Tindall won an Olympic silver medal as part of the Great Britain Eventing Team, presented to her by her mother, Princess Anne. Tindall is the oldest grandchild of Queen Elizabeth and therefore has quite a reputation outside of her Olympian status.
Aside from equestrian riding, Tindall spends a lot of her time working for various charity organizations. She is associated with Inspire, a charity that helps improve the quality of life for people with spinal injuries, and Sargent Cancer Care for Children, a charity helping combat childhood cancer. As of 2021, her net worth is $20 million.
Michael Phelps: $80 Million
With 28 Olympic medals, former swimmer Michael Phelps is the most decorated Olympian of all time. Winning his first medal during the 2008 Games, Phelps became the swimmer who finally beat Mike Spitz's seven medal record from the 1972 Games.
After retiring from the sport, Phelps focused on the Michael Phelps Foundation, which focuses on promoting swimming and a healthy lifestyle. Most recently, in 2017, Phelps joined the company Medibio as a board member. The company focuses on the diagnosis of mental disorders. As of 2021, his net worth is $80 million.
Alan Pascoe: $30 Million
During the 1972 Summer Olympic Games in Munich, Alan Pascoe won silver in the 4x400 meter relay race. It was his only Olympic appearance. But that didn't stop him from medaling in various other competitions, including the European Championships and the Commonwealth Games.
After retiring from track and field, Pascoe made his way into events marketing and consulting, founding Alan Pascoe Associates Ltd. In 1998, he sold the company and began Fast Track Events Ltd. Currently, his net worth is $30 million.
Shaun White: $60 Million
Shaun White made waves during the 2006, 2010, and 2018 Olympic Games, winning gold at each in the halfpipe event. But the Olympics weren't White's only success stories. He was the first to compete and win in both the Summer and Winter X Games.
And while he holds the highest score for the Men's Olympic halfpipe, a solid 97.75, he's also the first snowboarder to win back-to-back golds for the X Games SuperPipe event. Whit is currently endorsed by multiple companies, including Birdhouse Skateboards, Oakley, Red Bull, and even American Express. His current net worth is $60 Million.
Shawn Johnson: $9 Million
In 2008, gymnast Shawn Johnson left the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing with four medals: one gold and three silvers. It was her only time making it to the Games, but it didn't stop the gymnast from competing and winning; she's a five-time Pan American Games gold medalist, after all!
After retiring in 2012, Johnson found herself in a few different ventures, including competing on Dancing with the Stars. But, most recently, she's been focused on her marriage to NFL long snapper Andrew East. The couple has two children together. As of 2021, her net worth is $9 million.
Caitlyn Jenner: $100 Million
Somehow, Caitlyn Jenner managed to pull herself together for a six-year decathlon career after knee surgery! That career led her to the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. There, she set a world record, won gold, and was proclaimed an all-American hero. The status and fame made it easy for her to transition into television.
Since 2007, she has appeared on the popular reality series Keeping up with the Kardashians, alongside her two daughters and ex-wife. Most recently, though, Jenner appeared as "The Phoenix" on The Masked Singer. As of 2021, Jenner's net worth is $100 million.
Ion Tiriac: $1.7 Billion
Ion Tiriac is arguably the most well-off former Olympian. In 1964, he represented the Romanian hockey team at the Winer Olympic Games. The team didn't wind up medaling, and Tiriac wound up switching things up and moving over to tennis.
But, more impressive is his business portfolio. In 1990 he founded the first private bank in Romania, Banca Țiriac. Between the bank and various other business ventures, including retail, auto leasing, airplanes, insurance, and auto dealerships, his 2005 net worth was estimated at around $900 million. Now, in 2021, he's worth over $1 billion.
Usain Bolt: $90 Million
Considered the fastest sprinter ever, Usain Bolt represented Jamicia during the 2008, 2012, and 2016 Summer Games. In total, he walked away with eight gold medals, coming in first for the 100-meter event, 200-meter event, and the 4x100 meter relay. He currently holds the world record in all three events.
"Lightning Bolt" is the highest-paid athlete in track and field, having earned $33 million in 2016 alone. He is now working on a music career, having released his first single in 2021, Living The Dream. Currently, his net worth is $90 million.
Apolo Ohno: $10 Million
Apolo Ohno is the most decorated American Winter Olympian, having won eight medals for short track speed skating: two gold, two silver, four bronze. He started training in 1996, and by 2002, he was a force on the Olympic track. In 2003, he was named U.S. Speedskating's Athlete of the Year.
With his Olympic fame came a lot of sponsorship deals with companies such as General Electric, McDonald's, Coca-Cola, and Vicks. In 2019, he was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame. And, as of 2021, his net worth is $10 million.
Nadia Comaneci: $10 Million
At the age of 14, Nadia Comaneci became the first gymnast to receive a perfect 10 at the Olympic Games. Between the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal and the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, the Romanian gymnast walked away with nine medals: five gold, three silver, and one bronze.
Comaneci has lived in the United States since 1989, marrying fellow Olympic gymnast Bart Conner. She has dual citizenship with Romania and the US, and, as of 2021, this perfect 10 gymnast has a net worth of $10 million.
Greg Louganis: $1 Million
Greg Louganis is considered one of the greatest divers in history, having swept the podium in two consecutive Olympic Games. Even hitting his head on the springboard during the 1988 Seoul Olympics didn't stop this athlete from walking away with a gold medal! All in all, Louganis has a total of five Olympic medals: four golds and a silver.
After retiring from diving, the former Olympian got into dog agility competitions, saying that being around dogs gives him "a sense of security, company, and unconditional love." As of 2021, his net worth is $1 million.
Cameron And Tyler Winklevoss: $3 Billion Each
Brothers Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss might be known for things other than their athleticism, but they're still Olympians. In 2008, they made it to the Summer Games, competing in the men's coxless pair event for rowing. They wound up making it to the finals but didn't medal, coming in sixth.
The whole Facebook debacle and lawsuit aside, the Winklevoss brothers have made quite a nice living. In 2012, they founded the Winklevoss Capital Management, an investment firm that provides seed funding for early-stage startups. As of 2021, each brother has a net worth of $3 billion.
