Widely considered the pinnacle of sports events, the Olympics enjoy the highest worldwide following after the FIFA World Cup. Naturally, the athletes partaking in the marquee sports meet also get their moment in the limelight.
Over the years, we have seen several heroes emerging at the Olympics. American swimmer Michael Phelps and Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt are often regarded as the greatest athletes of all time. Their records at the Olympics further underline their legendary statuses.
Such widespread fame is often accompanied by considerable wealth. While the organisers of the sports meet do not offer any prize money, winning an Olympic medal turns the athlete into a hero overnight. They receive cash rewards from sports federations and the authorities of their respective nations. In addition, multinational brands line up to sign sponsorship deals with them.
Individuals associated with athletics, gymnastics, swimming and more seldom enjoy the kind of wealth that a successful football or tennis player can accumulate. But these athletes, too, can make a fortune by becoming the best in their domain.
On that note, scroll away to learn about the top 10 richest Olympians in the world. Some of the net worth amounts of these richest Olympic athletes might surprise you.
Here are the top 10 richest Olympians of all time
Anna Kasprzak
Net worth in 2024:USD 1 billion (SGD 1.3 billion)
Kick-starting the list of the richest Olympians of all time is a surprise candidate — Anna Kasprzak. If you have not heard of her, we won’t blame you. The Danish dressage rider has partaken in two editions of the Olympic games, 2012 and 2016, with the following best performances:
- Individual:14th (2016)
- Team:Fourth (2012)
She is not an Olympic medallist and her only notable success came at the 2017 European Dressage Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden where she finished second. So how did she become a billionaire?
Well, it turns out that Kasprzak has inherited almost all of her fortune from the maternal side of her family. Her mother, Hanni Toosbuy Kasprzak, is the only child of Karl Toosbuy, the founder of the shoe company ECCO. Dieter Kasprzak, the father of Anna Kasprzak, served as the CEO of ECCO in the past.
Michael Phelps
Net worth in 2024:USD 100 million (SGD 131 million)
The Baltimore Bullet, Flying Fish… Michael Phelps is a man of many names but hardly needs any introduction. With a staggering 28 medals at the Olympics, 23 of which are gold, the American swimmer is the most decorated Olympian of all time.
Here is a quick look at all his Olympic medals, year-wise:
- 2004: Six gold, two bronze
- 2008:Eight gold
- 2012:Four gold, two silver
- 2016:Five gold, one silver
Even after retiring almost a decade ago, Phelps continues to enjoy a fortune. A host of his earnings come from his endorsem*nt deals with big brands such as:
- Subway
- Visa
- PowerBar
- AT&T
- Under Armour
- Speedo
Moreover, he is an equity investor in TalkSpace, a startup dedicated to facilitating mental well-being. The company is valued at around USD 3 billion. Phelps’ net worth ranks him among the richest Olympians of all time, according to a report byCelebrity Net Worth.
Usain Bolt
Net worth in 2024:USD 90 million (SGD 118 million)
Officially the fastest man alive, Usain Bolt is considered the greatest track and field athlete ever. He holds the world record in the 100 and 200-metre sprint (9.58 seconds and 19.19 seconds, respectively).
An 11-time world champion, the Jamaican sprinter’s impeccable record at the Olympics remains unmatched. His medals at the quadrennial sports meet are as follows:
- 2008:Two gold
- 2012:Three gold
- 2016:Three gold
A behemoth in the world of marketing long after his retirement, Bolt enjoys nearly a dozen sponsors at present. His most prominent brand deal has been with German athletic apparel and footwear manufacturer Puma. Back when he was an active athlete, the company paid him in excess of USD 10 million annually, according to a report byForbes.
Additionally, he owns restaurants in Jamaica and the United Kingdom. He was also the co-founder of a Miami-based electric vehicle manufacturing company named Bolt Mobility. However, the automobile brand ceased operations in 2022.
The eight-time Olympic gold medallist, who featured among the highest-paid athletes in the world at one point in time, naturally ranks among the richest Olympians of all time.
Shaun White
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Net worth in 2024:USD 65 million (SGD 85 million)
Known as ‘The Flying Tomato’ by his fans because of his distinct red hair, Shaun White is a five-time Olympian who represented the United States of America in snowboarding and skateboarding. He has won three gold medals in men’s snowboard halfpipe at the Winter Olympics (in 2006, 2010 and 2018), becoming one of the most successful American Olympians.
Even though he retired after the 2022 Winter Olympics, White continues to be a multi-millionaire, thanks to his sponsorships with a host of brands. These include:
- Burton Snowboards
- Oakley
- Birdhouse Skateboards
- Target Corporation
- Park City Mountain Resort
- Ubisoft
- Red Bull
- American Express
Besides sports, White also enjoys a career in music. He plays guitar for the American electronic rock band Bad Things alongside former Augustana bassist Jared Palomar.
Lance Armstrong
Net worth in 2024:USD 50 million (SGD 65 million)
Lance Armstrong is perhaps one of the first names that comes to mind when it comes to cycling. He is a former world champion, a record-holder in the prestigious Tour de France event (he won it seven consecutive times between 1999 and 2005), and a cancer survivor.
His story would have been inspiring for a generation of young athletes, if not for the infamous doping scandal. After years of investigation, the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) in 2012 found Armstrong guilty of consuming performance-enhancing drugs throughout his career. He was subsequently banned from the sport for life, thereby bringing his career to an unfortunate end.
Even then, Armstrong remains one of the most decorated athletes the USA has ever seen. At the time of writing this article, his net worth, according toCelebrity Net Worth, makes the American cyclist one of the richest Olympians of all time.
Peter Sagan
Net worth in 2024:USD 50 million (SGD 65 million)
A three-time world champion (in 2015, 2016 and 2017), Peter Sagan is a professional cyclist often recognised as one of the finest Slovakian athletes in history. He made his mark in road bicycle racing and competed in the Olympics a couple of times (2012 and 2016). However, he failed to make a mark at the marquee sports meet.
In February 2024, he underwent a couple of heart surgeries which effectively kept him out of professional competitions. Sagan attempted to make a comeback and participate in the Paris Olympics 2024 (in mountain biking) but failed to earn a spot.
Regardless of his recent hardships, Sagan remains one of the richest Olympians of all time with a healthy net worth of USD 50 million.
Greg LeMond
Net worth in 2024:USD 40 million (SGD 52 million)
A pioneering figure in the world of cycling, Greg LeMond is a revered name in his domain. He made his mark on the international stage very young, winning the junior road race at the 1979 UCI Road World Championships in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In the subsequent years, he won a couple of world championships (in 1983 and 1989) and the Tour de France thrice (in 1986, 1989 and 1990).
Once he hanged his boots, LeMond developed a keen interest in entrepreneurship. He founded LeMond Composites, a company that specialises in manufacturing high-performance bikes with carbon fibre frames and aerodynamic triathlon handlebars. He also established LeMond Fitness in 2002, which is a company aimed at developing and manufacturing bicycle trainers and indoor exercise bikes.
Today, LeMond is a multi-millionaire. He was inducted into the United States Bicycling Hall of Fame in 1996.
Alan Pascoe
Net worth in 2024:USD 30 million (SGD 39 million)
Alan Pascoe is a former athlete who made a name in hurdles during the 1970s. His major achievements include:
- Olympics:One silver medal (1972)
- Commonwealth Games:One gold medal (1974), one silver medal (1974) and one bronze medal (1978)
- European Championships:Two gold medals (1974), one silver medal (1971) and one bronze medal (1969)
Following his retirement, Pascoe ventured into the world of events marketing and consulting. He set up the Alan Pascoe Associates in 1976 and grew it into a large sports management firm before selling the company for USD 25 million in 1998. At present, he is involved with an advertising and public relations firm named Chime.
As of 2024, Alan Pascoe is a multi-millionaire and one of the richest Olympians of all time.
Caitlyn Jenner
Net worth in 2024:USD 25 million (SGD 33 million)
Born Bruce Jenner, the former American decathlete came out as a trans woman in 2015 and announced herself to the world as Caitlyn. Long before being Kris Kardashian’s partner and a parent to models Kendell and Kylie Jenner, Caitlyn was a famous sports personality.
While she only competed at the international level for a mere six years, Jenner set a host of world records. In addition, she also won a gold medal at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, Canada. For her widespread achievements, the decathlete was inducted into the United States National Track and Field Hall of Fame (in 1980), the Olympic Hall of Fame (in 1986) and the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame (in 1994).
After retiring from sports, Jenner became a well-known face on American television. She appeared in the famous reality showKeeping Up with the Kardashians from 2007 to 2021 in over 160 episodes. Jenner was also a part ofAmerica Alive!in 1978 when she co-hosted the daytime talk show.
Belonging to perhaps the most famous family in the global pop culture landscape, the Kardashian-Jenner clan, it is hardly a surprise to learn that someone as decorated as Caitlyn Jenner is a multi-millionaire.
Simone Biles
Net worth in 2024:USD 25 million (SGD 33 million)
Last but definitely not least in our list of the richest Olympians of all time is Simone Biles, the modern-day American sporting legend.
If the world expected someone to rule the Paris Olympics 2024, it had to be Biles. And the American gymnast did not disappoint. She won three gold medals and a silver medal at the marquee event, taking her total count of Olympic medals up to 11. In the process, Biles became the most successful American gymnast at the Olympics and the second-most decorated overall, trailing only Larisa Latynina of Russia (who won 18 medals).
Much of Biles’ impeccable net worth is a product of her off-field earnings. She enjoys a contract with Gap-owned Athleta and even has a line of products in association with the brand titled ‘Because I can’. Besides Athleta, Biles is sponsored by the following brands:
- United Airlines
- The Hershey Company
- Procter & Gamble
- Mattress Firm
- Spieth America
- Beats by Dre
- Visa
- Oreo
- MasterClass
- Uber Eats
- Facebook Watch
- Subway
For her exemplary performance at the Paris Olympics 2024, Biles received a sum of USD 127,500 from the U.S. Olympic Committee.
(Main Image Credits: Michael Phelps/Instagram and Usain St.Leo Bolt /Instagram; Featured Image Credits: Michael Phelps/Instagram)
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
