Olympic Champions with Fortune to Match Their Fame

Every four years, the Olympic Games brings together hundreds of athletes from countries throughout the world who compete in more than 300 events. Competing in the game is the ultimate honor and chance to showcase an athlete's talents and skills. The games are considered the top sports competition globally but not everyone who makes an Olympic team can go. According to snowboarder Jonathan Cheever, in an interview with PopSugar, training for the games is extremely expensive, with a minimum budget of $50,000 per season.

But some Olympians don't have to worry about expenses, whether it's training costs or travel costs to the Olympic host city. Some competitors have infinitely larger bank accounts than others. While some athletes were born into blessed situations, others are the first in their families to have such incredible financial wealth. Many of these athletes saw their earning potential increase after winning an Olympic medal.

To compile this list of the richest Olympians ever, 24/7 Tempo consulted financial sources, including Celebrity Net Worth, The Scotsman, and Greenlight Card. (For more Olympic content, read about why Olympians can't make money during the games.)

• Net worth: $1 billion

Equestrian riding is a physically taxing sport. Many folks see the sport as someone riding a horse but in reality, the person on top of the animal must be OK with tons of shaking and moving around. Keeping control of the horse is necessary, and they must have an excellent relationship with their animal. One of the best equestrian riders in the world is Anna Kasperzak. Throughout her career, she competed in two Olympic games.

She is also one of the wealthiest people ever to compete in the Olympics. Her grandfather was Karl Toosbuy, best known for starting the ECCO shoe brand. Kasperzak already has a net worth of $1 billion because of this. Once her mother passes down the entirety of the fortune to Kasperzak and her brother, it's likely her name will begin to appear on lists of the richest people in the world.

• Net worth: $3.2 billion

Few athletes in history have been as influential as Michael Jordan. He's responsible for much of basketball's growth. In the 1992 Olympics when the United States sent the Dream Team to Barcelona, Jordan showcased his abilities to fans in Europe. At that time, there weren't many Europeans interested in basketball. Thanks to Jordan, the NBA is now dominated by Europeans like Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Basketball isn't the only thing Jordan mastered. Early in his career, Jordan decided to be paid part of his Nike deal in stock options. He grew his Jordan brand and now has a net worth of $3.2 billion. The most impressive part about Jordan's net worth is he was paid around $90 million. The bulk of his fortune comes from endorsement deals and other business endeavors.

• Net worth: $1.2 billion

While this list could be full of NBA players, the only other player mentioned here will be LeBron James. Like Michael Jordan, James has done so much for the game of basketball during his career. Fans are constantly comparing the two, as there's a real debate about who the better player is. One thing fans can agree on is that both men are two of the smartest business minds in the world.

As of 2024, James has a net worth of $1.2 billion. Around $500 million has come from his contracts in the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Los Angeles Lakers. That means James has earned more than $700 million in endorsements and other businesses. James notably has his shoe and clothing line with his signature "King James" logo. However, James has expanded into the nonsports-related businesses as well, like his ownership in Blaze Pizza company.

• Net worth: $100 million

There's no arguing that Michael Phelps is the greatest Olympian in history. The swimmer from Baltimore won 23 gold medals throughout his career, most notably winning a record eight golds in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Training for one event in the Olympics consumes the athlete, so the fact that Phelps successfully competed in eight events will likely not be matched ever again.

Nearly every dime Phelps has made in his life has come from endorsements, as swimmers don't get contracts like NBA players. As of 2024, Phelps is worth $100 million. One of his largest deals came from Subway. Much has been made of Phelps' diet when he's training. When it was released to the public, many folks didn't believe it was even possible to consume that much food. It made sense for Subway to jump in and get Phelps while they could.

• Net worth: $90 million

Once known as "The Fastest Man in the World," Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt set world records regularly in his prime. In 2009, Bolt set the 100-meter dash world record of 9.58 seconds, a time that still holds strong in 2024. During his Olympic career, Bolt won eight gold medals. He never finished second or third in a single event. Like Phelps, Bolt has had to rely solely on endorsements and investments to gain wealth.

As of 2024, Bolt is worth a staggering $90 million. He attempted to start a company named Bolt Mobility, allowing consumers to purchase electric scooters and other forms of transportation. Bolt said he got the idea from traveling to places like New York City where the traffic is unbearable. However, the company shut down operations in 2022.

• Net worth: $65 million

Many folks from San Diego prefer surfing on a more frequent basis than snowboarding. Shaun White isn't like most people, though. One of the most legendary snowboarders in history, throughout his career, White has created several new tricks. Fans were in awe when he officially debuted the Double McTwist 1260. These days, although it seems as though every professional rider can do the trick, White was the first to take it on.

White has participated in five different Olympics throughout his career. During those five Games, White won three gold medals. He also has gained a net worth of $65 million from various endorsements, acting appearances, and investments. Fans loved seeing a fun side of White in the film "Friends With Benefits," which starred Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis.

• Net worth: $50 million

One of the most controversial athletes in history is Lance Armstrong. Many fans refuse to acknowledge what he accomplished during his career. At the start, Armstrong was thought to be someone that individuals with cancer could look up to. Amazingly, Armstrong only participated once in the Olympics. He famously won the Tour de France while suffering from testicular cancer.

However, it all came crashing down when it was released that Armstrong had doped throughout his career.

The success of Armstrong enabled him to create a wealth of $50 million. One of the biggest reasons for that wealth is because he put money into a firm that invested in Uber in the early days. Armstrong is said to have made at least $20 million from that deal alone. Fans also remember how popular the "Livestrong" bracelets were in the 2000s. Nearly everyone bought one to support cancer research.

• Net worth: $50 million

Another legend in the cycling world is Peter Sagan. He's won numerous Tour de France's throughout his career and is arguably the greatest cyclist in history. Fans were shocked by Sagan's decision in the 2016 Rio Olympics to participate in the cross-country mountain biking event, rather than the road race. He didn't do as well as he'd hoped, finishing a lapped 35th after suffering a puncture during the race.

Throughout his career, Sagan has stacked a net worth of around $50 million. Sagan is from Slovakia (formerly Czechoslovakia), and Europeans love him. For years, Europeans felt like Lance Armstrong had taken over their race, the Tour de France, but Sagan's dominance of the famous event has made them proud. Sagan is seen in advertisements around Europe and other parts of the world.

• Net worth: $30 million

The hurdles are one of the most challenging events in track and field. Competitors must keep enough energy to consistently clear the hurdles while running at a pace between each set of obstacles. Alan Pascoe was one of the best hurdlers in the world. During his Olympic career, he won a silver medal during the 1972 Munich Games in the 4×400 meter relay. This isn't where the British track and field star made his money, though.

As of 2024, Pascoe has a net worth of $30 million. Once he retired from competing, Pascoe started a career in marketing and consulting for various events. His experience at the Olympics made him one of the best in the business. He knew the ins and outs of how to market athletes and what they wanted in their experience. He was also part of the team that enabled London to gain the bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

• Net worth: $25 million

There's no arguing the success Caitlyn Jenner, formerly known as Bruce Jenner, had as an Olympian. Jenner competed in the 1976 Montreal Games, winning the decathlon, widely considered by fans to showcase the best all-around athlete in the world. For men, the decathlon is comprised of 10 total events, ranging from the 100-meter dash to the shot put throw. Each athlete is given points based on where they finish.

Jenner was already a huge name before marrying Kris Kardashian in 1991. Jenner would become a mainstay on the show "Keeping Up with the Kardashians." Throughout time, she has amassed a net worth of $25 million. It's shocking to think of where Jenner is compared to daughters Kylie and Kendall when it comes to money earned.

• Net worth: $25 million

The amount of balance required to be a professional figure skater is seemingly unimaginable. Tara Lipinski perfected the art. Her first appearance in the Winter Olympics came in Nagano where she took home the gold medal in the singles event and, at the age of 15 years and 255 days, became the youngest gold medalist in history for competitive figure skating. She retired from skating in 2002 because of several injuries.

However, Lipinski made quite a good amount of money for herself. She's worth around $25 million. After her first Olympics, Lipinski had book deals and tons of endorsements. All of these together sky-rocketed her bank account to around $12 million. Not bad for a 15-year-old. As time has gone on, Lipinski has gotten involved with the film and broadcasting industries. She's a producer and actress and also carves out time to talk about the sport she loves.

• Net worth: $20 million

One of the youngest athletes to dominate the ski slopes is Eileen Gu. Her first appearance in the Winter Olympics came in 2022 when she was only 18. Gu's debut at the Beijing Games earned her two gold medals and one silver. She first started skiing at Lake Tahoe when she was 3 years old. She was offered early entrance into Stanford, which she accepted, all while becoming one of the famous faces in the sport of skiing.

Even though she's only 20, Gu already has a net worth of $20 million. She has been signed by American and Chinese brands, as her mother is originally from China. In addition to the endorsements Gu's obtained over the years, she models for IMG and has been in various Vogue shoots. (Find out about the athletes with the most Summer Olympic medals.)