20 Athletes Who Made Their Fortune after the Olympics

18th December, 2020

usatoday.com

These athletes made their millions playing professional sports and then some more with their entrepreneurial skills. Here are 20 of the richest Olympians. It is every athlete’s dream to represent their country in the Olympics. But only a few talented and hardworking sportspersons make the cut. Stepping up on the podium, receiving the medal, and proudly listening to their national anthem is every sportsman’s dream. And once they earn a place, sponsorships and brand endorsements follow suit. We bring to you 20 athletes who made their millions after winning or participating in the Olympics.

icasnetwork.com

Michelle Kwan

Michelle Kwan continues to be one of the most decorated figure skaters in the history of the sport, with back-to-back medals at the Olympics. Kwan is currently the highest-paid advertising star with $2 million in annual income from Chevrolet and Yoplait. A major share of her income also comes from commercial contracts for winning major athletic and sporting events worldwide.

www.indiatimes.com

Saina Nehwal

Representing India at the Olympics was a dream come true for the local badminton superstar Saina Nehwal. And it was this international exposure in the sport that helped the young athlete earn recognition from fans, critics, and her fellow competitors. Her accolades in the professional sport also earned her several major endorsements, with her net worth in recent years increasing to nearly $4 million.

gc2018.com

Asafa Powell

Usain Bolt may be the fastest man in most track and field events, but Asafa Powell is a major force to be reckoned with. The Jamaican sprinter consistently manages to break the 10-second barrier. Powell’s earnings include everything from his annual salaries, bonuses for breaking records, and brand endorsements, making with his net worth a decent $6.5 million.

usopm.org

Mary Lou Retton

Mary Lou Retton began training at a very young age and was groomed for the American National Team in the 1984 Olympics. The 1984 games are one of the major highlights of her gymnastics career, as she won five gold medals—more than any other athlete at the time. Even after 36 years, Retton is fondly celebrated for her achievements, which has helped her amass a personal wealth of $8 million.

thebulgariantimes.com

Alina Kabaeva

Alina Kabaeva is a rhythmic gymnast who won the bronze medal in the Sydney Olympics and the gold medal in the Summer Olympics at Athens. The rising star started training from the age of three and went on to win at several European, World Cup, and Grand Prix championships, making a name for herself in the sport. Alina Kabaeva is worth an estimated $10 million today.

bleacherreport.com

Alain Bernard

Alain Bernard is ranked among the world’s fastest swimmers in the 50- and 100-meter freestyle event. Representing France in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, Bernard won two gold, one silver, and one bronze medal. His medal tally in the Olympics earned the athlete recognition, and he won several medals back-to-back in World Swimming championships. Currently, the French swimmer has a net worth of $10 million from winnings and endorsements.

www.thefamousbirthdays.com

Lindsey Vonn

Lindsey Vonn became the first American woman to win Olympic medals with bronze in the Super–G event and gold in the downhill racing event. She won several medals at international skiing events and quickly became one of the most celebrated skiers in the popular winter sport. Vonn bagged major endorsements, and she also owns a clothing line. Her net worth is estimated at $12 million.

www.trofeos.net

Nadia Comaneci

Nadia Comaneci created sporting history in the world of gymnastics after she was awarded three perfect tens at the Olympics. She was also the youngest Romanian and the first woman to achieve this feat. Nadia Comaneci also branched out to other disciples and expanded her businesses and this diversification, her winning, and endorsements ensured a steady flow of income. Her net worth is estimated at $12 million.

lelombrik.net

Tyson Gay

Tyson Gay actually broke Usain Bolt’s World Record time of 9.69 seconds at an Olympic trials event. But his official time of 9.68 seconds was not accepted, as the sprinter had some help from wind assistance. He still holds the American record for the fastest 100-meter time of 9.69 seconds. As of September, Tyson Gay has amassed a net worth $15 million, mostly from sprinting events.

peoplematteratwork.com

Carl Lewis

1984 marked a successful year for the American National Team, as many athletes won multiple medals in their chosen disciples. And among these legends was Carl Lewis, one of the most promising multi-disciple athletes of his time. He has a total tally of nine golds, four of which he won in 1984. He is the 11th richest Olympian with a net worth of $20 million in 2020.

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Mark Spitz

Mark Spitz represented the USA in the 1968 and 1972 Olympics, where he won 9 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze in swimming. Of the tally, he won 7 gold medals in the Munich games. His accolades in national and international events earned him much fame and sponsorships. Combined with his earnings and bonuses for world records, Mark Spitz has a net worth of $20 million.

skating.fandom.com

Oksana Baiul

Oksana Baiul, the second youngest figure skater to win gold at the age of 16, began ice skating at the age of four. She was chosen on the squad to represent Ukraine at the 1994 Olympics. After retiring from the sport, Oksana wrote two biographies, launched her own line of skating apparel, and also starred in a musical. Her net worth is estimated at $20 million.

athleticsweekly.com

Alan Pascoe

Alan Pascoe is a retired athlete who was part of the National British team in the 1972 Munich Olympics. The team came second, with each member winning a silver medal. Pascoe retired early from his track and field career, but his passion for the sport brought him back as a consultant. He then went on to form his own sports marketing and PR company. Today, Pascoe is worth $30 million.

www.wbur.org

Scott Hamilton

Scott Hamilton, a four-time World championship winner and Olympic gold medalist, is ranked among the greatest figure skaters in the history of the sport. At the age of 22, Hamilton earned a place in the US National team. He went on to represent his country, winning at the 1984 Winter Olympics. After retiring from the sport, Scott Hamilton ventured into business and gained a net worth of $30 million.

fr.m.wikipedia.org

Peter Sagan

The Slovakian road cycling legend has three world titles and seven green jerseys from the legendary Tour De France. Peter Saga participated in both the London and Rio Olympic road cycling events but could not win a medal. However, that did not stop the young athlete from making a name for himself. He has earned countless sponsorships and endorsements, and his current net worth is estimated at $30 million.

smurrrr.com

Lance Armstrong

Lance Armstrong has experienced several highs and lows in his career and personal life. He battled cancer to come back and win the Tour de France and International Olympic events multiple times. Sadly, he was stripped of his titles after testing positive for doping. This cost him his endorsements, and Armstrong’s net worth took a hit, shrinking to just $50 million.

bleacherreport.com

Shaun White

Shaun White is one of the most successful Winter and Summer Olympics snowboarder/skateboarder athletes in the history of the sport. With three Olympic gold medals and 15 X Games gold medals under his belt, Shaun White has signed several multi-million dollar endorsements with major sporting brands over the years. His annual salary is also estimated to be around $10 million, and today, he is worth a staggering $60 million.

headtopics.com

Michael Phelps

When you think of decorated swimmers in Olympic history, Michael Phelps is the first name that pops in your head. Phelps has been an Olympic Gold medalist 23 times and is a genuine American sports icon. Today, he is one of the richest Olympians, with a staggering net worth of over $80 million. His net worth includes earning from endorsements, bonuses for breaking records, and his salary.

www.olympic.org

Usain Bolt

After a few injuries threatened to cut short the Jamaican sprinter’s career, Usain Bolt set the record straight in the Beijing Olympics in 2008. He broke the world record for the 100-meter sprint and set a new time of 9.69 seconds to officially be dubbed the fastest man on the planet. Endorsements started coming in soon after, with his net worth doubling to an estimated $90 million.

www.news18.com

Roger Federer

He is ranked among the greatest tennis players of all time, with a record-breaking number of 20 grand slam victories to date. Roger Federer also continues to train judiciously for the upcoming Olympics, having won the men’s double title in Beijing in 2008. With 13 major brand endorsements in his portfolio, Roger Federer is worth a staggering $450 million in 2020.