The Olympic Games may be seen as the pinnacle of sporting achievement, but often the medal-winning superhumans who win gold earn a pittance compared to the likes of footballers, golfers and basketball stars.
There are exceptions though, with some Olympians amongst the richest sportspeople in the world.
The Olympics famously doesn’t have any prize money, but the fame success brings can lead to money-spinning advertising campaigns, sponsorship deals and personal appearances.
Add in shrewd investments, and these sporting heroes can become fabulously wealthy - if they weren’t already.
Here are the top 12 richest Olympians in the world in 2024, according to CelebrityNetWorth.
For the purposes of this list we’re leaving out those for whom the Olympics are incidental to their professional sports - rather than being the main event. That’s why we’re not including the likes of golfers, tennis players, basketball players or footballers.
9. Caitlyn Jenner
Caitlyn Jenner won an Olympic gold medal in the Decathlon for the USA in the 1976 Montreal games - under her former name of Bruce Jenner. In more recently times she has become a hugely famous media personality, appearing in the reality show Keeping Up With The Kardashians with then-wife Kris, their daughters Kendall and Kylie Jenner, and Kris's other children Kim, Khloé, and Rob Kardashian. All of them are now stars, and Caitlyn has an estimated fortune of $25 million. | Getty Images
10. Tara Lipinski
Completing the top 10 wealthiest Olympians is American figure skater Tara Kristen Lipinski, who won the gold medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano - the youngest person to do so in history. Since leaving competitive sport she's branched out into acting, commentating and producing films. She has an estimated fortune of $25 million. | Getty Images for Chruchill Downs
11. Eileen Gu
Just missing out on a place in the top 10, with an estimated fortune of $20 million, American-born Eileen Gu is a freestyle skier who represents China. At the the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing she won gold medals in big air and halfpipe, and a silver medal in slopestyle. She is the first freestyle skier to win three medals at a single Winter Olympics. | Getty Images
12. Oksana Baiul
Also worth around $20 million is former Ukrainian skater Oksana Baiul, who took gold in the ladies' singles figure skating at the 1994 Olympics, a year after being crowned world champiom. She quickly moved to the USA to seek her fortune by performing in professional ice skating tours and shows. | Getty Images