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Over 30,000 runners are set to compete in the 2026 Boston Marathon, but less than 100 will receive prize money for their performances.
This year's marathon includes a seven-figure amount to be distributed among several winners and other competitors scattered around the Top 10.
But just how much is at stake for the world's most elite marathon competitors?
Here is a breakdown of how much total money is at stake, as well as how much competitors earn depending on their final results in 2026.
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Boston Marathon 2026 purse
This year's total purse is a guarantee of $1.13 million, split among the top 10 finishers for men's and women's open and wheelchair divisions. There are also prizes for the masters division and para athletics divisions.
However, that's not the limit to the total purse, either, as there are incentives in place that can scale up the total winnings. For open and wheelchair racers, an extra $50,000 can be won if they set a course record. Para Athletics divisions also have a course record incentive, just a smaller amount at $500.
This means that, should every incentive be achieved, the total purse would be over 1.33 million.
Here is a breakdown of the prize earnings for this year's runners. Each division has both a men's and women's category, with the amount for each winner.
| Place | Open | Wheelchair (T53/54/34) | Wheelchair (T51-52) | Masters | Select Para Athletics |
| 1 | $150,000 | $50,000 | $1,500 | $5,000 | $3,000 |
| 2 | $75,000 | $30,000 | $750 | $2,500 | $2,000 |
| 3 | $40,000 | $15,000 | $500 | $1,500 | $1,500 |
| 4 | $25,000 | $10,000 | |||
| 5 | $18,000 | $8,000 | |||
| 6 | $13,500 | $5,000 | |||
| 7 | $10,500 | $4,000 | |||
| 8 | $8,500 | $3,000 | |||
| 9 | $7,000 | $2,000 | |||
| 10 | $5,500 | $1,500 | |||
| Course Record | $50,000 | $50,000 | N/A | N/A | $500 |
How much does the Boston Marathon 2026 winner make?
The winners' prize money differs by the category of race. The professionals who race in the open category can win $150,000 for first, in both the men's and the women's categories. Wheelchair racers who classify as T53/54/34 can win up to $50,000 for first, with the numbers scaling down to the full Top 10.
Other categories, including for T51-52 wheelchair racers, masters, and select para athletes, also offer prize money to the winners, although these are a fraction of the pay day that the open winner receives.
MORE: A look back at 2025 Boston Marathon winners by division
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