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The Olympics give some of the world's best athletes a chance to make a name for themselves on the biggest stage, but it isn't always a lucrative endeavor for the competitors.
Athletes don't receive payouts from the Olympics itself. Rather, their payouts often depend on their own country's policies and whether they actually win a medal.
For athletes who don't medal, it's entirely possible to walk away without any kind of financial benefit — though the Olympics are also an ideal stage for athletes to position themselves for brand deals and sponsorships.
Here's a look at the highest-paid Olympic athletes in 2026, headlined by skier Eileen Gu.
MORE 2026 OLYMPICS: Live medal tracker | Viewer's guide | Day-by-day schedule
1. Eileen Gu, $23.1 million
- Country: China
- Sport: Alpine Skiing
- Earnings: $23.1 million
American-born skier Eileen Gu, who competes for China, is far and away the highest-paid Olympian in 2026 at $23.1 million, according to Forbes.
Just $100,000 of Gu's earnings over the past year have come from skiing itself, as she is making about $23 million in sponsorship deals, including modeling. Gu represented both Victoria's Secret and Louis Vuitton on the runway as a model, and she has had deals with Porsche, Red Bull and more in addition to deals with China-based brands, according to The Athletic.
There is no doubt Gu's worldwide appeal also helps grow her brand. She was born in the United States but competes for China, making her ultra-popular in the massive Chinese market. Gu also established her worldwide profile at the Olympics four years ago, so she is a known name compared to some stars who are just emerging in 2026.
MORE: Why Eileen Gu competes for China, not United States
2. Auston Matthews, $15.2 million
- Country: United States
- Sport: Hockey
- Salary: $15.2 million
Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews isn't the NHL's highest-paid player by average annual value, but he is making more than any player in the league this season at $15.2 million per year.
The former Hart Trophy winner has scored at least 60 goals in two different seasons, including a historic 69-goal campaign in 2023-24, and he has 48 points through 51 games this season.
While winning a Stanley Cup in Toronto is the dream for Matthews, winning gold while wearing the stars and stripes would be a massive career achievement as well. The USA hasn't won Olympic gold in men's hockey since 1980, but the Americans feel more confident than ever that they have the talent, and Matthews is at the center of their Olympic hopes.
Matthews isn't the only highly-compensated NHL player in the Olympics. Germany's Leon Draisaitl makes $14 million annually with the Edmonton Oilers, while Canada's Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid and Mitch Marner all make at least $12 million annually.
Finland's Mikko Rantanen comes in at $12 million as well, and Sweden's Elias Pettersson isn't far behind at $11.6 million per year. With so many professional hockey players earning high salaries, we won't be listing them individually.
MORE: Breaking down USA men's hockey roster at 2026 Olympics
3. Lindsey Vonn, $8 million
Michael Madrid-Imagn Images
- Country: United States
- Sport: Skiing
- Earnings: $8 million
Lindsey Vonn, who attempted an Olympic comeback at age 41 just days after suffering a torn ACL, saw her run end with a devastating crash in a medal event. While her Olympic career may now be over, she ranks as one of the highest-paid athletes at the games in 2026.
Vonn has long been a well-known name in the U.S. and even beyond, and that notoriety earned her endorsement deals with "Delta Air Lines, Land Rover and Rolex," among others, according to Forbes. Most of Vonn's income comes from those sponsorship deals, though her three Olympic medals certainly pushed her to that level of fame.
MORE: Explaining Lindsey Vonn's serious injuries after crash
4. Mikaela Shiffrin, $7 million
- Country: United States
- Sport: Skiing
- Earnings: $7 million
Mikaela Shiffrin, now competing in her fourth Olympics, was a sensation when she first burst onto the world stage in Sochi in 2014 and earned two more medals, including a second gold, in Pyeongchang in 2018.
While Shiffrin has struggled to get back to peak form at the Olympics, she remains one of the most popular American winter athletes and makes about $7 million annually primarily through endorsement deals. Shiffrin has deals with "Barilla, Oakley, Atomic, Longines, Visa, Adidas and Land Rover," according to NBC Sports, which notes that she also won $1 million in prize money during her 2023 season.
MORE: Mikaela Shiffrin's results, medal count from 2026 Olympics
5. Chloe Kim, $4 million
- Country: United States
- Sport: Snowboarding
- Earnings: $4 million
Chloe Kim, the highest-paid snowboarder at the 2026 Olympics, makes an estimated $4 million per year.
Kim emerged as a 17-year-old when she won gold in the halfpipe in Pyeongchang, and she returned four years later to win gold in the same event in Beijing. Still only 25, Kim has another chance to boost her profile in 2026 and position herself for even more lucrative endorsement deals in the months and years ahead.
MORE: Chloe Kim's snowboarding schedule at 2026 Olympics
6. Scotty James, $3 million
- Country: Australia
- Sport: Snowboarding
- Earnings: $3 million
Australian snowboarder Scotty James makes about $3 million annually, according to Forbes. James was a bronze medalist in the halfpipe in 2018 and earned silver in Beijing four years ago, and he has eight X Games gold medals. Later this year, James and Gu will be among the founding athletes for the X Games League.
As of 2024, James also had sponsorship deals with Red Bull, Tommy Hilfiger and Therabody, which significantly boost his yearly income as one of the most popular athletes in Australia.
MORE: Every medal winner from 2026 Olympic snowboarding events
7. Mark McMorris, estimated $2 million
- Country: Canada
- Sport: Snowboarding
- Earnings: Estimated $2 million
While Canadian snowboarder Mark McMorris' exact annual salary isn't known, he almost certainly ranks among some of the highest-paid snowboarders at the 2026 Olympics, behind leaders Chloe Kim and Scotty James. The most successful snowboarders tend to make more than $1 million, and McMorris finds himself in that range.
McMorris has more than two-dozen X Games gold medals, as well as bronze medals in each of the last three Winter Olympics. The Canadian star also has sponsorship deals with Red Bull, Subway, Oakley and even Cheerios.
McMorris' agent told The Financial Post in 2022 that his client "does well financially" despite not being a salaried athlete, crediting McMorris' success as being "built up on his own."
MORE: Shaun White's hair, then and now
8. Jutta Leerdam, estimated $1.5 million
- Country: Netherlands
- Sport: Speed skating
- Earnings: Estimated $1.5 million
Dutch speed skater Jutta Leerdam has a net worth of about $5 million, with estimated annual earnings near $1.5 million.
Leerdam reportedly made between 600,000 to 900,000 Euro on her contract with Jumbo Visma from 2022-24, close to $1 million in U.S. dollars on the higher end of that estimate, and her popularity has only risen in recent years between her success as a speed skater and her popularity on social media.
Leerdam was a silver medalist in the 1000 meter in 2022 and won gold in 2026, but this time around, she had much more attention on her. Leerdam is dating boxer and influencer Jake Paul, who has global appeal.
Leerdam has quite a platform herself, as she boasts 5.6 million Instagram followers and makes significant money through sponsorships, including Nike, Celsius and Dior.
MORE: Jake Paul left in tears after Jutta Leerdam's breaks speed skating record
9. Hilary Knight, $1 million
© Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
- Country: United States
- Sport: Hockey
- Earnings: $1 million
American star Hilary Knight is the highest-paid women's hockey player at the 2026 Olympics, according to Forbes, as she makes about $1 million between her Professional Women's Hockey League salary with the Seattle Torrent and sponsorship deals with Chipotle, Hershey's and Red Bull.
MORE: Olympic women's hockey standings
10. Ilia Malinin, $700,000
- Country: United States
- Sport: Figure skating
- Salary: $700,000
American figure skater Ilia Malinin ranks among the best figure skaters in the world, and he is also the highest-paid figure skater at the 2026 Olympics with an estimated $700,000 annual income.
Malinin rose to fame before his Olympic debut with four consecutive U.S. national championships, and he solidified his status as a global star by helping the United States win gold in the team portion of figure skating in Milan.
Figure skaters don't typically make what some of the top athletes in other winter sports make, but Malinin could certainly earn himself some more sponsorship deals with a strong Olympic debut.
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