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 11 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.
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.
5. Lance Armstrong
American Lance Armstrong has only won one Olympic medal while competing for his country - a bronze medal in the men's individual time trial of the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Following his admission of using performance enhancing drugs he returned his medal. His career may be forever sullied by the fact he cheated, but he's still managed to earn a fortune of around $50 million. | Getty Images
6. Peter Sagan
Slovakian cyclist Peter Sagan is one of the all-time greats of his sport, with a huge number of titles to his name, including three consecutive World Championships and one European Championship. He's not had so much success at the Olympics though, emerging without a medal from both London 2012 and Rio 2016. He has a bank balance of around $50 million to console him. | AFP via Getty Images
7. Greg LeMond
American cyclist Greg Lemond makes this list thanks to becoming, at the age of just 18, the youngest person ever to make the US Olympic cycling team. Sadly it was for the 1980 Moscow games which the US boycotted so he never actually competed. He went on to become one of the best ever road racers, winning three Tour de Frances and the Road Race World Championship twice. He has an estimated net worth of $40 million. | Getty Images
8. Alan Pascoe
British hurdler Alan Pascoe claimed a bronze medal at the 1972 Munich Olympics in the 4×400m relay. The athlete went one better in the World Championships and the Commonwealth games, winning two gold medals in the former and one in the latter. He then went on to great success in events marketing and consulting and is now worth an estimated $30 million. | Getty Images