Olympics
Brains
The Olympics are an incredible event, uniting the world under competition to see which countries and individuals are the greatest at their sport. While every athlete at the games has worked tirelessly to earn their spot, not all athletes are paid equivalently. Whether it is from representing different countries, or competing in separate sports, different athletes will be going home with vastly different pay. Other than hockey, where the NHL has a minimum salary of $775,000, all other high paid athletes at the Games earn the majority of their income from sponsors. More popular sports naturally bring in more investors, and certain athletes who are able to ascend from their sport into mainstream media earn highly lucrative brand deals that skyrocket their earnings.Â
Athletes in niche sports do not have the luxury of illustrious brand deals and mainstream fame, and many work alternate jobs to fund their athletic career. Some countries pay their athletes for each medal with the most compensation for gold, Singapore tops that list at a potential $767,000 for their single athlete. 12 other countries offer over six-figures for each gold, and a total of 37 countries offer some winnings for medaling. That still leaves 55 countries where athletes are not paid for representing their nation, many of which are competing in sports that already supply little to no pay for the majority of the athletes.Â
Skiing, arguably the biggest sport in the Winter Olympics, still only has the athletes at the pinnacle of the sport barely earning enough to support themselves without another job. This is a huge contrast to Summer Olympic events, where numerous sports such as basketball, tennis, golf, and soccer all have organizations that pay their athletes generously, as well as track and swimming where the top athletes net massive incomes.
Now for the five highest paid athletes at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games.
5. Mitch Marner – $17 million
The 28-year-old from Ontario began his professional hockey career in the Greater Toronto Hockey League, playing for Vaughan Knights where they won the league title his only active season in 2011-2012. After another successful season for Marner, he was signed by the London Knights in the Ontario Hockey League where he was runner up for rookie of the year. His success in the youth league led to him being selected fourth overall in the 2015 draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs. Alongside his outstanding club play, Marner excelled in international play as well, leading Canada with 6 points in their win at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship. His success in his first season with the Maple Leafs led to him being selected for the All Rookie team. Marner has since been selected for three NHL All Star Games, as well as two selections to the NHL First All-Star team. In 2025, he signed a new contract with the Maple Leafs for $96 million over 8 years, immediately before being traded to the Vegas Golden Knights to play out that contract. After bonuses, Marner earns $15 million yearly from his Golden Knights contract. With an additional $2 million from his sponsors such as Nike, Red Bull, Beats by Dre, Oakley and many more, he nets $17 million yearly.
4. Leon Draisaitl – $19 million
Leon Draisaitl is dressing for the German Olympic hockey team at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics, 28 years after his father Peter Draisaitl competed at the Olympics for the same team. As a teen, Draisaitl suited up for various German professional teams on the youth side, eventually being rewarded player of the year for the German Development League. In 2014, Draisaitl was drafted 3rd overall by the Edmonton Oilers, and became the earliest draft selection by a German-trained player. After a few seasons of ups and downs for Draisaitl and the Oilers, with spurs of stardom and playoff success, followed by nagging injuries and a drop in the standings, the 2019-2020 season would begin their new upward trajectory. Prior to the Covid shutdown which halted all sporting seasons in 2020, Draisaitl earned the Art Ross Trophy for the most points at 110, with 43 goals and 67 assists. He was also rewarded both the Hart Memorial Award and Ted Lindsey Trophy as the MVP of the NHL. In 2024, the Oilers made it to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2004, but lost to the Florida Panthers. Following this season Draisaitl signed a new contract for $112 million over eight years. After bonuses, Draisaitl is earning $16.5 million yearly from the Oilers, and his sponsors such as Puma, EA Sports, and Skip the Dishes bring in another $2.5 million, totaling $19 million annually.
3. Nathan Mackinnon – $19.1 million
The 30-year-old hockey center and alternate captain for the Colorado Avalanches has made his Olympic debut in 2026, representing Canada. Mackinnon was selected first overall in the 2013 NHL draft and immediately made an impact, becoming the youngest player to dress in a Colorado Avalanche game as well as registering 2 assists on the game. He excelled all throughout his rookie season, earning himself the rookie of the year title as the youngest person to ever do it. After a short lull in his play, he ascended to stardom beginning in the 2017-2018 season becoming a finalist in both NHL MVP awards. The Avalanche later won the Stanley Cup in 2022 where Mackinnon earned the playoff scoring title with 13 total goals. Following the 2022 season, Mackinnon and the Avalanche agreed to an 8-year, $100.8 million extension which set the record for annual salary earnings for an NHL player at $12.6 million. This was shortly benefitted by the Avalanche as Mackinnon was rewarded both MVP awards—the Ted Lindsay Award and Hart Memorial Trophy—in the 2022-2023 season. He earns the majority of his income from his contract which totals $16 million a year after bonuses, but has partnerships with brands such as Tim Hortons, Chilly Ones, Tylenol, and Cwench Hydration which brings it another $3 million a year, earning Mackinnon $19.1 million annually.
2. Auston Matthews – $20.2 million
For the first time since 2014, NHL players are once again permitted to participate in the Winter Olympic Games. This brings the center and captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team Auston Matthews, now captain of the USA team, to the Games. From day one, Matthews made a name for himself in the NHL, becoming the first player to score 4 goals in their debut game and immediately living up to his first pick hype, later winning the Rookie of The Year award. Matthews has excelled with the Maple Leafs, and in the 2021-2022 season scored 60 goals winning him the Maurice Richard Award. His success this season also earned him both MVP awards, the Hart Memorial Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award. In 2023, Matthews signed a four year $53 million contract, earning $15.2 million a year after bonuses and making him the highest paid NHL player. On top of salary, his endorsements net him another $5 million per year with his top sponsors being Nike, Prime, Uber, and Mito Red Light.
1. Eileen Gu – $23 million
22-year-old Eileen Gu exploded into the mainstream during the 2022 Winter Olympics, being both the youngest freestyle skiing champion as well as the first freestyle skier to claim three medals in one Games. She has since built an empire around her name, obtaining numerous sponsors as well as starting the very lucrative side-gig of modeling. While American-born, she represents China in the Games along with many Chinese corporations such as Anta, Bosideng, Mengniu Dairy, and Luckin. Major sponsorships outside of China include Porsche, Redbull, and Swiss watch company IWC. As a model, she is represented by IMG models, has been on the cover of Vogue, and appears in major fashion shows such as Louis Vuitton. Eileen Gu represents beauty and brawn in her modeling and athletic prowess, but her brains cannot be understated as she is currently a student at Stanford University pursuing a degree in quantum physics. Eileen Gu’s $23 million yearly earnings not only put her at the top of the Winter Olympic athletes, but also fourth among all female athletes worldwide. Almost all of her income comes from sponsorships and modeling, as her skiing winnings from FIS and The Snow League competitions total at about $100,000 this past year.
All athletes who reach the Olympic stage dedicate their lives to their sport, sacrificing time, comfort, and stability in pursuit of excellence. Yet financial success at that level is rarely determined by effort alone; it is shaped by global recognition, marketability, and even the country an athlete represents. As is seen by this ranking, the diversity of sports in the highest paid rankings is minimal, with Eileen Gu breaking in from earnings alternative to her athletic endeavors. Other than hockey players, the next highest paid athlete is the Alpine Skiing icon, Lindsey Vonn, earning $8 million a year. Expanding viewership beyond the most publicized events and supporting competitors across a wider range of sports can help distribute both attention and financial opportunity more equitably. When athletes face less financial strain, they are better able to focus fully on performance, elevating both their own potential and the overall quality of the Olympic Games.
