Richest Olympians ever and enormous net worths – billionaire heir to NBA greats (2024)

Many Olympians have demonstrated their worth outside the world of sports, and a few have even gone on to achieve billionaire status with some gargantuan net worths

The Olympics assembles some of the most accomplished humans in existence - but not all streaks of success are limited to their sporting fields.

Despite reaching the pinnacle in their athletic endeavours, there are also those Olympians who boast monetary riches, too. Some have even managed to complete the set by adding Olympic gold to their treasure troves of accomplishments.

One under-the-radar example - but by no means the least notable - is Danish dressage rider Anna Kasprzak, who has taken part in two editions of the Summer Games. Kasprzak's grandfather, Karl Toosbuy, founded shoe brand Ecco, and Forbes estimates her net worth to be $1.3billion (£1bn) through company shares inherited along with her mother and brother.

And yet that figure is dwarfed by the mammoth money game of one Michael Jordan, who won Olympic gold on two occasions: once as a prospect at the 1984 Los Angeles Games and again as a veteran at Barcelona 1992. But for all the earnings 'MJ' raked in during a glittering NBA career with the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards, his net worth of today was made off the court.

According to Forbes, Jordan is valued at around £2.5bn, the vast majority of which is estimated to have come from his endorsem*nts with brands like Nike, Gatorade and Hanes. The former of course led to the foundation of his Air Jordan brand, while he sold a majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets in 2023, with the franchise valued at £2.3bn at the time.

But Jordan isn't alone among basketball superstars on the Olympian rich list. In fact, a number of NBA icons worth nine figures or more have graced the Summer Games since the sport's biggest names entered the ballot of big earners in recent decades.

The likes of LA Lakers legend Magic Johnson (£940m), LeBron James (£940m), Shaquille O'Neal (£390m) and Hakeem Olajuwon (£234m) have each attained Olympian status as basketball players. However, in each case, they've followed that up by displaying considerable business nous through their investments and entrepreneurial spirit in business.

It seems it's a significant step down in earnings from basketball to football, with nine-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi not quite matching up to his NBA counterparts. The World Cup-winner was already a global champion prior to his 2022 triumph in Qatar given he was part of the Argentina team that claimed Olympic gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Messi, 37, is estimated to have a net worth of around £470m, which is somewhat surprising given the icon is close to peerless in his field. That being said, the South American has some time to catch up the likes of Jordan and Johnson, who have had a couple more decades to build their business empires.

Though nothing to be sniffed at, Michael Phelps' approximate net worth of £78m isn't quite on par with his ball-playing peers. The most decorated Olympian of all time with 28 total medals (including 23 golds), it seems only fair the retired American swimmer is up there on the podium when it comes to earnings.

Just behind Phelps is another Olympic icon in Usain Bolt, whose £70m riches have been formed around his image as the fastest man of all time. The 100-metre world record-holder earned around £8m annually from his deal with Pumas while at the peak of his powers, expanding his Track & Records restaurant business since retiring from the track in 2017.

Although technically a Winter Olympian, American snowboarder Shaun White is a worthy mention given his net worth of a little more than £50m. The snow sensation has been the basis of multiple video games, winning three Winter Olympic golds and 15 titles at the X Games.

Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.