Nothing but gold: The top 20 highest paid athletes competing at Paris 2024
Top 20 highest paid Olympians at Paris 2024
When the Olympics first began, athletes were amateurs and competition was vastly different to the way it is in the modern era.
Back in 1896, no one would have believed athletes who would compete in Paris 2024, would be coming from sports where they made over $45 million in a year alone.
Here are the top 20 highest paid athletes who will be competing at Paris 2024.
Who is the highest paid?
And more importantly, will they be able to achieve the most priceless win of all and nab a gold medal?
The breakdowns of earnings are based on each athlete's yearly earnings, which includes how much they make on field, added in with how much they make via endorsements, such as personal sponsorships.
20. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Canada's finest, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes a whopping $36 million yearly, through his major role in the NBA and sponsorships, playing for OKC Thunder.
He takes on Paris 2024 in search of gold against his NBA teammates, as the USA remain strong favourites to snatch gold.
But he comes from a strong history at the world's biggest competition.
His mother, Charmaine Gilgeous, is a former track athlete, who competed in the women's 400 metres for Antigua and Barbuda at the 1992 Olympic Games.
19. Xander Schauffele
Xander Schauffele makes an amazing $36.2 million yearly and already has a gold medal to his name.
On debut at the Olympic Games, at Tokyo 2020, Schauffele took the competition by storm and brought home gold in emotional scenes.
He fulfilled a dream, dedicating it to his father, Stefan Schauffele, who was a decathlete, but due to a car accident, never got to compete at the Olympic Games.
"I really wanted to win for my dad," he said to the BBC at Tokyo 2020.
"I am sure he is crying somewhere right now. I kind of wanted this one more than any other."
18. Novak Djokovic
When you hear the name Novak Djokovic, you instantly think of greatness.
It's pretty easy to connect those dots, considering the Serbian has 24 grand slam titles to his name, as well as a whopping annual income of $38.7 million, which includes his endorsements off the court.
Djokovic added the ultra rare "golden slam" to his list of achievements by beating Carlos Alcaraz to the gold medal in Paris.
Previously when it came to the Olympic Games, Djokovic hadn't had as much success.
He had just one bonze medal to his name after finishing third at Beijing 2008. Not anymore!
17. Jrue Holiday
Jrue Holiday is in Paris for his second Olympic Games, after his debut for Team USA in the basketball back in 2021.
With a yearly total income of $41.4 million, his role with the Boston Celtics, which saw him part of their championship win in 2024, makes him a two-time winner.
But now, it's time to strive for another gold medal to take home.
16. Jamal Murray
Jamal Murray is a star for the Denver Nuggets in the NBA, but will look to shine for Canada at Paris 2024.
He'll have to face up against some of his American teammates and opponents, which won't be new.
What will be new, though, is his hunt for a gold medal. While Murray makes a whopping $42.4 million each year, an Olympic medal may be even more priceless.
15. Rudy Gobert
Rudy Gobert, who is a star in the NBA for the Minnesota Timberwolves, returns to his birth country, France, for Paris 2024.
Making an astounding $42.7 million yearly, Gobert will have just one thing on his mind, a gold medal.
Coming runners up to team USA in Tokyo 2020's basketball competition, Gobert already has a silver medal, but is keen to go one step further to defeat his NBA rivals and teammates.
14. Jayson Tatum
Jayson Tatum is still on top of the world, after he led his Boston Celtics to become NBA champions in June of 2024, defeating the Mavericks in special fashion.
He also sits pretty off the court, with a yearly income of $43.5 million.
Now, his focus turns to backing up his performance with Team USA in the basketball, after their gold medal performance at Tokyo 2020.
13. Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz sits pretty with his $45 million that he earns yearly, but he's now searching for something even more meaningful at Paris 2024.
That would be a gold medal, of course, in Olympic Games debut. He unfortunately lost the gold medal match to Novak Djokovic on Monday.
The four-time grand slam champion already seems to have it all going, so a medal would only take his stardom to even greater heights.
In exciting Paris 2024 news, the 21-year-old steps out next to tennis legend Rafael Nadal for the men's doubles tournament, as the pair represent Spain in the chase for golden glory.
12. Viktor Hovland
Norway's Viktor Hovland may not have made his mark at Tokyo 2020, coming in equal 14th in the men's singles golf, but Paris 2024 tells a different story.
With his yearly earnings reaching $45.9 million, the next step is a search for gold.
Hovland bombed out of the Games to finish 30th overall.
