Introduction
Despite the absolute dedication and hard work, it takes every athlete to get to the pinnacle of the track and field world, their endorsements and pay in comparison to global sports such as Football, Soccer, Basketball, and Boxing are almost poultry. Quite astonishingly, even after the close of the recently held Tokyo Olympics, none of the athletes from the track and field world have managed to break into the 100 wealthiest athletes of 2022 list as put out by Sportico. Let us know ‘Who Is The Richest Track And Field Athlete?’.
Who Is The Richest Track And Field Athlete?
However, one cannot ignore the fact that many athletes in this sport are millionaires in their own right. As of 2022, the richest athlete by total net worth is Caitlyn Jenner of America (formerly Bruce Jenner) followed by Usain Bolt of Jamaica both worth close to 100 and 30 million dollars respectively. It must be noted, as is the case with most athletes most of this wealth is a direct result of their participation in advertising campaigns.
Usain Bolt
Endorsement Deals
While it is easy to point out Usain Bolt as one of the defining figures of sports in the past decade, it is important to keep in consideration the likes of Caitlyn Jenner who during her heydays, dominated the track and field through her consistent performances. Usain Bolt today, owing to his amazing track records and a flare for putting up a show has amassed close to $30 million. From endorsement deals through the likes of Puma, Gatorade, Hublot, and Virgin to the likes of Visa, Bolt makes a staggering $9 million for just wearing a Puma shoe. What’s even more interesting is that even after he retired from the sport, Bolt continues to receive a whopping $4 million annually from Puma as part of the same contract.
Income From the Sport
Furthermore, Bolt is a retired athlete now but during his time with the Jamaican athletic team Bolt made almost 20 times the amount his fellow sprinters did in a single year. Back in 2008 after smashing the world’s 100m record, Bolt earned close to $20 million in that financial year from endorsements and other TV appearances. Moreover, during this time, Bolt demanded upwards of $250000 for appearances in various athletic tournaments conducted around the world, as a base price considering the vast crowds his stardom would bring in and therefore generate revenue. His truly high level of skill and domination ensured that he was often paid heavily just to participate and then further paid prize money upon successful completion.
Caitlyn Jenner
Although Bolt is without a shadow of a doubt the richest athlete in the past decade or so, Caitlyn Jenner during the 90s was an incredible athlete herself. Known for her exceptional talents in the Decathlon events at various international competitions including the Olympics Caitlyn Jenner known formerly as Bruce Jenner, competed and dominated the men’s sport for years. Therefore, during her career as an athlete, she enjoyed endorsement deals from the likes of IBM and Coco-Cola. So by the time her eventual retirement came along, the athlete had already become the highest paid in history.
It is worth noting however that most of her $100 million net worth has to do with the fact that Caitlyn Jenner is associated with the American hit sensation TV series, Keeping up with the Kardashians. Although in the 90s, Caitlyn Jenner used her fame as an athlete to invest and hence earn up to $450000 a year from her fitness brand, it was only later in life that she made the big bucks. Her transition to a Transgender individual in 2015 at the age of 71 further fueled interest in her life which she was able to utilize with appearances in the TV series and other TV shows such as “ I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here” and the “Comedy Central Roast”.
Conclusion
Therefore when it comes to the wealthiest track and field athlete in the world, it is difficult to distinguish between the two stars. Since both Bolt and Jenner made their names as athletes and used their respective brands to amass their massive fortunes, it is worth noting that Caitlyn Jenner has had far more help from elements outside the sport. Nonetheless, her career as a beloved athlete added to her fame and therefore one can consider her to be the richest track and field athlete ever. However, if one looks solely at the athlete’s income from their performance on the field, Bolt beats her out.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is the highest-earning American track and field athlete behind Caitlyn Jenner?
The highest paid American athlete behind Caitlyn Jenner is Usain Bolt’s fellow sprinter and competitor Tyson gay, who was reported to be worth close to $12 million.
- When did Usain Bolt Retire?
Bolt retired at the age of 30, shocking the world in 2017.
