Eileen Gu and Lindsey Vonn were two of the highest-paid athletes to compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Both athletes have enjoyed significant success in their respective fields over the years.
Vonn made her fifth Winter Olympics appearance at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Games, while Gu made her second appearance and won one gold and two silver medals.
Eileen Gu, Lindsey Vonn Lead Highest-Paid 2026 Olympics List
Gu and Vonn are two of the most high-profile athletes competing in winter sports, with large social media followings, brand endorsements, as well as prize money from tournaments.
According to Forbes, Gu was the highest-paid athlete at the 2026 Winter Olympics, earning $23 million over the past 12 months. The freestyle skier is a brand ambassador for several companies and is one of the most successful athletes in the sport’s history.
Gu, who represents China on the Olympic stage, has won three gold medals and as many silver medals.
Vonn is also among the highest-paid athletes in winter sports, with Forbes reporting her annual earnings as $8 million. The 41-year-old has one Olympic gold medal and two bronze medals.
Off the slopes, Vonn has partnerships with several big-name brands, including Delta Airlines, Rolex, and Land Rover.
Vonn returned to skiing in 2024 after undergoing partial knee replacement surgery, aiming to compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Unfortunately for Vonn, her return to the Olympic stage in Milano-Cortina did not go according to plan, as a crash during the Downhill event fractured her left tibia.
Gu Continues To Make History at 2026 Winter Olympics
Gu cemented her status as one of the best freestyle skiers of all time by winning one gold and two silver medals at the 2026 Winter Olympics. After successfully defending her halfpipe gold medal on Sunday, Gu expressed her pride at leading the way in freestyle skiing.
“Being able to lead the way and pioneer the sport is something I never imagined I’d be able to do. But I’m really honored and proud that I have,” she said via ESPN.
“The reason I love the records so much is that it’s not about man or woman. I’m the most decorated freeskier of all time, male or female… That’s a testament to competitive strength, it’s mental strength. It’s being able to perform under pressure. It has nothing to (do with) if you’re a boy or a girl.”
Gu is now the most decorated freestyle skier in Olympic history, and will be hungry to continue her record-breaking run in the coming years.
