With the start of the 2026 Winter Olympics, freestyle skier Eileen Gu comes back as a defending champion and a commercial success who illustrates the financial gap between winter sports athletes.
As reported by Forbes, Gu earns around $23.1 million per year. This staggering earning makes her the fourth-highest-paid female athlete in the world.Her annual earnings have surpassed superstars like Naomi Osaka and Caitlin Clark.
However, analysts revealed that only $100,000 originated from her skiing career. The rest of her earnings are from her brand endorsements.
The sports marketing experts call Gu’s marketability a “perfect storm.”
She has 2.1 million followers on Instagram and has a loyal fanbase from both the United States and China.Not only does she have a shining Olympic and modelling career, but she also excels in her academics.
Yan received a master’s degree in chemical engineering at Peking University, where she was a member of the short-track speed skating team.
After returning to the U.S., she attended Stanford University Graduate School of Business and worked in finance after earning her MBA.
With the start of the 2026 Winter Olympics, freestyle skier Eileen Gu comes back as a defending champion and a commercial success who illustrates the financial gap between winter sports athletes.
