Winter Olympian Eileen Gu Climbs to Fourth on Women's Sports Rich List
Freestyle skier Eileen Gu has secured an impressive fourth place on the women's sporting rich list for 2025, despite earning significantly less in prize money compared to tennis stars Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka, and Iga Swiatek. Her estimated total earnings of £17 million last year were largely fueled by a robust portfolio of sponsorship deals and endorsements.
Sponsorship Deals Propel Earnings Beyond Prize Money
According to Forbes, Gu pocketed a staggering £16.9 million of her earnings from ventures outside of skiing competitions, such as halfpipes and slopestyles. Only Coco Gauff surpassed her in off-court revenue alone. This highlights the substantial impact of brand partnerships in boosting her financial standing.
Gu's profile skyrocketed after winning two gold medals and a silver at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing when she was just 18 years old. Since then, she has secured profitable brand partnerships and endorsement contracts with companies in both the United States and China, alongside modelling work with prestigious names like IMG, Louis Vuitton, and Victoria's Secret.
Social Media Influence and Commercial Opportunities
With over seven million followers on Weibo and another two million on Instagram, Gu's social media presence has unlocked numerous commercial possibilities. Her enduring partnerships with major brands such as Porsche, Red Bull, Anta Sports, and TCL Electronics explain the bulk of her income, especially given the modest prize money in freestyle skiing.
To put this in perspective, Gu earned roughly £32,000 for winning her first two competitions of the 2025/26 FIS season. Additionally, after triumphing at December's Snow League competition in China, she collected approximately £40,400, which included a £3,600 appearance payment.
Representing China and Olympic Preparations
Born in San Francisco, Gu chose to represent China competitively in 2019, qualifying through her mother's Chinese heritage. She revealed her decision via tweet, stating, "I have decided to compete for China in the 2022 Winter Olympics." Gu explained that the opportunity to inspire millions of young people in her mother's homeland was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to promote the sport she loves.
As she prepares to defend her big air and halfpipe titles at the Milano Cortina games, Gu shared her mindset: "I've been training so much, I've been working so hard, and every single time I stay the extra hour, do the extra run, it's proof to myself, it's evidence to myself that I'm a winner and I deserve to win. I train like I've never won, and I compete like I've never lost."
Impressive Achievements Beyond the Olympics
Beyond her Olympic success, Gu heads into the 2026 Winter Games with an impressive haul of medals, including two golds and a bronze from the World Championships, three gold medals and a bronze from the Winter X Games, plus two golds and a silver at Winter Olympic youth level. Her dedication and skill continue to make her a standout figure in winter sports.
