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As the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games approaches, attention is not only on the competitions and athletes, but also on the real value of an Olympic medal. The question that is often asked is: how much does an athlete actually earn when they stand on the podium?
According to a report published by the Italian daily Il Mattino, winning a gold medal can bring financial benefits of up to 1 million euros, but this depends entirely on the country the athlete represents. The International Olympic Committee does not offer any financial reward for medals, leaving this responsibility to the participating countries, which apply very different policies.
116 Olympic titles will be on the line at Milano-Cortina 2026, the highest number in the history of the Winter Games. The country offering the highest prize money for a gold medal is Singapore, with a full 1 million euros, although the chances of a triumph are minimal, as the country is represented by only one athlete.
Among the most generous countries is Hong Kong, which offers 640,000 euros for a gold medal, 320,000 euros for a silver medal and 160,000 euros for a bronze medal. In contrast, some of the most developed countries in Western Europe, such as Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom, do not provide any financial reward for Olympic medals.
At the European level, Italy leads in terms of prize money. With 196 athletes competing, the Italian Olympic Committee has decided to award 180,000 euros for a gold medal, 90,000 euros for a silver medal and 60,000 euros for a bronze medal. Meanwhile, France and Germany remain among the richest countries in Western Europe, but with more moderate prize money compared to Italy.
The case of the United States is also curious. In addition to the official reward of $37,500 for the gold medal, American athletes will also benefit from an additional $200,000 for each gold medal, thanks to a private donation from businessman Ross Stevens.
These figures show that, beyond sporting glory, an Olympic medal can also represent a significant financial benefit, although not for all athletes equally.
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