Team GB medalists won't receive bonus at Winter Olympics as competitors could get £580,000

The Winter Olympics kicks off tonight – but how much do the athletes make from competing?

Later today (6 February), the opening ceremony will take place in Milan, marking the commencement of the 25th iteration of the sporting event.

The tournament will see athletes battling it out for gold in categories such as skiing, figure skating and bobsleighing – while the rest of us watch from home and parrot 'well I could do that' at our TVs.

But have you ever wondered how lucrative it is to be a world-class athlete? Well, that very much depends on the country you're representing.

For example, Team GB is rather unique amongst international sporting federations as it does not offer athletes prize money based on their performance alone.

Instead, all competing athletes are awarded an annual stipend of £27,800, per bet365, which covers training expenses.

How much an athlete makes depends on their country – and medal standing (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

The salary is a massive drop when compared to the money football's Premier League aces make; however, the athletes are able to supplement their income with advertising and sponsorship deals.

For example, the BBC reported in 2024 that sprinter Dina Asher–Smith, who has picked up Olympic medals in Rio, Tokyo and Paris, could earn anywhere between '£1m to £10m annually' from brand deals.

Meanwhile, other countries operate with bonuses, ranging anywhere from £2,200 ($3,000) to £580,000 ($787,000), for athletes who make the podium.

According to a report from Forbes, athletes from Singapore and Hong Kong have the most to gain financially, as their national committee will pay £580,000 ($787,000) and £565,000 ($768,000) respectively for gold medalists.

Federations will offer certain bonuses, depending on whether an athlete scores gold, silver or bronze (ANDREA PATTARO/AFP via Getty Images)

Singapore and Hong Kong aren't the only nations offering their athletes six figures, with Poland, Kazakhstan, Italy, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Kosovo, Estonia, Czechia, Spain and Greece also offering eye-watering bonuses for high-performing athletes.

Meanwhile, at the bottom of the scale, Argentina offers $8,000 to gold medalists, while New Zealand pays $3,000.

A kind gesture from billionaire Ross Stevens means American athletes are the first ever to receive a retirement fund, with The Wall Street Journal revealing the financier is forking out $100,000 towards their retirement, regardless of their results, as well as an additional $100,000 to be paid out to loved ones after the athlete passes away.

The games kick off tonight (Al Bello/Getty Images)

Here is a full breakdown of the 2026 prize money on offer for gold medal athletes:

• Singapore - $787,000 (£580,000)
• Hong Kong - $768,000 (£565,000)
• Poland - $355,000 (261,498)
• Kazakhstan - $250,000
• Italy - $213,000 (£184,000)
• Cyprus - $177,000 (£130,000)
• Bulgaria - $151,000 (£111,000)
• Lithuania - $133,000 (£97,000)
• Kosovo - $130,000 (£95,000)
• Estonia - $118,000 (£86,900)
• Czechia - $117,000 (86,100)
• Spain - $111,000 (£81,000)
• Greece - $106,000 (£76,000)
• Slovenia - $81,000 (£59,000)
• Andorra - $71,000 (£52,000)
• Slovakia - $71,000 (£52,000)
• Brazil - $67,000 (£49,000)
• Switzerland - $64,000 (£47,000)
• Finland - $59,000 (£43,000)
• Portugal - $59,000 (£43,000)
• Croatia - $48,000 (£35,000)
• Montenegro - $41,000 (£30,000)
• United States - $37,500 (£27,000)
• Germany - $35,000 (£25,000)
• Netherlands - $35,000 (£25,000)
• Liechtenstein - $32,000 (23,000)
• Malaysia - $20,000 (£14,000)
• Norway - $17,000 (£12,500)
• Denmark - $16,000 (£11,700)
• Canada - $15,000 (£11,000)
• Australia - $13,000 (£9,500)
• Argentina - $8,000 (£5,800)
• New Zealand - $3,000 (£2,200)