If Allyson Felix ever decides to follow her initial plan of becoming a teacher, she won’t be making an Amazon list of all the school supplies she needs like other teachers. Her net worth, alone, means that she can not only take care of her own classroom but #ClearTheLists of all the teachers she works with.
She got her start as a regular track and field sprinter, then went on to become one of the biggest names in the sport. That’s thanks in no small part to her hard work, dedication and coaching from the legendary Bobby Kersee — the husband of the legendary Jackie Joyner-Kersee — who has coached some of America’s most elite athletes in the Olympics.
But more than an Olympian, Allyson Felix is a mother, a wife and an advocate. When Nike hit her with what seemed like an unjust pay cut (thanks to her maternity leave), she cut ties with the company and formed a shoe line of her own. In so doing, Allyson Felix became an advocate for women everywhere. So, it’s no wonder that her $4.5 million estimated net worth (according to Celebrity Net Worth) has become what it is in such a short period of time. Put simply: if anyone deserves all that, and more, it’s her.
Her net worth, though, comes from more than just her medals and her endorsements — it comes from standing up for what’s right, being a good sport and redefining what it truly means to be an Olympian. More than anything else, too, she’s an inspiration for Black girls and women all over the world.
Let’s take a look at the myriad of ways Allyson Felix makes her money — and it’s not just through Olympic medals!
Editorial note: The net worth listed in this piece is a speculative estimate drawn from a variety of online sources.
Olympics
According to NBC Philadelphia, Olympians make $37,500 for every gold medal won, $22,500 for silver and $15,000 for bronze. And, since 2016, Olympians are entitled to 100 percent of their earnings. If we’re doing our math correctly, in total, Allyson Felix has 21 gold medals, 6 silver medals, and three bronze medals. That means she’s made about $787,500 in gold medals, about $135,000 in silver medals and about $45,000 in bronze medals, for an estimated total of $967,500 in medals.
Saysh Shoe Line
In 2019, Allyson Felix reported that Nike hit her with a pay cut of 70 percent. Felix also claimed that the company also refused to confirm whether she’d be punished for being pregnant.
This move prompted Felix to terminate her relationship with Nike and launch her own shoe brand, Saysh, through a sponsorship deal with Athleta, AfroTech previously reported.
“I used my voice to fight for maternal protection for female athletes,” Felix said in the open letter coupled with an ad premiering the brand. “No woman should have to choose between being a professional and being a Mother. Now, because of that fight, sponsorship contracts look different for a lot of athletes.”
Sports Advocacy
Allyson Felix was named the Sports Diplomacy Sports Envoy for the U.S. Department of State in 2014. In this role, she traveled to Brazil with Josh George to conduct clinics, speeches and other events for disabled and marginalized youth.
What’s more, according to a SportsAsToldByAGirl spotlight, it was revealed that Felix plans to eventually retire and become a teacher, like her mother once was.
“After getting her tuition paid for by Adidas, she graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in elementary education,” they wrote. “That’s such a refreshing viewpoint to hear and one that not a lot of athletes would plan on doing after they’re done competing.”
