USOPC Announces Massive Financial Program for Olympians and Paralympians
Each athlete will receive $200,000 in benefits, anchored by $100 million funding from Ross Stevens
Posted On: March 5, 2025 By :The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee has announced an initiative that will see $200,000 in benefits given to each Team USA Olympian and Paralympian and their families through 2032.
The donation to the United States Olympic & Paralympic Foundation is from Ross Stevens, a Team USA supporter and founder of Stone Ridge Holdings Group, a finance firm that focuses on “nontraditional” investment options such as crypto and fine art.
Starting with the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and going at least through the 2032 Summer Games in Brisbane, every U.S. Olympian and Paralympian will receive $200,000 in financial benefits for each Games in which they compete.
The Stevens donation provides the starting money for a program that:
- Will pay a $100,000 grant, divided over four years, to every U.S. Olympian, starting with those on next year’s Winter team competing in Italy. That money can be used for any purpose and can be accessed 20 years after their qualifying Olympics or once they reach 45, whichever comes later.
- Will pay a $100,000 benefit to a designated beneficiary upon their death.
- Will duplicate these benefits for every Olympics an athlete makes, so someone who goes three times would get a total of $600,000 in benefits.
- Will be restricted to athletes who make less than $1 million a year, so as not to divert funds to, say, well-paid NBA players or top tennis stars who also compete for America.
“The Olympic and Paralympic Games are the ultimate symbol of human excellence. I do not believe that financial insecurity should stop our nation’s elite athletes from breaking through to new frontiers of excellence,” said Stevens. “The Stevens Awards honor the sacrifices they have made on behalf of all Americans while inspiring the development of their dreams in the post-Games chapter of their lives.”
The U.S. is among the few countries whose government does not fund its Olympic program or its athletes. According to The Associated Press, the U.S. team is dependent on sponsorship and media deals (for around 75-80% of its revenue), along with fundraising (for between 10-20%).
The foundation, launched in 2013 as the chairtable arm of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, raised around $230 million in the four years ending in 2024 to fund direct support to athletes. It is shooting for $500 million for the four-year period ending with the LA Olympics in 2028.
“In the heart of every Team USA athlete lies a story of dedication, sacrifice and triumph,” said USOPC Chair Gene Sykes. “These extraordinary individuals have committed their lives to their sport, often at the expense of traditional career paths and financial savings. As they approach the end of their competitive journeys — often as young as 25 or 30 — many face a daunting reality: the lack of financial savings to support them and their loved ones in their post-athletic life.”
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