Starting next month in Milan, all Olympians will receive $200,000

While the United States Olympic team is the most successful nation in the long history of the Games, some athletes have very little to show for it in terms of financial resources. Billionaire Ross Stevens wants to change that.

Starting next month at the Milan Cortina Olympics, Stevens – who is the Founder and CEO of Stone Ridge Holdings Group – will be providing $200,000 to each Olympic and Paralympic athlete.

Half of that amount will come 20 years after their first qualifying Olympic appearance or at age 45, whichever comes later. The grant will be paid over the course of four years and can be used for any purpose, such as starting a business or supporting their families. Another $100,000 will be in the form of a guaranteed benefit for their families after their death.

Eligible athletes will receive $200,000 in benefits for each Games in which they compete. An athlete competing in three Olympic or Paralympic Games would receive $600,000 in benefits.

“The Olympic and Paralympic Games are the ultimate symbol of human excellence,” Stevens said. “I do not believe that financial insecurity should stop our nation's elite athletes from breaking through to new frontiers of excellence. Team USA athletes, extraordinary individuals, have proven they can achieve greatness and represent our incredible country with pride.”

The $200k is part of a larger gift from Stevens to the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee, totaling $100 million and called the “Stevens Award.” It is the largest gift in the USOPC’s history.

“These extraordinary individuals have committed their lives to their sport, often at the expense of traditional career paths and financial savings,” USOPC Chair Gene Sykes said. “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.”

The Stevens Award is designed to last through at least the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

Logan Stanley is a sports reporter with The Arizona Republic who primarily focuses on high school, college and Olympic sports. To suggest ideas for human-interest stories and other news, reach out to Stanley at [email protected] or 707-293-7650. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @LSscribe.

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