The Payoff From Winning an Olympic Medal

When Kellogg stamped Gabby Douglas’s hard-to-forget smile on a box of corn flakes, the company kicked off a string of endorsement deals that will likely make her millions. But even without sponsors, the 16-year-old gymnast will leave London with $50,000, which is what pair of gold medals is worth in her home country.

Mostly made of silver with at least six grams of gold, a gold medal from the 2012 London Olympics is worth about $700. Taking the hard work, dedication, and sheer talent of its athletes into account, the U.S. has upped its assessment, at least with regard to what it will pay. Relatively modest compared with most of the world’s incentives, America pays $25,000 to gold winners, $15,000 to those who earn silver, and $10,000 for bronze.