How Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s wealth has grown over the past decade

There is a trend online of people comparing their lives in 2016 and now.

One classic example would be Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, whose wealth and net worth have spontaneously grown over the decade.

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Once known purely as a teenage track prodigy, McLaughlin-Levrone has evolved into one of the most financially powerful female athletes in the world.

As of now, her net worth is estimated at $2 million (approximately Ksh320 million), with the majority of her income coming from endorsements rather than prize money from competitions.

Reports from late 2025 indicate that the American earned approximately $8.2 million (approximately Ksh1.31 billion) in a single year, a figure that placed her among the top-earning female athletes globally and highlighted the growing strength of her personal brand.

For years, track and field has struggled to place its stars among the world’s highest-paid athletes, largely due to limited prize money.

McLaughlin-Levrone, however, appears to be changing that narrative.

While she has dominated on the track, winning Olympic and world titles and breaking multiple world records in the 400m hurdles, her financial rise has largely been driven by her off-track appeal.

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In 2025, the 26-year-old was crowned World Athletics Female Athlete of the Year following another outstanding season.

At the World Championships in September, she clocked 47.78 seconds to win gold in the 400m flat, narrowly missing a 40-year-old record in an event that is not even considered her strongest.

Her earnings earned her a spot on the Forbes top 20 highest-paid female athletes list, where she ranked 18th.

Notably, nearly all of her $8.2 (approximately Ksh1.31 billion) earnings came from endorsements, with approximately $8 million (approximately Ksh1.28 billion) generated from brand deals and just $200,000 (approximately Ksh32 million) coming directly from running.

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The disparity underscores how poorly athletics rewards athletes compared to other global sports.

McLaughlin-Levrone’s endorsement portfolio includes major global brands such as Gatorade, Neutrogena, and TAG Heuer, partnerships that have significantly boosted her income.

She is now considered the biggest commercial draw among female track athletes.

Her value was further underlined by reports that she is the athlete owed the most money by Grand Slam Track, which has since filed for bankruptcy.

Despite not winning all her events, her reported unpaid cheque stands at $350,000 (approximately Ksh56 million).

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As she looks ahead to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, McLaughlin-Levrone is considering competing in both the 400m hurdles and the 400m flat, while also keeping options open for the 200m or even a potential move into the long jump.

Despite her remarkable rise, she still trails athletes from more commercially established sports.

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Tennis star Coco Gauff topped the women’s rich list in 2025 with earnings of $33 million (approximately KSh5.28 billion), followed by Aryna Sabalenka with $30 million (approximately Ksh4.8 billion) and Iga Swiatek with about $25.1 million (approximately Ksh4.02 billion).