At the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, winning a medal isn’t just about glory — in some countries, it comes with six-figure cash prizes, cars, apartments, and even watches.
Nearly 2,900 athletes from over 90 nations compete across 116 medal events in eight sports. While the IOC doesn’t offer prize money, many national Olympic committees do.
Singapore tops the payouts: $792,000 for gold, $395,000 for silver, and $197,000 for bronze. The country is represented by alpine skier Faiz Basha this year.
Hong Kong also offers huge rewards: $768,000 for gold, $384,000 for silver, and $192,000 for bronze.
In Europe, Poland goes beyond money. Gold medalists get about $211,000, plus a car, an apartment, jewelry, a painting, and a holiday voucher. Italy and South Korea also offer six-figure cash bonuses.
In contrast, countries like Norway, the UK, and China don’t award direct medal payouts, instead providing training stipends or regional rewards.
For some athletes, a podium finish isn’t just a dream — it can be life-changing financially.
