How Do Pro Skiers Make Money? Olympian Lindsey Vonn Debunks "Ski Myths"

In a wide-ranging interview with SELF, the Olympian Lindsey Vonn dispelled—or confirmed—what the outlet called “ski myths.”

The topics ranged from wearing makeup on the race course (skiers can, Vonn explained) to how professional skiers get paid.

“Like other Olympic athletes, pro-skiers make a majority of their income from prize money and brand sponsorships,” one SELF statement, which could’ve been debunked, posed.

But that’s true, said Vonn.

“We rely heavily on our brand ambassadorships and our sponsors,” said Vonn. “And, you know, I’m very lucky that I’ve had sponsors that have been with me for 20 years. And even after I retired, they stayed with me.” 

“So now that I’m back racing, they’re pretty happy because they bet on the right person,” she added, laughing. 

The 2026 POWDER Photo Annual is here! Look for a print copy on a newsstand near you, or click here to have a copy shipped directly to your front door.

As Vonn pointed out, Team USA athletes don’t benefit from government support. U.S. Ski & Snowboard relies instead on donations and other initiatives to fund its team members and programs. The organization recently extended its partnership with the financial services company Stifel through April 2034.

And compared to some other sports, professional skiers tend to walk away with less money after winning or landing on the podium. 

An example is the freeskier Eileen Gu, whose status as a celebrity and icon has continued to grow in recent years. According to Forbes, she was the fourth highest paid female athlete in 2025, but her “paychecks on the slopes”—that means prize winnings—“aren’t particularly impressive.”

Only $0.1 million of Gu’s total $23.1 million in 2025 earnings came from the “field,” the outlet reported. The rest? Forbes attributed them to her lucrative endorsements, including those from companies like Red Bull, Porsche, IWC Schaffhausen, and TCL electronics. Meanwhile, the star tennis player Coco Gauff netted $8 million in “on-field” earnings in 2025.

Vonn, who ranked 18th on the Forbes list with $8.2 million in total earnings, put the financial status of professional skiers in frank terms.

“I think to really sustain yourself financially, you need to be in the top ten. I mean, you’re seeing a little bit of money if you’re in the top 20. But it’s pretty hard to get by unless you have meaningful sponsorships,” she said. 

Vonn did note that the U.S. Ski Team pays for travel, training, and other costs associated with racing. But, she said, “You don’t make really money on top of that.”

The interview came as Vonn clinched SELF’s January cover story, where she spoke about her return to ski racing, which has seen her claim numerous World Cup podiums at age 41—and a ticket to the Olympics. So far, Vonn’s lowest result this season was a fourth-place finish.

Check out Vonn's SELF interview below.