How much do the ski stars earn?

For many, skiing is the supreme discipline of winter sports. Not only do the highest sponsorship amounts flow there, but the largest amounts of prize money are also paid out. For a race win you usually get - for both men and women - 45.000 Swiss francs (around 41.500 euros), there are exceptions such as the departure from Kitzbühel, where this year the record-breaking sum of 104.000 euros was paid Winners are waiting. For comparison: a victory in the Biathlon World Cup is worth 15.000 euros. Important: The amounts are always stated gross. Paris is South Tyrol's prize money king The prize money has remained largely the same compared to last year, so Corona has left no trace here. Last year, Marta Bassino was the Italian team's prize money queen with almost 273.000 euros. Dominik Paris also earned an impressive 100.000 euros in his comeback season, making him the highest-earning Azzurro. In his career, the Ultner superstar has already amassed prize money of over one million euros.

Last year was Italy's prize money queen: Marta Bassino. © APA / EXPA/JOHANN GRODER

Last year, the top earner was Lara Gut-Behrami with almost 460.000 euros in prize money, while the men's overall World Cup winner Alexis Pinturault earned 360.000 euros. The appearance is deceptive But: How much do the ski stars really have left at the end of the day? s+ asked former South Tyrolean speed ace Werner Heel, who was active in the World Cup circuit for almost two decades and was able to achieve numerous top results, such as a victory in the home race in Val Gardena. “It primarily depends on which tax category you fall into,” says the native of Passiria.

Werner Heel was active in the World Cup for years.

“For example, if you earn 100.000 euros in prize money, you are in the highest tax bracket,” says Heel. The highest tax rate in this case is 43 percent, which is always applied to that part of the income that is over 75.000 euros. Sounds complicated? To put it simply: the higher the prize money and therefore the income, the more taxes are due - in principle exactly the same as is the case for normal citizens. A gentlemanly gesture to the service man There is also a gentlemanly gesture in the ski circus: the service man also gets a small reward. “For example, I never did it based on percentages,” says Heel, “but at the end of the year I gave my service man a nice gift and pocket money. Some give 10 percent of the prize money, others 12, and some even give the service man an amount 'over the thumb'. A reward for the ski man, almost everyone does that these days.” “If you are consistently in the top 10, then you can live on the prize money.” Werner Heel How much of the prize money actually remains at the end cannot be said in general terms and is different for every athlete. However, as described above, the ski stars have to make some compromises, which can sometimes turn out to be hefty. It is not uncommon for around half of the gross prize money to have to be handed over - especially if you achieve some top positions and reach the six-figure euro range. The large sums of prize money at the end of the season are always to be seen in relative terms. Other sources of income are also important Can you live off the prize money as a skier? “If you're constantly in the top 10, then sure. However, other sources of income are also important for an athlete, such as the sports group's salary or sponsorship money. But it’s also clear: the more successful you are, the more prize money there is and the more interesting you become for the sponsors,” says Heel.

Heel raises an important point. Most of the time the prize money is only part of the income. Sponsorship money is very important for athletes - not only because it is sometimes higher than the amounts earned on the slopes, but above all due to the fact that the contracts run for several years and therefore provide planning security. So one thing is certain: life is definitely fun as a top skier.

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How much do the ski stars earn?

The start in Sölden has been shelved, slowly but surely the Ski World Cup is entering the hot phase. It's about victories, points, fame - and last but not least, money. But how much do ski stars really earn?

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