Federica Brignone beams with her gold medal. © ANSA / ANNA SZILAGYI

This is how much prize money the ski world champions won

The Ski World Championships in Saalbach-Hinterglemm are history, all medals have been awarded. But how much prize money did the victors in the Salzburg Alps take home?

18. February 2025

From: never

Prestige, fame, honor - the emotional value of a gold medal at the Ski World Championships is almost impossible to measure. But in addition to the entry in the history books, there is another reward that shines almost as much as the precious metal itself. 1,584 million Swiss francs (approx. 1,68 million euros) in prize money was distributed in Saalbach-Hinterglemm. A third of this went to the dominant Swiss athletes, while in the women's event, an Italian superstar, Federica Brignone, came out on top.

A gold medal was worth almost 61.000 euros, while silver (38.200 euros) and bronze (22.920 euros) also brought the athletes substantial sums. The disappointing fourth place was consoled with just under 15.200 euros, while fifth place (9100 euros) and sixth place (6110 euros) brought in significantly less.

Switzerland and Austria send greetings from above

The Swiss won a total of 13 medals in Saalbach-Hinterglemm (5 gold/5 silver/3 bronze), six more than arch-rival and host Austria in second place (2/3/2). The two top nations in the medal table naturally also shared the top spots in the prize money ranking. The Swiss were the only nation to break the half-million mark: Marco Odermatt and Co. took home 606.000 euros. Austria followed with just under 370.000 euros, followed by the USA (232.000 euros) and Italy, including team world champion Alex Vinatzer (206.000 euros).

Meillard and Brignone are the new ski kings

If you take a look at the individual athletes, a similar picture emerges, at least for the men. The slalom and team combined world champion leads the field with around 114.000 euros, while the Austrians Raphael Haaser (2nd/99.300 euros) and Vincent Kriechmayr (5th/53.400 euros) are the only non-Swiss in the top 7. Marco Odermatt takes fourth place with just under 85.500 euros.

Loic Meillard with his World Cup haul. © ANSA / ANNA SZILAGYI

In the women's category, an Italian, Federica Brignone, is at the top. The giant slalom world champion and silver winner in the super-G earned around 99.300 euros, putting her ahead of the US downhill world champion Breezy Johnson (80.000 euros) and super-G winner Stephanie Venier (73.600 euros).

World Cup prize money for men's skiing

World Cup prize money for women's skiing