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The 2024 track season witnessed memorable performances from athletes across the world with big names such as Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Faith Kipyegon continuing their record-breaking performances. Both athletes broke world records in their respective events, each taking $50,000 in bonuses from World Athletics.
Norway's Jakob Ingebrigtsen endured a tough race in his specialty, 1500m, at the Paris Olympics but went on to win the gold medal in the 5000m before breaking the world record in the 3000m at a Diamond League meet, thus also taking $50,000 in bonus from World Athletics.
As the year comes to a close now, the above-mentioned athletes are finishing among the highest-earning runners of 2024. Let's take a look at the top 5 highest earning runners of the 2024 track and field season.
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#5 Rai Benjamin - $158.5k
Rai Benjamin had been falling behind 400m hurdles world record holder Karsten Warholm in the previous season but made a big leap this season, beating the Norwegian in back-to-back races at the Diamond League and Paris Olympics.
The American earned $62.5k from World Athletics for his two Olympic gold medals in the 400m hurdles and 4x400m relay and also received $75k from the US Olympic and Paralympic committee for the same. He earned $11k for his first place at the U.S. Olympic Trials, and for his one Diamond League win in Monaco, Benjamin earned $10k.
#4 Jakob Ingebrigtsen - $174k
Despite missing the entirety of the 2024 Indoor season, Jakob Ingebrigtsen won enough races in the year to become one of the top-earning runners of the year. The Norwegian earned $50k for the Olympic gold medal in the 5000m and $30k for the Diamond League title in the 1500m.
He broke the world record in the 3000m at the Silesia Diamond League, earning $10k in prize money and an extra $50k as world record bonus. Ingebrigtsen competed in five more Diamond League races during the year, earning $34k.
#3 Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone - $198.5k
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone continued her record-breaking pursuits in 2024, setting the new all-time fastest time first at the U.S. Olympic Trials. However, she earned only $11k for her win at the Trials.
After breaking the record again at the Paris Olympics to win the gold medal in the 400m hurdles, McLaughlin-Levrone earned a whopping $100k from World Athletics. She also won the gold medal in the 4x400m relay, earning an extra $12.5k. For her two Olympic gold medals, she received $75k from the US Olympic and Paralympic committee.
#2 Gabby Thomas - $233.5k
While Gabby Thomas didn't break any world record in 2024, the American sprinter enjoyed the best season of her life, winning three gold medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She earned $75k from World Athletics and $112.5k from US Olympic and Paralympic committee for the three Olympic gold medals.
Thomas received $11k for her 200m victory at the Olympic Trials and $10k for another half-lap victory at the London Diamond League. She finished second at the inaugural Athlos meet, earning $25k to close out the season as the second highest-paid sprinter.
#1 Faith Kipyegon - $243k
Faith Kipyegon continued to put her 1500m world record out of reach in 2024, setting a new mark of 3:49.04 at the Paris Diamond League. She earned $60k from World Athletics for the record run and an additional $43k in bonus from Kenya Athletics.
The 30-year-old won the 1500m title at the Paris Olympics, earning $50k from World Athletics. She also won the 1500m titles at the Diamond League Finals and Athlos NYC, earning $30k and $60k respectively to become the highest-earning track athlete of 2024.
