Irene Gu is certainly making waves in the ski world, not just for her performance on the slopes but also for her impressive earnings off them.
The freestyle skier, born in the U.S., stirred quite a bit of debate when she chose to represent China during the 2022 Winter Olympics. It’s reported by Forbes that she pulled in an astounding $23 million from endorsements, alongside about $100,000 from her competitions.
As a two-time Olympic gold medalist, Gu has a lot to her name, earning around $40,000 from events like the World Cup slopestyle and halfpipe victories, which are set for January and December 2025, respectively.
In December, she also secured $55,000 for her performance at the China Freeski Halfpipe event.
Beyond skiing, Gu, who is 22, also models and has teamed up with luxury brands like Tiffany and Louis Vuitton.
Forbes highlights that she has a vast roster of endorsements, including big names like Porsche and Red Bull, which adds to her financial success.
Looking ahead, the 2026 Milan-Cortina Games will mark her second Olympic appearance.
In her Olympic debut in Beijing four years ago, Gu achieved golds in freeski big air and halfpipe, plus a silver in slopestyle.
Gu is particularly notable for her active involvement in the Olympics.
The daughter of an American father and a Chinese mother, she made headlines back in 2019 when she decided to compete for China.
At the time, she expressed on Instagram her pride in both her American upbringing and Chinese heritage, emphasizing her desire to inspire young people and promote the sport she loves.
In a later interview with TIME, she discussed her choice, stating, “The United States already has representation rights. I like building my own pond.”
As she heads into her second Olympics, Gu’s goals extend beyond just collecting medals.
She mentioned that while some aspects of her life remain unchanged, others have evolved. “My core mission remains the same: to introduce more young people (especially girls) to freeskiing,” she shared in a recent Instagram post, reflecting on the unique experience the Olympics provide.
