Search
shop

How much do pro triathletes earn? New figures revealed

Kristian Blummenfelt and Ashleigh Gentle topped the triathlon money lists in 2022 - but how much did they earn in prize money?
News Director
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

It will come as no surprise that Norwegian duo Kristian Blummenfelt and Gustav Iden topped the ‘Triathlon Money List’ last year, with the former taking home close to $500,000 in prize money.

They mopped up the men’s IRONMAN and 70.3 World Championships but, in common with the leading six earners, all collected more than half their race income from the PTO.

And it may be less obvious but on the female side it was Ashleigh Gentle who got bigger pay cheques than any of her rivals, almost all down to her performances on the PTO Tour.

There are plenty of other eye-catching details that emerge from the annual analysis from TriRating’s Thorsten Radde.

IRONMAN under pressure?

The recap also comes out in the same week that IRONMAN CEO Andrew Messick abruptly ended an interview with the ‘How They Train’ podcast shortly after being asked whether professionals deserve a greater percentage of IRONMAN’s revenue. “We believe in what we put out there,” was his reply.

Andrew Messick CEO IRONMAN Group
Andrew Messick, CEO of IRONMAN Group.

Messick cited the fact he’d been told it was a 45-minute interview slot which had already stretched over the hour-mark but it will be fascinating to hear his response if a ‘part two’ of the chat with Jack Kelly materialises.

You can check out the full figures compiled by TriRating here but below are some of the headlines we took out of it:

  • IRONMAN had two World Championships during the year after the 2021 version was rescheduled and relocated to St George. Yet the only athletes in the top 40 earners who made more than 50% of their race income from M-Dot branded events were Kona champion Chelsea Sodaro and Joe Skipper (fifth in Hawaii and winner of IRONMAN Wales).

  • Money list leader Blummenfelt won both the IMWC and 70.3 titles in St George but the biggest chunk of his $491,000 income was the $260,000 portion from the PTO, which includes his $100,000 bonus for topping their rankings.

  • The number of athletes earning over $100,000 was up to 33 from 23 in 2021, though that year was impacted more by the global COVID pandemic (in 2019, pre-COVID and pre-PTO Tour, the figure was 16).

  • Each PTO event was worth at least $1million overall and as winner of both the Canadian and US Opens, Ashleigh Gentle pocketed $325,000 from the body which is co-owned by the athletes – a whopping 92% of her total prize purse.

  • If you just look at short-course athletes in the list then the top three – Georgia Taylor-Brown, Hayden Wilde and Taylor Spivey – all earned the bulk of their prize money from Super League Triathlon. The two WTCS World Champions Flora Duffy and Leo Bergere were fourth and fifth.
Jonathan Turner
Written by
Jonathan Turner
Jonathan Turner is News Director for both TRI247 and RUN247, and is accustomed to big-name interviews, breaking news stories and providing unrivalled coverage for endurance sports.  
Discover more
Caroline Pohle Lena Meissner ironman 703 jonkoping sprint 2025
PremiumTriathlon’s mid-season report card: Tim Don on who’s raising the bar this triathlon race season
TRI-FIT VANGUARD tri suit review
The entry-level tri suit with a serious amount of performance for the price point – TRI-FIT VANGUARD review
Hayden Wilde bike supertri Boston 2024 photo credit supertri
Premium10 ways to make your road bike faster and more aero for triathlons
Kristian Blummenfelt photo credit: PTO Canadian Open
PremiumIs your gut health impacting your performance? The untapped potential of good gut health for triathletes
Laura Philipp and Kat Matthews on the run at the 2024 IRONMAN World Championship
PremiumHas triathlon reached peak performance? Tri experts and legends on how much faster triathletes could get
latest News
Triathlon superstar Hayden Wilde to make shock comeback at London T100
Lionel Sanders wins 70.3 St George 2025 photo credit Getty Images for IRONMAN
‘Intimidating’ to go into Worlds after four months off – but Lionel Sanders up for the challenge
Georgia Taylor-Brown Alex Yee Super League Triathlon Malibu 2021
Triathlon’s most decorated Olympic duo now honoured by their former University
Olav Aleksander Bu Photo credit: Roj Ferman | Surpas
Top triathlon coach Olav Aleksander Bu says it’s all about the team after Uno-X bag first Tour de France win
Danielle Lewis (USA) takes the win in Lake Placid.
IRONMAN Lake Placid 2025: Date, start time, how to watch and who’s racing
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

TRI247-LOGO_Primary-Black_RGB-1

CHOOSE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TO BECOME PART OF SOMETHING EPIC

We’re on a mission to elevate the world of endurance sport, becoming your go-to resource for expert training tips and inspiration, unbiased reporting and creating a platform for grassroots voices. But we can’t do it without you on board! Choose a TRI247+ membership option below and become part of something epic.

£7.95/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

100+ new articles/month

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

£47.95/year
£95.40/year

50% Discount

100+ new articles/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

Share to...