Eileen Gu, the prominent Chinese freestyle skier, is set to earn over $23 million by 2025, solidifying her position as one of the world’s highest-paid female athletes. According to Forbes magazine’s assessment for 2025, Gu ranks fourth globally among female athletes in terms of projected earnings, a testament to her athletic prowess and significant marketability.
Born in the United States to a Chinese mother, the 22-year-old athlete’s financial success is largely attributed to her extensive endorsement deals and various advertising partnerships with numerous well-known Chinese companies. While her earnings from competitive matches can certainly be substantial, sometimes exceeding $100,000 per victory, her primary income streams are predominantly from these lucrative sponsorships, contributing to her significant overall wealth. Often referred to as the “Snow Princess,” Gu has become a highly sought-after figure in the world of sports marketing and a cultural icon.
In the 2025 Forbes rankings, Gu’s projected earnings of $23.1 million place her just behind several tennis stars. Coco Gauff leads the list with an estimated $33 million, followed by Aryna Sabalenka at $30 million, and Iga Swiatek, who secured third place with $25.1 million.
Gu’s meteoric rise to international fame was significantly boosted by her exceptional performance at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. Representing China rather than the United States, she captivated audiences by securing two gold medals and one silver medal. Her historic gold medal win at the age of 18 notably made her the youngest freestyle skier ever to win an Olympic gold medal, firmly cementing her place in sports history.
More recently, Eileen Gu competed at a pre-Olympic test event for the upcoming Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, which are scheduled for 2026. On February 9, during the Slopestyle event, Gu, a Chinese-American freestyle skier, achieved a commendable score of 86.58 points. Despite her strong performance, she ultimately secured the silver medal, narrowly finishing behind Mathilde Gremaud of Switzerland, who claimed the gold with a score of 86.96 points. This silver medal in Slopestyle marked her fourth Olympic medal overall, adding to her impressive collection of two golds and one silver from the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
