Caster Semenya Highest-Paid Athlete in the World

It's been a rough year for the athlete, but at least she has her millions of dollars to ease the pain. 35-year-old Caster Semenya has taken the No. 1 spot on People With Money’s top 10 highest-paid athletes for 2026 with an estimated $75 million in combined earnings.

UPDATE 16/06/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Caster Semenya tops annual list of highest-paid athletes

In 2023 it looked like the athlete’s spectacular career was winding down. Suddenly, she was back on top. People With Money reports on Monday (June 15) that Semenya is the highest-paid athlete in the world, pulling in an astonishing $75 million between May 2025 and May 2026, a nearly $40 million lead over her closest competition.

People With Money’s factors

In compiling this yearly list, the magazine considers factors such as upfront pay, profit participation, residuals, endorsements and advertising work.

The South African athlete has an estimated net worth of $215 million. She owes her fortune to smart stock investments, substantial property holdings, lucrative endorsement deals with CoverGirl cosmetics. She also owns several restaurants (the “Fat Semenya Burger” chain) in Pretoria, a Football Team (the “Ga-Masehlong Angels”), has launched her own brand of Vodka (Pure Wondersemenya - South Africa), and is tackling the juniors market with a top-selling perfume (With Love from Caster) and a fashion line called “Caster Semenya Seduction”.

The ranking is significant for many Caster fans, who have been waiting for her triumphant return to the glory days for what seems like a lifetime.

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