Mae Jemison Highest-Paid Astronaut in the World

It's been a rough year for the astronaut, but at least she has her millions of dollars to ease the pain. 69-year-old Mae Jemison has taken the No. 1 spot on People With Money’s top 10 highest-paid astronauts for 2026 with an estimated $46 million in combined earnings.

UPDATE 22/03/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Mae Jemison tops annual list of highest-paid astronauts

In 2023 it looked like the astronaut’s spectacular career was winding down. Suddenly, she was back on top. People With Money reports on Saturday (March 21) that Jemison is the highest-paid astronaut in the world, pulling in an astonishing $46 million between February 2025 and February 2026, a nearly $20 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 American astronaut-scientist has an estimated net worth of $145 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 Jemison Burger” chain) in Washington, a Football Team (the “Decatur Angels”), has launched her own brand of Vodka (Pure Wonderjemison - US), and is tackling the juniors market with a top-selling perfume (With Love from Mae) and a fashion line called “Mae Jemison Seduction”.

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

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