Peggy Whitson 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. 66-year-old Peggy Whitson has taken the No. 1 spot on People With Money’s top 10 highest-paid astronauts for 2026 with an estimated $58 million in combined earnings.

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

Peggy Whitson 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 Monday (June 15) that Whitson is the highest-paid astronaut in the world, pulling in an astonishing $58 million between May 2025 and May 2026, a nearly $30 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 has an estimated net worth of $185 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 Whitson Burger” chain) in Washington, a Football Team (the “Mount Ayr Angels”), has launched her own brand of Vodka (Pure Wonderwhitson - US), and is tackling the juniors market with a top-selling perfume (With Love from Peggy) and a fashion line called “Peggy Whitson Seduction”.

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

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