Forbes reported on Thursday (Korea time) that Gu made US$23 million over the past year, the most among athletes headed to the Games.
Gu, born in California to an American father and a Chinese mother, graduated from Stanford University. After competing in the United States, she joined China's national team in 2019. She won two gold medals and one silver at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, becoming a household name in China. At the upcoming Olympics, she is aiming for a second straight title and three gold medals in big air, halfpipe and slopestyle.
Forbes said only about $100,000 of her earnings came from prize money. Most of her income came from modeling and endorsements, largely with Chinese brands, the magazine reported.
Gu has more than 2.1 million followers on social media, according to the report.
Second on the list was NHL player Auston Matthews of the United States. Forbes said he is the only NHL player to top $20 million in its annual earnings rankings, adding that Nike and Uber Eats are among his main sponsors.
Third was U.S. skier Lindsey Vonn, whose annual earnings were estimated at $8 million. Vonn retired in 2019 and returned to competition in the 2024-2025 season. Forbes said she has worked with more than 12 brands, including Delta Air Lines, Land Rover and Rolex.
Vonn, 42, will try to become the oldest alpine skiing medalist in Olympic history at the Games.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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