Income Facts for Kajsa, Stefan, Christian, Sanna and Carro

[eldanielfire]

Re: Re:

kluft is one of the world's greatest athletes and she got a little bit over US$550,000???? wow... T&F athletes are truly paupers compared to some of the other grotesquely compensated pros...

The problem with track and field is not the earnings of the stars. While our stars may not make the same as NBA players or indeed poker players they make more than enough to allow them to live comfortable life after retirement. I doubt very much that any kid will be looking at Kluft, Felix, Eaton, Powell earnings (all in the millions of dollars) and believe that T&F is not a good option financially.

The problem of T&F is that the second tier athletes do not make enough money to support themselves. You can spend 10 years of your life chasing the best athletes in the world, running from one competition to the other and then retire without any money and any experience that will help you get a job in the 'real world'.

Any second tier basketball or tennis player can retire after they finish their sporting career. For example, Ekpe Udoh is a substituting centre for the Milwaukee Bucks. He earns $3.5m a year. I doubt very much that our second tier athletes are making 5% of this salary.
In that respect it would be more interesting to look at the earnings of the less famous Swedes.
For example how much Michel TORNÉUS (8.22 LJ) makes? what about Philip NOSSMY (13.47 in 110h)? Mattias JONS (77.54 HT)?

Track and Field at least allows any successful athlete in virtually every single country in the world to earn a damn good wage. All the Mega sports that produce millionaires and big pay cheques only do it in one country or continent where a 2nd tier can earn big bucks.

Outside of the few big sports in the USA, Basketball, American Football, Baseball and Hockey, and then globally Football, Rugby and Tennis there aren't really many sports where the 2nd tier can earn and even with the named sports. Outside of America who in the 2nd tier earns enough to retire in American Football or Baseball? Outside of Europe what 2nd tier of Football (Soccer) can a 2nd tier player earn money to retire? Almost no Sport besides Tennis. Add to that Tennis is about the only other Sport a top female athlete can earn big money from the actual sport.

[olorin]

Re:

kluft is one of the world's greatest athletes and she got a little bit over US$550,000???? wow... T&F athletes are truly paupers compared to some of the other grotesquely compensated pros...

The problem with track and field is not the earnings of the stars. While our stars may not make the same as NBA players or indeed poker players they make more than enough to allow them to live comfortable life after retirement. I doubt very much that any kid will be looking at Kluft, Felix, Eaton, Powell earnings (all in the millions of dollars) and believe that T&F is not a good option financially.

The problem of T&F is that the second tier athletes do not make enough money to support themselves. You can spend 10 years of your life chasing the best athletes in the world, running from one competition to the other and then retire without any money and any experience that will help you get a job in the 'real world'.

Any second tier basketball or tennis player can retire after they finish their sporting career. For example, Ekpe Udoh is a substituting centre for the Milwaukee Bucks. He earns $3.5m a year. I doubt very much that our second tier athletes are making 5% of this salary.
In that respect it would be more interesting to look at the earnings of the less famous Swedes.
For example how much Michel TORNÉUS (8.22 LJ) makes? what about Philip NOSSMY (13.47 in 110h)? Mattias JONS (77.54 HT)?

[eldanielfire]

Re:

I'd have been shocked if Kluft earned much more... decathletes and heptathletes simply don't complete often enough nor in front of big enough crowds to warrant big appearance fees or huge sponsorship deals...

The stuff about crowds may be true, but in her hey day Kluft was probably the biggest and most had the recognition and highest profile of any foreign T&F athletein the UK. She was a big face of Reebok advertising as a consequence, people where aware of a brilliant blonde Swedish Hepthathlete. It helped out biggest T&F star of 2004 -2008 was probably Kelly Sotherton who competed against her so we purposely saw a lot of her. So what she might have lost in performance fees, she almost certainly won more in Sponsorship. In fact I'd be surprised if Klufts sponsorship wasn't much higher than in that article which doesn't go into the details much.

[eldanielfire]

Re:

Thanks for the opening article, it was very informative. I'd really love to know what TandF athletes earn elsewhere.

Don't cry for these Swedes! They are very well paid by T&F standards.

It raises an interesting question of whether it's better to be a big T&F star in the US, where there are many other more famous athletes and celebrities, or in a small country like Sweden, where other than soccer and hockey players, the likes of Olsson, Bergqvist, Holm and Kluft are some of the most recognizable celebrities in the whole country, and so can attract sponsorship and endorsement offers on a higher scale than one might think for a country of 9 million.

Not just a small country but like Jamaica Sweden has that sort of "Everybody likes us" national image and a natural recognition factor which has currency outside the country. I'm certain once Usain Bolt retires Jamaica may well have the factor of dominating the sprints, but the athletes seeming a tad generic and repetitive characters afterwards outside T&F circles and unable to have that advert selling potential outside their sport. Russia may have a bit of this problem outside Isinbayeva who had a unique niche as well as the likes of Kenya and Ethiopia.

British athletes have that rather nice niche as well, not too many Gold medalist at 2012 so each one will earn a nice packet they could retire off in a few years and it helps greatly they are very diverse in their events.

[dl]

Don't cry for these Swedes! They are very well paid by T&F standards.

It raises an interesting question of whether it's better to be a big T&F star in the US, where there are many other more famous athletes and celebrities, or in a small country like Sweden, where other than soccer and hockey players, the likes of Olsson, Bergqvist, Holm and Kluft are some of the most recognizable celebrities in the whole country, and so can attract sponsorship and endorsement offers on a higher scale than one might think for a country of 9 million.

[piaba]

well, as they say, money isn't everything. but it's sad to me to think that some slobs throwing a ball around (and i love throwing the ball around) make indecent amount of millions. T&F athletes obviously are not at that level unfortunately.

how much does osleydis menendez get???? probably very little compared to her talent.

[mojo]

You:d be very suprsised how much Klüft has passed on thus far. She could have been even more deep pocketed than she currently is. She was just payed 250.000 SEK for those fotos which Reebok is promoting, and she took not one krona from that - it all went to help fonds for children. She has passed on many sponsorship opportunities - several which have been lucrative, as she has carefully chosen those which she feels represent her interests.

Another reason to love her. :-)

[EPelle]

You:d be very suprsised how much Klüft has passed on thus far. She could have been even more deep pocketed than she currently is. She was just payed 250.000 SEK for those fotos which Reebok is promoting, and she took not one krona from that - it all went to help fonds for children. She has passed on many sponsorship opportunities - several which have been lucrative, as she has carefully chosen those which she feels represent her interests.

[AS]

I'd have been shocked if Kluft earned much more... decathletes and heptathletes simply don't complete often enough nor in front of big enough crowds to warrant big appearance fees or huge sponsorship deals...

[pela2]

kluft is one of the world's greatest athletes and she got a little bit over US$550,000???? wow... T&F athletes are truly paupers compared to some of the other grotesquely compensated pros...

what is the first price in the ongoing world series in poker in Las Vegas..

around $12 000 000!!!! GEEES..........!!!!!!!!!!!!

[piaba]

kluft is one of the world's greatest athletes and she got a little bit over US$550,000???? wow... T&F athletes are truly paupers compared to some of the other grotesquely compensated pros...

[EPelle]

Bergqvist, Holm, Olsson, Kallur, Klüft. Foto: Aftonbladet.

Kajsa Bergqvist
Profession: High Jumper.
Yearly Income: 10 million SEK.
Manager: Daniel Wessfeldt.

Comments: Invests most of her money, and the placements are handled by the Monaco-based company Podium. Recently purchased a big archipelego property outside of Vaxholm. Sponsors account for about 75% of Kajsa:s yearly income, with only 25% from her actual competitions.

Stefan Holm
Profession: High Jumper.
Yearly Income: 3,5 million SEK.
Manager: Daniel Wessfeldt.

Comments: Also has his own joint stock company. After Athens gold, he received even more sponsor money, but has chosen to continue living here in Sverige.

Christian Olsson
Profession: Triple Jumper.
Yearly Income: 4 million SEK (has just returned from injury leave. He normally earns roughly 10 million SEK per season).
Manager: Daniel Wessfeldt.

Comments: He, like Bergqvist, also utilises the Monaco-based Podiums ecomonic guidance. Likes fast cars, and has a Porsche Turbo which he purchased for 1,3 million SEK. Christian Olsson is as attractive on the sponsor block as Bergqvist, but he, himself, chose not to renew any of his agreements during the time he was injured due to not knowing if he was going to be able to compete again. Will write contracts with two or three new sponsors in the autumn.

Susanna Kallur
Profession: Hurdler.
Yearly Income: 1 million SEK.
Manager(s): Anders Kallur/Daniel Wessfeldt.

Comments: Has already collected more in prize money this season than she had ever done previously. If she continues her success, she will climb considerably up this list. Her father, Anders (still an NHL scout for his old team, NY Islanders), helps Sanna out with the business side of her affairs.

Carolina Klüft
Profession: Heptathlete.
Yearly Income: 4 million SEK.
Manager: Johnny Klüft.

Comments: Has a limited company together with her boyfriend, Patrik Kristiansson. Takes out a reasonable monthly salary against the company, and places stocks for the future.

http://www.aftonbladet.se/vss/sport/sto ... 88,00.html