Paralympic prize money in the United States is now identical to Olympic prize money, and the current figure is $37,500 for a gold medal, $22,500 for silver and $15,000 for bronze. CNBC reported those Operation Gold amounts from the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee during the Milano Cortina 2026 Games. A Paralympic sprinter and an Olympic skier who each win gold get the exact same check.
- What Paralympic prize money pays in 2026
- How paralympic prize money compares country by country
- Why the IPC hands out nothing
- How the US reached equal paralympic prize money
- Where paralympic prize money still falls short
- What happens at tax time
- The money is not the whole picture
- Frequently Asked Questions
That parity is newer than most people assume, and it is far from the global standard. The International Paralympic Committee itself pays no prize money at all, according to CNBC’s 2024 reporting. Every dollar a Paralympian earns for a medal comes from their own national committee or government, which means the payout depends entirely on which flag is on the uniform.
Here is what the numbers actually look like right now, where they match Olympic pay, where they still lag badly, and why the gap exists in the first place.
What Paralympic prize money pays in 2026
The USOPC’s Operation Gold program is the only source of direct medal bonuses for American Paralympians. CNBC put the 2026 awards at $37,500 gold, $22,500 silver and $15,000 bronze. Those figures moved slightly from the Paris 2024 cycle, when Yahoo Sports and E! News reported $38,000, $23,000 and $15,000. Use the current numbers — the awards are set per cycle, not fixed forever.
The key point is that the Olympic and Paralympic columns are the same column. There is no separate, smaller Paralympic tier.
How paralympic prize money compares country by country
The spread across nations is enormous. These are the figures reported by CNN, CNBC and the national committees themselves.
| Country / body | Paralympic gold | Equal to Olympic? | Year / source |
| United States (USOPC Operation Gold) | $37,500 | Yes | 2026, CNBC |
| Singapore | SGD 500,000 (about $385,000) | No — half the Olympic bonus | 2024, CNN |
| Hong Kong | HK$1.5 million (about $190,000) | No — 75% below Olympic gold | 2024, CNN |
| Canada (Paralympic Performance Recognition) | CAD $20,000 | Yes | 2024 launch, CPC |
| Australia (government medal incentive) | AUD $20,000 | Yes | Paris 2024 & 2026, Dept. of Health |
| International Paralympic Committee | $0 | N/A — IOC pays none either | 2024, CNBC |
Singapore’s number is the largest paralympic prize money award CNN could identify anywhere in the world. It is also, by that same reporting, exactly half of what a Singaporean Olympic champion receives.
Why the IPC hands out nothing
Neither the IPC nor the IOC pays athletes for medals. Both operate as organizers and revenue distributors, funneling money to national committees and international federations, which then decide what to do with it. So paralympic prize money is a patchwork by design.
One federation broke that pattern. World Athletics announced in April 2024 that it would pay $50,000 to each Paris Olympic gold medalist in track and field, funded from a $2.4 million pot out of its IOC revenue share. It was the first international federation ever to do so.
World Para Athletics paid nothing to Paralympic champions at those same Games. World Athletics has said it will extend prize money to Olympic silver and bronze medalists at LA 2028.
How the US reached equal paralympic prize money
American Paralympians were not always paid the same. The USOPC announced the change in 2018, after the PyeongChang Games, and it first applied at the Tokyo Paralympics held in 2021. Before that, Paralympic awards were substantially smaller.
Then-CEO Sarah Hirshland framed it plainly at the time, saying Paralympians are an integral part of the athlete community and the organization needed to reward their accomplishments appropriately. Multiple outlets, including Marketplace and E! News, have since traced the parity policy back to that decision.
Canada followed a different route. The Canadian Paralympic Committee launched its Paralympic Performance Recognition program in January 2024, funded by an endowment built with more than $6 million — including $4 million from the Malaviya Foundation and $2.02 million from the Government of Canada. The CPC distributed $555,000 to its Milano Cortina 2026 medalists.
Where paralympic prize money still falls short
CNN’s December 2024 analysis is the clearest picture available. Of the 205 nations and territories at Paris 2024, at least 74 offered prize money to Olympic champions. Only 30 of those paid Olympic and Paralympic champions equally. CNN could identify just 55 countries pledging any money at all to Paralympic medalists.
The Hong Kong comparison is the one that tends to stop readers cold. A Hong Kong Paralympic gold medalist receives about $190,000. A Hong Kong Olympic silver medalist receives roughly $386,000 — more than double, for a lesser finish.
📨 Get Free Sweepstakes Alerts
Free · No spam · Unsubscribe anytime
Also worth knowing: Great Britain pays no medal bonuses to Olympians or Paralympians. That is technically perfect equality, just at zero.
What happens at tax time
US federal law treats Olympic and Paralympic winnings the same way. Under the medal and prize exclusion in the tax code, the value of the medal and USOPC prize money can generally be excluded from federal income tax when the athlete’s adjusted gross income falls at or below $1 million. Athletes above that threshold — often pros from leagues like the NBA or NHL — generally do not qualify.
State treatment varies and does not always follow the federal rule. Anyone with a real situation should check IRS.gov or their state tax agency rather than relying on a general summary, since outcomes depend on residency and individual circumstances.
The money is not the whole picture
Even where paralympic prize money matches Olympic pay, the surrounding economics rarely do. CBC has reported that Canadian Paralympians can remain in difficult financial positions despite medal payments, largely because sponsorship, appearance fees and broadcast exposure — which dwarf medal bonuses for many Olympians — are much thinner in Para sport.
Costs run higher too. Racing wheelchairs, prosthetics and sport-specific equipment carry expenses an able-bodied competitor never faces, and they are typically not covered by the bonus.
So when you see the $37,500 figure, read it as one line in a budget rather than a salary. It is a meaningful step toward equality, and by itself it does not make a career.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Paralympians get paid the same as Olympians in the US?
Yes. Through Operation Gold, the USOPC pays Paralympic and Olympic medalists identical amounts — $37,500, $22,500 and $15,000 as reported by CNBC for 2026. That parity started with the Tokyo Games held in 2021.
Does the International Paralympic Committee pay prize money?
No. CNBC reported in 2024 that the IPC awards no prize money for medals. All paralympic prize money comes from national committees or governments, which is why amounts vary so widely by country.
Which country pays the most for a Paralympic gold medal?
Singapore, according to CNN’s 2024 review — about SGD 500,000, or roughly $385,000. That is still half what Singapore pays an Olympic champion.
Is paralympic prize money taxed in the United States?
It depends on the athlete. Federal law allows an exclusion for medal value and USOPC prize money when adjusted gross income is at or below $1 million; above that, it generally does not apply. State rules differ, so check IRS.gov and your state tax agency.
Want to put this knowledge to work?
Know the Rules Where You Live
Sweepstakes and prize rules change from state to state — what a sponsor can offer, how prizes are handled, and what protections you have. Pick your state to see the exact rules that apply where you live.
See Sweepstakes Laws in All 50 States →
Sources & How to Verify
The facts on this page are drawn from official government and primary sources. Rules and figures change, so always confirm the current details with the official agency or the promotion’s own published rules.
- FTC Consumer Advice: consumer.ftc.gov — prize, sweepstakes, and lottery scam guidance
- IRS: irs.gov — how prizes and winnings are treated as income
- Social Security Administration: ssa.gov — what SSI recipients must report
- The promotion’s official rules: every legitimate sweepstakes publishes them — the rules page is always the final word
Content last reviewed August 2026. If you notice outdated information, please contact us.
Related Guides
- Sweepstakes Laws by State (50-State Guide)
- More in This Category
- Sweepstakes Resources
- Scam Checks
- Sweepstakes Tax Calculator
- All Active Sweepstakes
Informational only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Win Big Daily is an independent educational resource. Prize rules, tax treatment, and benefit-program requirements vary by state and program and change over time, so always verify the current details with the official agency, the promotion’s published rules, or a qualified professional before acting. If a topic involves government benefits, contact the program office about your specific situation.