Winning an Olympic medal brings pride to any athlete. Many countries also add cash rewards for those podium finishes. Using data shared by USA Today for the 2026 Winter Olympics (25 countries responded to the site’s query), here is a look at which nations pay the most per medal. So, here are the top five highest-paying countries according to Yahoo.
5. Slovenia
Slovenia sits fifth on the list for gold medal rewards. The country pays $162,672 to athletes who win gold at the Games. Silver and bronze bonuses are also part of its system, though they are lower than the top four nations. Slovenia’s plan shows strong support for elite athletes despite being a small country.
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4. Poland
Poland ranks fourth with a gold medal payout of $211,268. Extra rewards make its program stand out. Athletes who finish between fourth and eighth place also receive money. Gold medal winners get even more than cash. They are awarded a Toyota Corolla, a fully furnished two-room apartment, a painting, a holiday voucher, and jewelry. This makes Poland one of the most generous nations overall.
3. Italy
Italy places third with a gold medal bonus of $213,418. As the host country, Italy already began winning medals early in the Games. Two golds came in the opening days. The payout reflects how much value the country places on Olympic success, especially while hosting the event.
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2. Hong Kong
Second place belongs to Hong Kong. Gold medal winners receive $767,747. That figure is far higher than most nations in the field. The silver and bronze payouts are also large. Hong Kong’s system shows how financial rewards are used to push elite performance on the world stage.
1. Singapore
Singapore leads all countries in Olympic medal bonuses. A gold medal earns $788,907. Silver pays $394,497. Bronze brings $197,282. No other nation offers more for any medal type. The result is surprising because Singapore has won only six Olympic medals in its history. It has never won a Winter Olympics medal. The country only started competing in Winter Games in 2018. Before that, it appeared only in Summer Olympics.
Where Team USA ranks
Team USA sits in the middle of the list, at least, according to the data obtained through the responses from the 25 countries. The United States ranks 15th out of the 25 countries that responded to USA Today. American athletes earn $37,500 for gold, $22,500 for silver, and $15,000 for bronze. These numbers are much lower than the top five but still provide direct rewards for podium finishes.
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Countries that do not pay medal bonuses
Not every nation uses cash prizes. Great Britain, Sweden, and Norway do not pay athletes for winning Olympic medals. Financial help is still given before the Games through training and support programs. Norway remains the most successful Winter Olympics nation in history and has already won multiple gold medals at the 2026 Games.
Final thoughts
Cash rewards vary widely across countries at the Winter Olympics. Singapore tops the list by a wide margin. Hong Kong, Italy, Poland, and Slovenia follow behind. Team USA ranks in the middle with modest payouts. Some nations choose pride and preparation over prize money. Together, these systems show how different countries value Olympic success in their own way.
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