$100M Donation Funds U.S. Athletes Financial Security

A groundbreaking $100 million donation from billionaire financier Ross Stevens will provide financial security to every U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athlete starting with the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Games. The gift, the largest in the history of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, establishes the Stevens Financial Security Awards, offering a $200,000 benefit package to participants regardless of whether they win medals.

Stevens, founder and chief executive of Stone Ridge Holdings Group, announced the initiative in March 2025 to address the financial challenges faced by American athletes. Unlike competitors from many other nations, U.S. Olympians receive no government stipends or pensions, relying instead on sponsorships, endorsement deals and support from national sports governing bodies. The USOPC, chartered by Congress but funded primarily through private sources like broadcast rights and donations, has long highlighted the sacrifices athletes make in pursuing elite competition.

Under the program, athletes qualify for the $200,000 package for each Games they participate in. The award splits into two components: $100,000 disbursed 20 years after an athlete's...