Who are the richest surfers in the world?
Introduction
The world of surfing has always been fascinating to fans and enthusiasts alike.
The sport has evolved over the years, and so have the surfers who make a living out of it. It is estimated that the global market for surfing to reach $3.1 billion by 2026.
Many professional surfers have become millionaires due to their success in competitions and endorsements with top brands.
List of the Top 21 Richest Surfers in the World:
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#21 Luke Davis Net Worth – $500,000
Luke Davis is a professional surfer who is sponsored by Lost Surfboards, Dakine, VZ, and Reef. He grew up in Southern California.
He has a net worth of $500,000.
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#20 Jack Robinson Net Worth – $1.5 million
Jack Robinson is an Australian professional surfer who won his first Championship Tour in 2021.
In early 2023, Jack signed a deal with Good Drinks Australia Ltd worth at least $150k per year. Robinson is also sponsored by Sun Bum, Dakine, Boost Mobile, and Volcom.
Jack Robinson has a net worth of $1.5 million.
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#19 Kolohe Andino Net Worth – $3.5 million
Kolohe Andino is an American surfer who qualified for surfing’s major league at just 18.
He finished in equal fifth place in Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
He’s married to Madison Aldrich.
Kolohe Andino has a net worth of $3.5 million.
Interesting fact – Kolohe means “little rascal” in Hawaiian.
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#18 Jeff Clark Net Worth – $4 million
Jeff Clark is an American big-wave surfer who was named by Surfer Magazine as one of the “world’s best big-wave riders” in 1994.
He was born on March 26, 1957.
He founded Mavericks Surf Contest.
Jeff Clark has a net worth of $4 million.
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#17 Jordy Smith Net Worth – $4 million
Jordy Smith is a South African professional surfer who started surfing at age 3. Jordy won the Rio Pro in Brazil in 2013. In the same year, he re-signed with O’Neill for another five years.
In 2020, Smith purchased a home on the North Shore, Oahu. Other sponsors of the South African surfer are Trace, Futures Fins, Vestal Watches, Brand Black Shoes, Red Bull, and Oakley.
Smith is married to South African model Lyndall Jarvis.
Jordy Smith has a net worth of $4 million.
Joel Parkinson competes during Billabong Pipe Masters on December 16, 2018 in Pupukea, Hawaii – @Getty
#16 Joel Parkinson Net Worth – $5 million
Joel Parkinson is an Australian surfer who won world tour events at Snapper Rocks, Bells Beach, Jeffreys Bay, Sunset Beach, Pipeline, and more.
In March 2018, Joel renewed his deal with sponsor Billabong.
At the end of 2020, he sold his riverfront Tweed Heads compound for $2.52 million.
Joel, along with Bede Durbidge, Josh Kerr, and Mick Fanning, co-owns Balter Brewing Company.
Joel Parkinson has a net worth of $5 million.
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#15 Garrett McNamara Net Worth – $5 million
He is an American professional big-wave surfer who entered the Guinness World Record in 2011 after catching a 24 meters wave in Nazaré, Portugal.
Some of McNamara’s sponsors are – Raw Elements, Maui Jim, Kona Red, Body Glove, Donjoy, Mercedes Benz Wavejet, and Red Nose.
Garrett McNamara has a net worth of $5 million.
Bethany Hamilton arrives at the Los Angeles Premiere of the Entertainment Studios documentary “Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable” – @Getty
#14 Bethany Hamilton Net Worth – $5 million
Bethany Hamilton is an American professional surfer who lost her left arm to a 14-foot tiger shark when she was 13. Bethany returned to surfing 26 days after the shark attack.
Hamilton published eight books, including – Surfing Past Fear, Raising a Soul Surfer, and Soul Surfer. On Amazon, Bethany’s books have over 2,700 ratings – this means an estimated 135,000 to 270,000 copies sold.
In early 2022, Hamilton inked a five-year deal with Rip Curl. Other sponsors include – Cobian, XTR, Futures Fins, Channel Islands, Damon System, Sticky Bumps, and Zico.
Bethany Hamilton has a net worth of $5 million.
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#13 Dane Reynolds Net Worth – $6 million
Dane Reynolds is an American professional surfer who was inducted into the Surfers’ Hall of Fame in 2012. He was born in Long Beach but grew up in LA.
Reynolds first started competing at age 13.
In 2017, Dane, along with Austyn Gillette, Dylan Rieder, and Craig Anderson, co-founded the clothing company, Former.
Dane was sponsored by Quiksilver. Other sponsors are – Channel Islands, Homegrown Surf Shop, and Vans.
Dane Reynolds has a net worth of $6 million.
Stephanie Gilmore after winning the Final at the Surf City El Salvador Pro on June 17, 2022 – @Getty
#12 Stephanie Gilmore Net Worth – $7 million
Stephanie Gilmore is an Australian professional surfer who started surfing at age 10. The 2007 season was Stephanie’s rookie year, and she won the Women’s WSL World Tour eight times.
In January 2011, Gilmore signed a deal with Quiksilver. It was reportedly a $5 million five-year deal. Other sponsors are – Audi, Breitling Watches, Nikon Australia, and Roxy.
Gilmore owns a Malibu beach house; however, it is unknown how much she paid for it. But, it is known that the average Malibu home value is $3.3 million.
Stephanie Gilmore has a net worth of $7 million.
Gabriel Medina surfing in Semifinal 2 of the Rip Curl Rottnest Search – @Getty
#11 Gabriel Medina Net Worth – $7 million
Gabriel Medina is a Brazilian professional surfer who won the World Surf League three times.
He began surfing at age nine.
In 2020, Gabriel started his line of soft boards – “Medina Softboards.”
In early 2022, Medina listed his swank beachfront mansion for $1.5 million. The house is situated on the hill north of Maresias Beach, overlooking the sea. He listed the property after his split from his wife, Yasmin Brunet – a Brazilian model and actress. The two got married in 2020 in a ceremony in Hawaii.
Gabriel Medina has a net worth of $7 million.
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#10 Kai Lenny Net Worth – $7 million
He is an American professional big wave surfer who won the 2020 Nazaré Tow Surfing Challenge.
Kai Lenny has a net worth of $7 million.
Ian Walsh accepts the trophy for his 4th place finish at the ‘TAG Heuer And World Surf League Pe’ ahi Challenge’ awards – @Getty
#9 Ian Walsh Net Worth – $8 million
Ian Walsh is a professional surfer who made his pro debut in 2001.
Walsh owns a house in Maui. The average price of a house in Maui is about $1.3 million.
In 2014, the Hawaiian-born surfer signed a sponsorship deal with Hewlett Packard. Other sponsorship deals include – Lost Surfboards, Christenson Surfboards, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, MFC Foils, Deep Relief Peak Performance, Luxury Card, Kipa Beach, Paia Bowls, Tudor Watches, DaKine, HydroFlask, and Red Bull.
He is the founder of the Menehune Mayhem Surf Event.
Ian Walsh has a net worth of $8 million.
Julian Wilson during a practice session at Tsurigasaki Surfing Beach – @Getty
#8 Julian Wilson Net Worth – $8 million
Julian Wilson is an Australian professional surfer who won the Quiksilver Pro France 2018.
In 2018, Wilson sold his Queensland home for $4+ million. Julian bought the house for $3.25 million in 2015.
In 2020, he filed a $1.5 million lawsuit against his former sponsor, Hurley. Wilson was also sponsored by Sunbum Sunscreen, Oakley Eyewear, Red Bull Energy, and Nike Footwear.
In 2022, he launched his clothing brand called Rivvia Projects.
Julian Wilson has a net worth of $8 million.
Owen Wright holds his trophy during prizegiving at the Fiji Pro on June 16, 2015 in Tavarua, Fiji – @Getty
#7 Owen Wright Net Worth – $9 million
Owen Wright is a celebrated Australian pro surfer who won the surfing Olympic bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
In 2019, Wright paid $5.1 million for a luxury beach villa building in Byron Bay. It is close to Clarke’s Beach.
In 2022, Owen re-signed with Rip Curl. He initially signed with the company in 2005.
He married singer, Kita Alexander.
Owen Wright has a net worth of $9 million.
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#6 Jamie O’Brien Net Worth – $10 million
Jamie O’Brien is a free surfer who grew up near the Banzai Pipeline. He won both the 2004 Fosters Expression Trestles and 2003 Hansen’s Pipeline Pro.
In 2020, Jamie listed his house at 59-369 Ke Nui Road for $5.5 million.
He founded the surf school – Jamie O’Brien Surf Experience.
Jamie O’Brien has a net worth of $10 million.
Taj Burrow after winning the 2009 Billabong Pipeline Masters – @Getty
#5 Taj Burrow Net Worth – $12 million
Taj Burrow is an Australian retired professional surfer who won the 2009 Billabong Pipeline Masters at the Banzai Pipeline.
Taj was sponsored by Futures Fins, Globe, Von Zipper, Lost Surfboards, and Billabong.
He owns a $2.3 million unit in Bondi, New South Wales. In 2014, Taj bought a three-bedroom duplex in Sydney for $2 million. In 2020, it was valued at $4 million. In total, Burrow has over $10 million invested in real estate.
Taj Burrow has a net worth of $12 million.
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#4 John John Florence Net Worth – $15 million
John John Florence is an American professional surfer who won World Surf League in 2016 and 2017.
At age 13, he became the youngest surfer ever to compete in a specialty series of professional surfing events known as the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing. He won the Billabong Pipeline Masters in 2020, and the Triple Crown of Surfing in 2022.
In January 2012, he signed a sponsorship deal with Hurley. Florence left the Hurley deal in early 2020. He’s also sponsored by Therabody, Clif Bar, VEIA Supplies, Nixon, Stance, and Machu Picchu Energy.
In 2022, John John bought his mother a house for $ 2,995,000.
John John Florence has a net worth of $15 million. In 2019, he was the highest-paid surfer in the world.
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#3 Mick Fanning Net Worth – $20 million
Mick Fanning is a three-time world surfing champion who was born on June 13, 1981, in Penrith, New South Wales.
In 2015, Mick survived a shark attack.
He retired from professional competitive surfing in 2018.
In 2019, he inked a 10-year deal with Rip Curl. Other endorsement deals from major brands and major companies include – Audi, Skullcandy, Red Bull Zen Nutrition, Dragon Eyewear, Creatures of Leisure Accessories, and Reef Footwear.
In August 2021, Fanning purchased a Gold Coast skate ramp house for $3 million. It is a record price for a non-beachfront home in the area.
Mick Fanning has a net worth of $20 million.
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#2 Laird Hamilton Net Worth – $28 million
Laird Hamilton is an American big-wave surfer considered one of the best big-wave surfers of all time as well as one of the most influential surfers.
Hamilton appeared on Point Break, The Descendants, Listen Up, and more.
He’s also the author of “Liferider” and “Force of Nature.”
In 1997, Laird married professional volleyball player Gabrielle Reece.
In 2011, Hamilton and his wife listed their Hawaiian home for $2.79 million. The home measures more than 5,000 square feet.
Laird Hamilton has a net worth of $28 million. It is cumulated with the net worth of his wife, Gabrielle Reece.
Kelly Slater after winning the Final at the Billabong Pro Pipeline on February 5, 2022 in Haleiwa, Hawaii – @Getty
#1 Kelly Slater Net Worth – $30 million
Kelly Slater is an American professional surfer who has 11 World Championships under his belt. Kelly is one of the most successful surfers — probably the greatest professional surfer of all time.
He was born on February 11, 1972, in Cocoa Beach, United States.
He turned pro in 1990 and claimed his first world title as a 20-year-old in 1992.
In February 2022, he won his eighth Pipe Masters victory ahead of his 50th birthday. Slater’s prize money from surf competitions is over $4 million.
One of his main sponsors was surfwear industry giant Quiksilver. However, Slater inked a deal with The Kering Group in 2014.
In 2017, Slater bought a seven-bedroom seven-and-a-half-bathroom beachfront home on the North shore of Oahu for $7.8 million. The property was originally listed for $9,975,000.
Kelly Slater has a net worth of $30 million. His annual income is around $3 million due to his lucrative career.
Here’s a quick recap of the 21 highest earning surfers and richest surfers in the world (highest-paid surfers):
- Kelly Slater Net Worth – $30 million
- Laird Hamilton Net Worth – $28 million
- Mick Fanning Net Worth – $20 million
- John John Florence Net Worth – $15 million
- Taj Burrow Net Worth – $12 million
- Jamie O’Brien Net Worth – $10 million
- Owen Wright Net Worth – $9 million
- Julian Wilson Net Worth – $8 million
- Ian Walsh Net Worth – $8 million
- Kai Lenny Net Worth – $7 million
- Gabriel Medina Net Worth – $7 million
- Stephanie Gilmore Net Worth – $7 million
- Dane Reynolds Net Worth – $6 million
- Bethany Hamilton Net Worth – $5 million
- Garrett McNamara Net Worth – $5 million
- Joel Parkinson Net Worth – $5 million
- Jordy Smith Net Worth – $4 million
- Jeff Clark Net Worth – $4 million
- Kolohe Andino Net Worth – $3.5 million
- Jack Robinson Net Worth – $1.5 million
- Luke Davis Net Worth – $500,000
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