Eliud Kipchoge among nine richest Kenyan athletes
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Eliud Kipchoge and Pamela Chelimo among richest Kenyan athletes.

ATHLETICS Eliud Kipchoge among nine richest Kenyan athletes

Kiplagat Sang • 08:09 - 11.05.2023

Pulse Sports compiles the list of the richest athletes in the country, both active and retired.

Kenya is known for producing world-class athletes who have dominated global competitions over the years.

Their dominance is associated with big rewards financially, given the lucrative deals and endorsements they earn courtesy of their names and records.

Athletes are one of the wealthiest people in the world, according to Forbes, and now Pulse Sports looks into what amount of wealth Kenya’s top athletes are estimated to own.

Richest Kenyan athletes

Eliud Kipchoge - $3.5m (Ksh478m)

Eliud Kipchoge during Boston Marathon.
Eliud Kipchoge during Boston Marathon.

A household name in Kenya and one of the most famous athletes across the world who also hold the World Marathon record.

The Nandi County-born marathoner's fame was fueled in September 2018 when he registered a new record of 2:01:39 hours in the 42-kilometer marathon in Berlin.

He was also in the limelight when he raced against time and set a record of 1:59:40hrs in Austria in 2019.

Last year in September, Kipchoge – considered the all-time greatest marathoner – registered another record in Berlin when he clocked 2:01:09.

As he kept making his name on the track, Kipchoge also saw his net worth improve, and his total wealth is estimated at over Ksh478 million, and thus one of the richest Kenyan athletes.

Kipchoge Keino - $3 million (Ksh410m)

Kenya marathon legend Kipchoge Keino.
Laureus Academy member Kipchoge Keino poses for photos on the red carpet at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Larvotto, Monaco on February 14, 2017.

A two-time Olympic gold medalist, Keino’s worth is estimated at Ksh410 million.

It is widely understood that the retired marathoner made his wealth while he was still an active runner.

Keino was among Kenya’s first athletes to participate in international competitions and made his name during the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City. Apart from his achievements on the track, he is also one of the richest Kenyan athletes.

Ezekiel Kemboi - $2.7m (Ksh369m)

Ezekiel Kemboi.
Ezekiel Kemboi of Kenya on August 17, 2016.

A famous athlete that made his name not only on the track but also with his dancing moves to the ‘Emily Chepchumba’ tune.

His fame was enhanced by his performances at the World Championships in the steeplechase.

Julius Yego - $2.2m (Ksh300m)

Kenya's Javelin star Julius Yego.
Julius Yego of Kenya competes during the Men s Javelin Throw Qualification at the 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar on October 5, 2019.

The track and field athlete, who is also known as Mr. YouTube, has an estimated net worth of around Ksh300 million and is one of the richest athletes in Kenya.

Yego won the javelin title at the All-Africa Games in 2011 and at the African Championships in Athletics in both 2012 and 2014.

A throw of 92.72m saw him win the 2015 World Championships and become the first Kenyan to win a World Championships gold medal in a field event. He is also a silver medalist at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Vivian Cheruiyot - $1.5m (Ksh205m)

Vivian Cheruiyot.
Vivian Cheruiyot crosses the finishing line 2nd during the 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon on April 28, 2019, in London.

Cheruiyot - a three-time Diamond League champion having won the 2011 and 2012 editions - has an estimated wealth of $1.5 million (Ksh181m) making her one of the richest athletes in Kenya.

Pamela Jelimo - $1 million to $5 million (Ksh136m to Ksh684m)

Pamela Jelimo at the Memorial Ivo Van Damme Diamond League .
Kenya's Pamela Jelimo pictured during the Women 800m event at the Memorial Ivo Van Damme Diamond League meeting, at the King Baudouin stadium on September 7, 2012.

The 2008 Golden League Jackpot winner has an estimated wealth of around $1 million to $5 million, making him one of the richest athletes in Kenya.

Jelimo has gone under the radar in the athletics scene, but her name remains famous given what she achieved in the competitions in which she participated.

Jelimo holds both the 800m world junior record and the senior African record over the same distance and is also one of the youngest women to win an Olympic gold medal for Kenya.

Catherine Ndereba - $1m (Ksh136m)

Catherine Ndereba.
Catherine Ndereba, 4-time winner of the Boston Marathon, speaks as part of Boston Marathon Fan Fest on April 17, 2022.

The women’s marathon world record breaker in 2001 at 2:18:47 in Chicago has an estimated net worth of over Ksh100 million.

One of the most famous Kenyan female athletes, the 50-year-old has a stellar career, having won the marathon at the World Championships in Athletics and won silver medals at the Summer Olympic Games in 2004 and 2008.

A four-time winner of the Boston Marathon and a two-time winner of the Chicago Marathon, Ndereba was once described by the Chicago Tribune as the greatest women's marathoner of all time. Wealth acquired through sporting events and endorsements make her one of the richest athletes in Kenya.

David Rudisha - $1 million (Ksh136m)

David Rudisha
David Rudisha is a two-time Olympic Champion

The Narok-born middle-distance runner is estimated to own wealth worth over Ksh100 million.

Despite struggling with a niggly knee injury that sidelined him for a full year, Rudisha had made his name as an outstanding 800-meter runner. Despite that, he is one of the richest athletes in Kenya.

He is a two-time back-to-back Olympic champion from the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Olympics, as well as a two-time world champion from the 2011 and 2015 World Championships in Athletics.

Paul Tergat - $890 (Ksh121m)

Paul Tergat.
Paul Tergat poses for the photographer during the gala evening of the 2022 edition of the Memorial Van Damme athletics meeting on August 31, 2022.

Regarded as one of the most accomplished long-distance runners of all time, Tergat is valued at $890 million and is one of the richest athletes in Kenya.

Tergat became the first Kenyan man to set the world record in the marathon in 2003 after clocking 2:04:55. He also won five straight IAAF World Cross Country Championship titles.

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