Millions on the Line as Eliud Kipchoge, Hellen Obiri and Co Chase Glory at the 2025 New York City Marathon

Eliud Kipchoge will be making his debut as Hellen Obiri returns with the hope of reclaiming her New York City Marathon title.

However, that will not be the only motivation for Hellen Obiri, Eliud Kipchoge and the thousands of athletes who will be lining up since the event is also highly lucrative.

The 2025 race in New York represents a massive opportunity to claim a significant portion of a prize purse that totals over $800,000, more than 103 million across various categories.

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The most substantial winnings are found in the Open Division for men and women, which rewards the top 10 professional finishers.

The champions of both the men's and women's races are set to receive a commanding $100,000 each, placing the New York City Marathon among the highest-paying road races globally.

The prize money then scales down through the top finishers. Those who finish second and third will pocket $60,000 and $40,000, respectively.

The athletes who cross the finish line in fourth, fifth and sixth will have the privilege of earning $25,000, $15,000 and $10,000. The seventh, eighth, and ninth place finishers will bag $7,500, $5,000 and $2,500, with the 10th athlete to cross the finish line walking away with $2,000.

A significant incentive exists for runners who achieve a legendary performance, as a $50,000 course record bonus is on offer for any man or woman who breaks the current event record.

In the Professional Wheelchair Division, there is a separate, generous prize purse, with the men's and women's champions often receiving $25,00 to $35,000 each, and top finishers sharing an overall pot that has historically exceeded $150,000. Course record bonuses are also available for these elite athletes.

In the USA Division, there are dedicated prizes for the top American finishers, with a substantial $25,000 going to the first-place US man and woman.

The Masters Division has also not been left behind, with the athletes aged 40 and over set to earn prize money for top performances in their age category, often with the master’s champion earning around $3,000.

While the posted prize money is significant, the actual financial incentive for elite runners, particularly those of Eliud Kipchoge's calibre, is much higher.

Appearance fees, paid simply for their participation in the race, can rival or even exceed the first-place prize money for the biggest stars.