Shaun White got his first brand endorsement at the small age of seven. His mother called up Burton Snowboards, furious that there was no child-sized equipment and that her son had to ride ski boots on makeshift bindings on a board.
A year later, the three-time Olympic champion had his very first snowboard. That along with a sponsorship deal that spanned a good 10 years. White has been smart about his partnership choices and, thanks to his head for business, you wouldn’t believe how his net worth skyrocketed.
Shaun White: made of money
The snowboarding icon Shaun White may claim that his first endorsement with Burton Snowboards was only because they needed kids to test the product. But we have a long list of brands that wanted him as the face of their advertisements, raking in millions for the legend.
Even athletes like Lindsey Vonn and Simone Biles, big names in their sports, come nowhere near White’s net worth. The 15 times X Games winner is worth a whopping $70 million, whereas Vonn and Biles sit at $12 million and $16 million, respectively.
Shaun White is the highest-paid snowboarder of all time. He earns about 10 to 15 million dollars per year just from endorsements. The brands he has represented include names like Burton Snowboards, Birdhouse Skateboards, Ubisoft, Target, Oakley, and American Express.
READ MORE: Shaun White Secured a Sponsorship at Just 7 Years of Age- Here’s How
At one point, White started streamlining his partnerships with brands, letting go of long-term endorsements like RedBull, which had built him his own private halfpipe at the Perisher Ski Resort in Australia.
What’s so different about the snowboarder?
Shaun White is not just a snowboarder but has also dabbled in skateboarding, acting, making, and even apps and games. His first video game, ‘Shaun White, Snowboarding’, sold over 3 million copies worldwide.
His company, Shaun White Enterprises, encompasses all his business deals, and he maintains close creative control over his campaigns. Recently, he launched Whitespace, a gear and apparel brand still in its beginning stages.
White put up numerous properties for sale in 2017, his real estate dealings earning him millions. He’s also been savvy with his investments, purchasing a minority stake in Mammoth Resorts, the company that runs Mammoth Mountain in 2016, reportedly making a “seven-digit” investment.
He also has an acting career. His unforgettable role in the 2011 film ‘Friends With Benefits’ alongside Justin Timberlake, a testament to his fame. White has been silently building an empire. It is no surprise that he is one of the highest-paid Winter Olympic Athletes in the world.
DIVE DEEPER: Shaun White Reveals How He Used His Iconic “Flying Tomato” Hair for a Noble Cause
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