Badminton players have not only earned honour and recognition in the world of sports, but also monetary rewards for their excellent performances. Their prize money rewards are also aided by brand endorsements and business ventures.
In this article, let us have a look at the richest badminton players in the world.
1. Lin Dan – Net worth: USD 26 million
The greatness of Lin Dan is reflected in his pay check. He is the richest badminton player with a net worth of USD 26 million presently. Regarded as one of the greatest badminton players of all time, Lin Dan has clinched two Olympic gold medals, five World Championships, and countless other titles.
The Chinese icon is endorsed by brands like Oakley, Yonex, Montblanc, Pepsi, Gillette, Red Bull, Citroen, L’Oreal, Tsingtao, and KFC. After dominating the badminton world for nearly two decades, Lin Dan announced his retirement from professional badminton on July 4, 2020, at the age of 37.
2. Lee Chong Wei – Net worth: USD 16 million
Lee Chong Wei sits second in the list of richest badminton players in the world. The Malaysia’s badminton maestro, has a net worth of USD 16 million.
In his glorious career, Lee captured three Olympic silver medals, a feat unmatched by any other Malaysian athlete, and held the world number one ranking for a record-breaking 349 weeks. He earned the title of Datuk and was described as a national hero by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.
Lee retired in June 2019, but his legacy continues to inspire youngsters in his country.
3. Chen Long – Net worth: USD 8 million
Chen Long is another Chinese player in the richest badminton players list. Boasting an Olympic gold medal and several World Championships titles, Long commands a net worth of USD 8 million.
He is a former world number one who held the pole position for 76 consecutive weeks from December 2014 to July 2016. Known for his impeccable footwork and powerful smashes, Chen has been a dominant force in men’s singles badminton.
Chen had an estimated net worth of 1-5 million dollars back in 2019. He retired from competitive badminton in 2021.
4. Taufik Hidayat – Net worth: USD 7.5 million
Indonesia’s badminton legend, Taufik Hidayat, boasts a net worth of USD 7.5 million. One of the greatest badminton players in history, Hidayat is known for his backhand play.
The Indonesian former shuttler has clinched several major badminton titles, including the World Championships (2005), an Olympic gold medal (2004), three gold medals at the Asian Games (in the men’s team event in 1998 and in singles events in 2002 and 2006) and three Asian Championships titles (2000, 2004 and 2007). Hidayat topped the world rankings at the tender age of 19 years in 2000 and to date, remains the youngest player to achieve the feat in the men’s singles discipline.
5. PV Sindhu – Net worth: USD 6 million
PV Sindhu has been a flag bearer of Indian badminton. Interestingly, she is the only female player in the list. She has not only brought glory to her country but has also accumulated a net worth of USD 7.1 million.
PV Sindhu has won five medals in the BWF World Championships so far and is only the second woman after China’s Zhang Ning to win five or more medals in the competition. She also won the BWF World Tour Finals in 2018.
With an estimated net worth of $7.1 million, Sindhu is the richest female badminton player in the world.
Also Read: Top 6 Best Badminton Rackets In The World
6. Jan O Jorgensen – Net worth: USD 5.5 million
Jan O Jorgensen is the only European to feature in the list. His illustrious career spanned 15 years even as he accumulated a net worth of USD 5.5 million. He was a part of the Denmark team that won the 2016 Thomas Cup in Kunshan, China. Jorgensen retired from professional badminton in 2020.
The Danish won the European Championships once (2014). He also came close to winning the World Championships in 2015 but had to settle for a bronze medal after losing to Lee Chong Wei in the semi-finals.
