Where pro triathletes can earn the most money (and why there was less in 2023)

As part of his prize money list overview posted on the TriRating.com website, Thorsten Radde broke down the amount of prize money available at races in 2023 compared to 2022. The number was down 17 per cent, in part because Ironman hosted two world championship events in 2022 (St. George and Kona) and also because the Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) and World Triathlon restructured their prize purses this year. (All numbers listed in US$)

Long distance racing continues to offer considerably more prize money than short-course racing, with the Ironman, Ironman 70.3, PTO and Challenge series races combining for a total of $9,086,308 (73 per cent) of the $12,493,198 in prize and bonus pool money that was up for grabs in the sport last year. (World Triathlon and Super League combined for $2,690,000, with “other races” adding $716,890 to the kitty.)

Who made the most triathlon prize money in 2023?

That total of just under $12.5 million is down from the total of $15,011,165 that was offered in 2022.

Series money 2023/ 2022 – percentage difference

• Ironman (full distance)  $2,624,400/ $3,338,400 – -21%
• Ironman (70.3) $1,758,000/ $1,566,100 – +12%
• PTO (including bonus pool)  $3,769,500/ $5,563,000 – -32%
• Challenge (and Clash, including bonus pool) $934,408/ $811,920 – +15%
• World Triathlon $1,840,000/ $1,930,000 – -5%
• Super League Triathlon $850,000/ $987,000 – -14%
• Other $716,890/ $814,745 – -12%

Notes

• The PTO has been a game changer in terms of prize money for professional triathletes – Radde’s points out that in 2015 Ironman paid out just under $5.35 million. That number declined after 2016, but has since shot up in the last two years. Next year Ironman will also hand out $1.7 million in bonus money to athletes competing in the Ironman Pro Series.
• The PTO remains the highest paying race series by event, with the average purse at $942,000
• Challenge added 10 races to its pro calendar in 2023 compared to the previous year.
• Clash has got out of the pro race scene now – there was no pro racing at Clash Daytona earlier this month. Clash Miami will host an elite World Triathlon event, but won’t be holding a pro long-distance race in March.