These MN Olympians Are Bringing Home Gold — And Some Extra Cash

Dozens of U.S. athletes, including several from Minnesota, won medals in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan — and they're bringing home some serious cash because of it.

The United States was among the 37 delegations that confirmed to Forbes that they were offering financial incentives to Olympians who reached the podium.

According to Forbes, the United States owes its 85 medal winners a combined $3,022,500, a tab surpassed only by Italy. U.S. officials confirmed to Forbes that it agreed to pay athletes $37,500 for a gold medal, $22,500 for silver and $15,000 for bronze.

Here's what Minnesota athletes are slated to bring home:

• Brock Nelson, Gold - Ice Hockey: $37,500
• Brock Faber, Gold - Ice Hockey: $37,500
• Kelly Panek, Gold - Ice Hockey: $37,500
• Lee Stecklein, Gold - Ice Hockey: $37,500
• Jake Guentzel, Gold - Ice Hockey: $37,500
• Taylor Heise, Gold - Ice Hockey: $37,500
• Jake Oettinger, Gold - Ice Hockey: $37,500
• Jackson LaCombe, Gold - Ice Hockey: $37,500
• Rory Guilday, Gold - Ice Hockey: $37,500
• Grace Zumwinkle, Gold - Ice Hockey: $37,500
• Cory Thiesse, Silver - Curling: $22,500
• Jessie Diggins, Bronze - Cross-Country Skiing: $15,000
• Paul Moltzan, Bronze - Alpine Skiing: $15,000

While $3 million seems like a hefty payout, it pales in comparison to what host country Italy owes its athletes.

According to Forbes, the Italian National Olympic Committee committed to paying a cash bonus to any of the country’s athletes who won a medal, including $213,000 for gold, $106,000 for silver and $71,000 for bronze. The amount was converted to U.S. dollars at the exchange rate at the start of the Olympics.

In total, 30 Italian athletes won medals in the 2026 games, which means Italy is looking at a payout of more than $7.7 million.

Only Singapore, Hong Kong, Poland and Kazakhstan offered larger prizes, Forbes reported.

Editor's Note: A previous version of this story said the United States that 33 athletes won medals. That number was incorrect, and the story has been updated with the correct figure.