Sanya Richards-Ross, born on 26 February 1985, is a Jamaican-American former professional athlete who became famous in the world of track and field, particularly at the 2012 London Olympic Games.
So how much is Ross’ net worth? As of late 2016, bases on authoritative sources, it is reported to be $1.5 million acquired from her years as an athlete participating in international competitions, and her various product endorsements.
Sanya Richards-Ross Net Worth $1.5 million
Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Ross is the daughter of Archie and Sharon Richards. Together with her family, they moved to the United States when she was 12 years old, settling in Fort Lauderdale in Florida. During her high school years in the U.S., she honed her skills in track and field, a sport she had been passionate about back in Jamaica since she was seven years old. She matriculated from St. Thomas Aquinas High School with a 4.0 GPA and multiple awards in track and field including being named the National High School Female Athlete of the Year in 2012, Track and Field News Women’s Prep Athlete of the Year, and USA Track and Field’s Youth Athlete of the Year.
Ross continued improving her skills in track and field while attending the University of Texas, winning several events and awards, including the 2003 NCAA 400-meter championship and the NCAA Indoor Championship in the 200-meter event. The year after, she won the gold medal at the Athens Summer Olympics in the 400-meter relay. That same year, she decided to turn professional, and focus on the sport full-time.
Some of Ross’s most memorable wins include the 2006 World Cup taking home the top award in the 200-meter event as well as in the 400-meter event. Even though she experienced minor injuries in 2007, she continued competing and came back in 2008 at the Beijing Summer Olympics winning a bronze medal in the 400-meter event, and gold in the relay. In 2012, she came back in the London Summer Olympics and took home the gold in the 400-meter event and the relay. Her victories not only catapulted her to fame but also tremendously increased her net worth. She retired before the 2016 Olympics because of injury.
With her success in the world of sports, she was also able to bag sponsorship deals with various products like Nutrilite, BMW, Nike Inc. and Citibank. These product endorsements also helped increase her wealth.
Aside from being an athlete, Ross has also invested some of her time in business. She created a hair extension line named Rich Hair Collection, and partnered with her sister in The Hair Clinic, a hair salon located in Austin Texas. She also starred in her own realty television show in 2013 entitled “Glam and Gold” in which a team followed her day to day life as an athlete and a wife. Her other endeavours also helped in increasing her net worth.
In terms of her personal life, Ross has been married since 2010 to Aaron Ross, a professional American Football player who she met during her time at the University of Texas. Ross also made sure that she could give back to Jamaica, thus creating the Sanya Richards Fast Track Program, a charity which helps the children in need in her home country.
