- Mark Spitz’s net worth is mainly from his career as a swimmer and is approximately $20 million
- Other contributors to the 9x Olympic gold medalist are business, TV appearances and film; and endorsements
- The 75 years old and father of 2 retired at the peak of his career at the age of 22 in 1972
Mark Spitz’s net worth is estimated at $20 million placing him among the richest swimmers ever. The 75 years old makes his wealth from professional swimming which landed him the name of one of the most decorated swimmers with 9 Olympic medals and more than 30 world records. He also made his fortune from endorsements, a real estate business, motivational and public speaking; and a TV career.
Every Way Mark Spitz’s Net Worth Has Accumulated
He Started to Compete at The Age of 6 and Started His International Career at 15
1950 born Mark Spitz began swimming at a very tender age in Hawaii and by the time he was 6 years old, he had started competing at his local swim club after he moved to Sacramento, California with his parents.
His love for the sport continued and at the age of 9, Mark started to train with Sherm Chavor at the Hills Swimming and Tennis Club. His then-coach who died in 1992 also coached other Olympic swimmers such as Debbie Meyer and Mike Burton.
Mark Spitz’s interest in swimming developed that when he reached 10, he had already made national records, and at 15, he started an international career that would lead to his being named the most outstanding athlete after winning 4 gold medals in Tel Aviv, Israel. At 17, the Modesto, California-born set his first world record of 4:10:60 in the 400-meter freestyle.
At the early stage of his career, Spitz’s wealth was not known but it may not be farfetched from the fact that the different stages were the milestone in which the retired swimmer gathered his $20 million net worth.
He Had Some of The Most Successful Olympic Competitions That Have Added To His Net Worth
After successfully claiming success, medals, and a name for himself in the Maccabiah Games of 1965, 1969; and Pan American games of 1967, Mark Spitz headed for the 1968 Olympic games in Mexico.
Although in swimming, the United States claimed 52 medals, the 6 foot tall won only 2 team gold medals in the 1968 Olympic games. The result led to a disappointment by Spitz who then decided to attend Indiana University. There he trained with Doc Counsilman, a former swimming Olympic coach and Hall of Famer.
In 1972, in West Germany, Spitz showed up as a swimming athlete but this time, he went home with 7 gold medals and set new world records. He held the title of the athlete with the most gold medals in a single Olympics for 36 years from 1972 to 2008 when Michael Phelps surpassed him with 8 Olympic gold medals in a single Olympic game to become one of the best Olympians of all time.
At the age of 22 in 1972, Mark Splitz “Mark the Shark” retired from competition but made a comeback in 1992 at the age of 41 when filmmaker Bud Greenspan offered the swimmer a million dollars if he qualifies for the Olympics. However, Splitz failed to qualify.
Regardless, in the years that he participated in the Olympics where he made a total of 9 gold medals. At the time, the exact amount that Olympic medalists win is not known, but at the time of this writing, the United States reportedly pays $37,500 for gold, $22,500 for silver, and $15,000 for a bronze medal.
Records and awards won by Mark Spitz
- He was ranked No. 33 of the 50 Greatest Athletes on ESPN SportsCentury (1999)
- He has been inducted into 8 Halls of Fame (1977, 1979, 1983, 1990, and 2007)
Film and TV Contribute to Mark Spitz’s Net Worth
In 1972, the 75 years old made a debut on a British-American comedian Bop Hope’s special skit where he played a dentist. From 1973 to 1974, he appeared on the American late-night show, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour.
On TV works he appeared in include:
- The Dean Marting Celebrity Roast (series, 1973)
- He was a presenter at ABC Sports (1976)
- Challenge of a Lifetime (1985)
- He narrated Freedom’s Fury (documentary, 2006)
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Spitz Earn from Other Business Ventures, Commercials, and Endorsements
One of the businesses that Mark Spitz may have earned from business ventures that include real estate. He is also a corporate spokesperson and motivational speaker who reportedly gave out about 25 lectures a year.
The former Olympian has other business ventures such as a water business.
In addition, Getting endorsements and making appearances in a number of commercials have contributed to Mark Spitz’s net worth. After his retirement from swimming as a competitor, the American landed 2-year endorsement contracts that generated $7 million.
Some of the commercials include for companies such as:
- California Milk Advisory Board
- Schick razors commercials (1974)
- PlayStation (1998)
- Sprint PCS (2004)
- GoDaddy (2007)
- Orbitrek Elite (2007)
- Ageless Male (2012)
- EKG device for KardiaMobile (2019)
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