The career and life of former figure skater Tonya Harding, who became a household name after she was alleged to have been connected with an attack in 1994 Winter Olympics, have arguably made things much more difficult for her financially, too. This post will answer the question of how wealthy Tonya Harding is and reveal some details about how she has been able to build her financial standing.
Current Net Worth
As of this year, she has a net worth of around $150,000. This was a startling number to some, especially given that Harding had been on the brink of success as an amateur figure skater, with her career far from over. However, several reasons account for the somewhat small size of this net worth.
Career Earnings in Figure Skating
Early Success
Harding started skating early and swiftly made a name for herself. Anna has some notable career accomplishments, including:
- The 1991 U.S. Championships Victory
- World Championship 1991 Runner-up
- The first American woman to land a triple axel in international competition.
These achievements must have earned some money through competition prizes and probably sponsors, but exact numbers are hard to come by.
Sin and Redemption in 1994
It is due to this incident occurred in 1994, resulted in leading figure skater Nancy Kerrigan, and demonstrated its ruin on Harding's professional career as well as her earning scope. Harding, who subsequently pleaded guilty to hindering the prosecution of her attackers, was heavily sanctioned;
- A lifelong suspension from U.S. Figure Skating
- 1994 U.S. Championships title vacated
- A $160,000 fine
- Three years of probation
- 500 hours of community service
As a result, she was hit with penalties that finished her professional figure skating career and blocked what could have been an extremely profitable revenue stream from competitions, endorsements, and ice shows.
Post-Skating Income Sources
Boxing Career
Harding briefly turned to professional boxing after her figure skating career ended. Although this venture made some money, it was neither particularly lucrative nor durable. She went on to compete in a handful of matches between 2002 and 2004, but the odds weren't good. Her paychecks from boxing didn't amount to much.
Film Rights and "I, Tonya"
A 2017 biopic, "I, Tonya," reintroduced Harding into the conversation as actress Margot Robbie portrayed her in what would later be an Oscar-nominated performance. Harding was paid just $1,500 for the rights to her life story. She may have been paid further bonuses depending on the film's performance, but those numbers are not publicly available.
Side Hustles and Miscellaneous Streams of Income
Over time, Harding has held many different jobs to pay the bills:
- Painter
- Welder
- Deck Builder
- Sears hardware sales clerk
- Landscaper
Factors Affecting Net Worth
Legal Issues and Fines
Harding's financial problems are well documented and stem directly from her legal issues. Even the fine of $160,000 from the 1994 scandal was a pretty big financial hit.
Limited Availability to Endorse
Despite her previous success as an athlete, Harding has not had the same flurry of endorsement opportunities, which has impacted her ability to accumulate a lot of money through sponsorship.
Public Perception and Career Constraints
The negative spotlight that accompanied Harding's name has closed the door on many conventional routes for former athletes, like coaching or sports commentary. It has been holding her back from making money all along.
Recent Advances and Future Directions
Harding's life story has enjoyed a recent surge of popularity coinciding with the release of "I, Tonya" and her appearance on "Dancing With The Stars." Though they have added to her income, none of these opportunities has been a magic bullet.
Because Tonya Harding has had such an unconventional and difficult career, a net worth of $150,000 is not as surprising. Though she had many lights on the figure skating scnene, her career, and financial opportunities, all took a massive turn with what happened in 1994. Though she dipped briefly into boxing and made occasional television appearances, Harding has remained on shaky financial ground since her skating days.
It's a terrific example of how fast things can change in the world of professional sports and fame. Though Harding's name is inviolable in the world of figure skating, her financial plight sets a stark contrast to many others within that same body. It's unclear whether she has or will have more opportunities to increase her net worth in the years ahead.
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