The 10 Highest-Paid Surfers in the World Right Now

The clown prince of Pipeline, a pioneer of YouTube, and the master of side hustles. JOB has a lot of his plate – including weekly vlogs, a Red Bull sponsorship, a couple surf schools, and personal merchandise. “O'Brien earns well into the six figures annually,” CNW claims, “making him one of the most successful free surfers of all time.”

#9. Kai Lenny ($750,000 to $1 million per year)

Sponsors are what keeps Kai’s bank account full – from Red Bull, Hurley, GoPro, and Tag Heuer. He’s a marketable athlete, convivial, and plus, he’s one of the best big wave surfers in the world. “His extreme big-wave sessions at Jaws and Pe'ahi have made him a global icon,” says CNW, “and his social media presence draws major brand deals and documentary features.”

#8. Carissa Moore ($1 million per year)

Riss stepped away from the Championship Tour, this year, and became a mother. And yet, one of the best to ever do it was still bankrolled by her sponsors, according to CNW. They write: “Moore has built a major commercial profile, earning around $1 million annually from partnerships with Hurley, Red Bull, Dior, and other global brands.”

#7. John John Florence ($1 million per year)

Like Riss, JJF was also absent from the 2025 CT. He also had a kid. And after stepping away from Hurley, and creating his own namesake surf brand, apparently things are going well. Per CNW: “Today, between his brand, film projects, and sponsorships with Yeti and Nixon, he remains one of surfing's top earners.”

#6. Kanoa Igarashi ($1.7 million per year)

Big in Japan, Kanoa is a worldwide superstar – even if his stats on the 2025 CT didn’t reflect that (he ended the year in seventh). And yet: “His fluent bilingual persona and polished image have made him especially valuable to sponsors in both Japan and the U.S. Igarashi reportedly earns around $1.7 million a year, much of it from non-surf luxury brands that view him as a crossover star.”

#5. Filipe Toledo ($1.75 million per year)

Another surfer who didn’t have the best 2025 season – Filipe ended in the eighth slot – the Brazilian is still one of the world’s most high-profile surfers. Accordingly, that equals cash: “Toledo combines prize money from WSL events with endorsements from Hurley, Monster Energy, Oi Telecom, and other major sponsors.”

#4. Mick Fanning ($1.8 million per year)

Post pro surfing career, Mick has had some well-documented success in business. Like, with Balter Brewing, which he created with Parko, Bede Durbidge, and Kerrzy. Additionally: “The three-time world champion continues to earn an estimated $1.8 million a year from long-term sponsorships with Rip Curl and Red Bull, along with business ventures and public appearances.”

#3. Gabriel Medina ($2.2 million per year)

Once again, absent from the 2025 CT, Medina is huge in Brazil. Like, Justin Bieber status. And that makes him marketable: “Medina earns about $2.2 million annually through sponsorships with Rip Curl, Corona, Audi, and several Brazilian brands. His endorsement portfolio easily eclipses his prize winnings.”

#2. Laird Hamilton ($3 million per year)

Although Laird’s actual surfing career has been somewhat dormant for decades now, his name has brought in big bucks outside of the ocean – specifically in the supplement space. According to CNW: “He earns an estimated $3 million a year through his stake in Laird Superfood, endorsement deals, book royalties, and appearances in documentaries and films. He's more than an athlete at this point—he's a lifestyle industry unto himself.”

#1. Kelly Slater ($3 million per year)

Surprised? The biggest name in surfing, and a reign not to be dethroned for, probably, decades. Slater is the GOAT. And although he doesn’t compete these days, he’s got myriad businesses. Per CNW: “His estimated $3 million annual income comes from a combination of sponsorships, ownership stakes in his sustainable clothing brand Outerknown, his Slater Designs surfboard line, and his revolutionary Surf Ranch wave pool company.”