Caitlin Clark may make more money off the court than on it (Image: Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Caitlin Clark was the number one pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, but it was reported that she was set to earn under $100,000 from the Indiana Fever in her rookie year
Caitlin Clark may have been the first pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, but she reportedly earns more than her annual salary through 30 minutes of public speaking.
Clark had been projected to make less than $100,000 in her first year in the league, with an annual wage of $76,535 and a four-year deal worth $338,056. However, the 22-year-old point guard has managed to rake in millions through various sponsorships and endorsement deals.
Nike signed an eight-year deal with Clark worth a staggering $28million, meaning she will average more than $3m a year for wearing the brand both on and off the court. Other brands like Wilson, Gatorade, Topps, and State Farm have all cashed in on Clark, signing endorsement deals with her and boosting her net worth to an estimated $4m as of 2024, according to Marca.
Recently, Clark was reportedly able to make a whopping $100,000 from a conversation with David Letterman during the David Letterman Distinguished Professional Lecture and Workshop Series at Ball State University on December 2, 2024.
Don Steinbrugge, founder and CEO of Agecroft Partners, shared his experience trying to book Clark for a speaking event on LinkedIn during the WNBA season, revealing that it would have cost quite a bit.
Steinbrugge wrote: “We contacted her organization to speak for 30 minutes virtually as part of our GAINING THE EDGE Global Cap Intro 2024.
Clark reportedly makes thousands of dollars from public speaking ( Image: Noam Galai/Getty Images for TIME)
“We said she could speak any business day over a 6-week period and pick any time between 9am and 5pm. We were told her virtual speaking fee started at $100,000, which was over our budget. She makes more in a 30-minute virtual meeting than she does over a 40-game WNBA season with her team.”
The CEO clarified that Clark was only being asked to make a virtual appearance for half an hour, hinting that an in-person engagement might cost even more.
Whether Clark will see an upgrade in her Fever contract in her sophomore year remains uncertain, but it appears she won’t be short on cash from other ventures.
