Armand Duplantis, the pole vault world record holder, not only has sporting fame, but also financial benefits from his records. Find out how he cleverly manages his records and what role his contracts with Puma and Red Bull play in this. Read all the details with BI+
Armand Gustav Duplantis wins gold in the pole vault at the Olympic Games and sets a new world record.
For the 24-year-old Swede, it is already the ninth record in a row. For this, he receives lucrative bonuses from organizers and sponsors such as Puma and Red Bull.
Despite his estimated fortune of 4.6 million euros, Duplantis emphasizes the importance of passion for his sport in interviews and shows down-to-earthness.
He is an Olympic champion, world champion and a star on social media: pole vaulter Armand Gustav Duplantis not only won gold in Paris, but also set a new world record.
For the 24-year-old from Sweden, it is already the ninth time that he has broken the record. Since 2020, “Mondo”, as he is called, has been improving his record step by step by one centimeter – and this is not only for sporting reasons.
The Swede’s world record strategy is so clever
His most recent record is only a few days old. Armand Duplantis, who has Swedish and American roots, jumped 6.25 meters on Monday in the Stade de France. In his third (and last) attempt, he beat his best mark, which he had only set in April. At the Diamond League Meeting in Xiamen (China), the Swede set his eighth world record with 6.24 meters. But “Mondo” didn't even try to jump over 6.25 meters in China. A clever move.
Because a world record means, above all, sporting fame, but also a lot of money. Records are extremely lucrative financially. Armand Duplantis, for example, earns a lot of money from the organizers. For example, he received the equivalent of almost 45,000 euros for the record in China. At a world championship, the International Athletics Federation pays 92,000 euros, more than double for a record. The bonuses vary depending on the organizer.
But that's not all there is to it in terms of money for the 24-year-old. On the other hand, “Mondo” has had a contract with Puma since he was a child. The sporting goods manufacturer guarantees the Swede very attractive bonuses for titles and records. Armand Duplantis is also still under contract with Red Bull.
This means that the more often Armand Duplantis sets a record, the more money he earns. At the top of the world pole vault, he has dominated almost every competition for years. He can therefore afford to build up his records slowly.
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However, money is by no means everything for the young athlete. On the one hand, he repeatedly asserts this in interviews, and on the other hand, he also proves it. Despite his wealth, which is estimated at the equivalent of 4.6 million euros, until a few years ago he was still driving an old Toyota that his brother had once given him as a gift.
The 24-year-old also demonstrated his down-to-earth nature by deciding to compete for Sweden. He was born and grew up in Louisiana (USA). With his dual citizenship, “Mondo” could also have competed for the Americans. The US association pays gold medalists at the Olympics the equivalent of 35,000 euros. By comparison, Sweden does not pay its athletes any bonus at all.
The International Olympic Committee, as the organizer, is not paying a cent either. Participation and the medal are already winnings enough. However, since this year the World Athletics Federation has also been paying prize money for the Olympics. Gold winners receive the equivalent of 46,000 euros.
There's no question: Armand Duplantis is living his dream. The passion for pole vaulting has driven the Swede since childhood. His father was also a pole vaulter, his mother was a heptathlete and played volleyball.
After his Olympic victory, the young man said in an interview: “There are no words to explain it. One of the biggest dreams I've ever had has come true. I've been visualizing this moment for so long and now I've done it.” So many years, so much work and so much energy went into this one moment. “I'm a happy man,” explained “Mondo”.
The 24-year-old celebrated his triumph extensively. Always by his side is his girlfriend, who rushed to her with joy just seconds after his latest world record. Photos of the young couple kissing went around the world. But who is the woman at the sports star's side? The blonde is called Desiré Inglander, is a model and has been with Armand Duplantis for three years. She has Instagram more than 500,000 and TikTok even has 750,000 followers.
The influencer and the pole vaulter know how to stage their relationship in a way that attracts attention. In Sweden, they are considered the ultimate dream couple. They post photos of private moments and pose together for Scandinavian Vogue. The 23-year-old also publishes advertising collaborations with Tommy Hilfiger and H&M. So he gets bonuses for his records, and she has long since established herself as a fixture in the Swedish celebrity world.