Ethiopia athletics prize money
Ethiopia has taken $5,789,000 out of athletics, 5th of the 130 countries the sport has paid. Gudaf Tsegay is the biggest earner on $279,500, 4.8% of the national total.
$5,707,000 of that belongs to 147 athletes by name. The other $82,000 is the federation's, won by six teams whose purse is paid to the country rather than split between the runners.
Every Ethiopia athlete athletics has paid
147 of them, biggest first
| # | ATHLETE | PAID | WINS | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gudaf Tsegay | 40 | 8 | $279,500 |
| 2 | Yomif Kejelcha | 34 | 11 | $252,500 |
| 3 | Freweyni Hailu | 33 | 8 | $244,000 |
| 4 | Hagos Gebrhiwet | 35 | 10 | $235,000 |
| 5 | Likina Amebaw | 12 | 2 | $221,250 |
| 6 | Genzebe Dibaba | 34 | 12 | $204,500 |
| 7 | Sofia Assefa | 43 | 4 | $196,000 |
| 8 | Selemon Barega | 23 | 5 | $170,750 |
| 9 | Berihu Aregawi | 15 | 4 | $141,750 |
| 10 | Getnet Wale | 21 | 2 | $132,750 |
| 11 | Hiwot Ayalew | 26 | 5 | $131,500 |
| 12 | Yenew Alamirew | 25 | 6 | $121,000 |
| 13 | Muktar Edris | 22 | 5 | $120,750 |
| 14 | Fantaye Belayneh | 10 | 1 | $105,750 |
| 15 | Mohammed Aman | 17 | 7 | $105,500 |
| 16 | Almaz Ayana | 17 | 6 | $104,000 |
| 17 | Lamecha Girma | 13 | 6 | $101,000 |
| 18 | Birke Haylom | 22 | 3 | $99,000 |
| 19 | Habitam Alemu | 30 | - | $89,500 |
| 20 | Imane Merga | 18 | 4 | $88,500 |
| 21 | Samuel Firewu | 17 | 2 | $88,500 |
| 22 | Meseret Defar | 11 | 5 | $86,000 |
| 23 | Diribe Welteji | 12 | 4 | $85,250 |
| 24 | Mekonnen Gebremedhin | 19 | 1 | $83,000 |
| 25 | Dawit Seyaum | 15 | 4 | $80,000 |
| 26 | Tsige Duguma | 11 | 4 | $77,250 |
| 27 | Medina Eisa | 13 | 3 | $77,000 |
| 28 | Sembo Almayew | 14 | 1 | $75,000 |
| 29 | Gelete Burka | 19 | 1 | $69,500 |
| 30 | Ejgayehu Taye | 12 | - | $65,500 |
| 31 | Sentayehu Ejigu | 11 | 2 | $63,500 |
| 32 | Telahun Haile Bekele | 18 | 2 | $63,250 |
| 33 | Etenesh Diro | 20 | 1 | $62,500 |
| 34 | Senbere Teferi | 13 | - | $61,500 |
| 35 | Letesenbet Gidey | 11 | - | $60,000 |
| 36 | Aman Wote | 20 | 1 | $57,000 |
| 37 | Dejen Gebremeskel | 12 | 3 | $57,000 |
| 38 | Hirut Meshesha | 19 | 2 | $56,250 |
| 39 | Tirunesh Dibaba | 6 | 5 | $56,000 |
| 40 | Aleshign Baweke | 11 | 1 | $53,000 |
| 41 | Tariku Bekele | 14 | 2 | $51,000 |
| 42 | Werkuha Getachew | 4 | 2 | $47,250 |
| 43 | Axumawit Embaye | 19 | - | $46,250 |
| 44 | Gemechu Godana | 3 | 2 | $46,000 |
| 45 | Biniam Mehary | 9 | - | $45,000 |
| 46 | Samuel Tefera | 15 | - | $42,500 |
| 47 | Tigst Assefa | 3 | - | $40,500 |
| 48 | Abrham Sime | 9 | 2 | $36,000 |
| 49 | Chala Beyo | 8 | - | $34,250 |
| 50 | Addisu Yihune | 5 | 2 | $33,750 |
| 51 | Nigist Getachew | 4 | - | $32,000 |
| 52 | Senayet Getachew | 8 | - | $31,500 |
| 53 | Fantu Magiso | 4 | 2 | $29,000 |
| 54 | Roba Gari | 11 | - | $28,000 |
| 55 | Kuma Girma | 7 | - | $22,750 |
| 56 | Abadi Hadis | 7 | - | $22,500 |
| 57 | Fotyen Tesfay | 5 | - | $22,000 |
| 58 | Besu Sado | 9 | - | $21,000 |
| 59 | Buze Diriba | 9 | - | $20,000 |
| 60 | Fantu Worku | 6 | - | $19,250 |
| 61 | Mekides Abebe | 7 | - | $18,750 |
| 62 | Zerfe Wondemagegn | 7 | - | $18,750 |
| 63 | Worknesh Mesele | 10 | - | $18,250 |
| 64 | Ibrahim Jeilan | 4 | 1 | $18,000 |
| 65 | Tsigie Gebreselama | 4 | 1 | $18,000 |
| 66 | Hailemariyam Amare | 7 | - | $16,500 |
| 67 | Saida Tsehaye | 3 | - | $16,000 |
| 68 | Saron Berhe | 6 | - | $16,000 |
| 69 | Meselech Melkamu | 6 | - | $15,500 |
| 70 | Birtukan Adamu | 8 | - | $14,500 |
| 71 | Alemitu Haroye | 7 | - | $14,000 |
| 72 | Marta Alemayo | 6 | - | $13,750 |
| 73 | Lemlem Hailu | 5 | - | $13,250 |
| 74 | Emebet Anteneh | 8 | - | $12,500 |
| 75 | Lomi Muleta | 7 | - | $12,500 |
| 76 | Sule Utura | 5 | - | $12,500 |
| 77 | Kena Tufa | 5 | - | $12,000 |
| 78 | Melknat Wudu | 9 | - | $11,500 |
| 79 | Asayech Ayichew | 3 | - | $10,500 |
| 80 | Haftamnesh Tesfaye | 4 | - | $9,500 |
| 81 | Birtukan Fente Alemu | 5 | - | $9,000 |
| 82 | Aynadis Mebratu | 5 | - | $8,750 |
| 83 | Alemnat Walle | 5 | - | $8,500 |
| 84 | Meskerem Assefa | 3 | - | $8,500 |
| 85 | Tadese Takele | 3 | - | $8,500 |
| 86 | Hawi Feysa | 4 | - | $8,000 |
| 87 | Kenenisa Bekele | 3 | - | $8,000 |
| 88 | Tadese Worku | 2 | - | $7,750 |
| 89 | Mezgebu Sime | 3 | - | $7,500 |
| 90 | Genet Yalew | 4 | - | $7,000 |
| 91 | Yigrem Demelash | 4 | - | $6,500 |
| 92 | Abera Kuma | 4 | - | $6,000 |
| 93 | Azmera Gebru | 3 | - | $6,000 |
| 94 | Getaneh Molla | 3 | - | $6,000 |
| 95 | Mekdes Bekele | 3 | - | $6,000 |
| 96 | Hawi Abera | 2 | - | $5,500 |
| 97 | Taresa Tolosa | 2 | - | $5,500 |
| 98 | Teddese Lemi | 3 | - | $4,750 |
| 99 | Birhanu Legese | 2 | - | $4,500 |
| 100 | Zemzem Ahmed | 2 | - | $4,500 |
| 101 | Haregeweyni Kalayu | 1 | - | $4,000 |
| 102 | Sileshi Sihine | 2 | - | $4,000 |
| 103 | Alemaz Samuel | 2 | - | $3,500 |
| 104 | Bekana Daba | 2 | - | $3,500 |
| 105 | Belaynesh Oljira | 2 | - | $3,000 |
| 106 | Bernesh Dessie | 1 | - | $3,000 |
| 107 | Deresse Mekonnen | 2 | - | $3,000 |
| 108 | Khairi Bejiga | 2 | - | $3,000 |
| 109 | Solomon Berihu | 2 | - | $3,000 |
| 110 | Werknesh Kidane | 1 | - | $3,000 |
| 111 | Yasin Haji | 1 | - | $3,000 |
| 112 | Ababel Yeshaneh | 1 | - | $2,500 |
| 113 | Dawit Wolde | 2 | - | $2,500 |
| 114 | Elsabet Amare | 1 | - | $2,500 |
| 115 | Mekedes Alemeshete | 3 | - | $2,500 |
| 116 | Sentayehu Lewetegn | 2 | - | $2,500 |
| 117 | Yenenesh Shimeket | 1 | - | $2,500 |
| 118 | Chaltu Dida | 1 | - | $2,000 |
| 119 | Samuel Abate | 3 | - | $2,000 |
| 120 | Gela Hambese | 2 | - | $1,750 |
| 121 | Birhan Nebebew | 1 | - | $1,500 |
| 122 | Meskerem Mamo | 1 | - | $1,500 |
| 123 | Mizan Alem | 1 | - | $1,500 |
| 124 | Samuel Duguna | 2 | - | $1,500 |
| 125 | Tafese Soboka | 1 | - | $1,500 |
| 126 | Tigist Girma | 1 | - | $1,500 |
| 127 | Wude Ayalew | 1 | - | $1,500 |
| 128 | Yenawa Nbret | 1 | - | $1,500 |
| 129 | Ayal Dagnachew | 1 | - | $1,250 |
| 130 | Girmawit Gebrzihair | 1 | - | $1,250 |
| 131 | Milkesa Mengesha | 1 | - | $1,250 |
| 132 | Aheza Kiros | 1 | - | $1,000 |
| 133 | Aster Areri | 1 | - | $1,000 |
| 134 | Beyenu Degefa | 1 | - | $1,000 |
| 135 | Buzuayehu Mohamed | 1 | - | $1,000 |
| 136 | Dera Dida | 1 | - | $1,000 |
| 137 | Frehiwot Gesese | 1 | - | $1,000 |
| 138 | Gotytom Gebreslase | 1 | - | $1,000 |
| 139 | Maritu Ketema | 1 | - | $1,000 |
| 140 | Teshome Dirirsa | 1 | - | $1,000 |
| 141 | Tsiyon Abebe | 1 | - | $1,000 |
| 142 | Netsanet Desta | 1 | - | $750 |
| 143 | Tigist Ketema | 1 | - | $750 |
| 144 | Ermias Girma | 1 | - | $500 |
| 145 | Gemechu Dida | 1 | - | $500 |
| 146 | Nibret Kinde | 1 | - | $500 |
| 147 | Wubrist Aschal | 1 | - | $500 |
Career totals across all six competitions, not a single season. PAID is how many finishing places were paid for, which is a different count from wins: a second place in a Diamond League final and a world title are both one payment. 147 of these athletes have a page of their own here.
The biggest earners
The top twelve of 147
Gudaf Tsegay holds 4.8% of everything Ethiopia has won in athletics. The three biggest hold 13.4% of it between them, and $38,823 is what the national total works out at per paid athlete.
Where the money comes from
All six competitions, and what each has sent Ethiopia
| COMPETITION | ATHLETES | WINS | TO ATHLETES | TO FEDERATION | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diamond League | 147 | 162 | $5,105,000$5.1m | - | $5,105,000$5.1m |
| World Championships | 12 | - | $194,000 | - | $194,000 |
| Indoor Championships | 7 | 2 | $156,000 | - | $156,000 |
| Ultimate Championship | 2 | 1 | $190,000 | - | $190,000 |
| World Relays | - | - | - | - | - |
| Cross Country | 6 | 2 | $62,000 | $82,000 | $144,000 |
| All six | 147 | 167 | $5,707,000$5.7m | $82,000 | $5,789,000$5.8m |
The Diamond League is the biggest of the six for Ethiopia on $5,105,000, 88.2% of the national total. Five of the six have paid Ethiopia. Ethiopia has won nothing at the World Relays.
The ATHLETES column counts the people each competition paid, so it does not add up to 147: 22 athletes have been paid by more than one of the six, and are counted in every row that paid them and once in the national total. Gudaf Tsegay has been paid by three of them: the Diamond League, the World Championships and the World Indoor Championships.
The cheques that went to the federation
6 team payments, paid to Ethiopia rather than to anyone who ran
| RACE | PLACE | WHO RAN | PURSE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior men's race, 2026 | 1st | Berihu Aregawi, Tadese Worku, Biniam Mehary, Nibret Kinde | $20,000 |
| Senior women's race, 2026 | 1st | Senayet Getachew, Asayech Ayichew, Aleshign Baweke, Alem Tsadik | $20,000 |
| Senior women's race, 2024 | 2nd | Bertukan Welde, Mebrat Gidey, Tadelech Bekele, Sisay Meseret Gola | $16,000 |
| Senior men's race, 2024 | 3rd | Berihu Aregawi, Boki Diriba, Tadese Worku, Chimdessa Debele | $12,000 |
| Mixed relay, 2024 | 2nd | Taresa Tolosa, Dahdi Dube, Adehena Kasaye, Birri Abera | $8,000 |
| Mixed relay, 2026 | 3rd | Wegene Adisu, Gela Hambese, Milkesa Fikadu, Hirut Meshesha | $6,000 |
None of this is in any athlete's total above, here or anywhere else on the site. A relay purse is paid to the team whole, a World Relays ladder place is a country's, and a cross country team standing pays the federation behind the first four runners home.
Ethiopia against the rest
Where $5,789,000 puts Ethiopia
That is 4.3% of the $135,290,875 athletics has paid to a country, and 5th out of 130. Ethiopia has Great Britain above on $6,351,625 and Germany below on $4,199,250.
The biggest of the 130 is the United States on $29,436,125, which is 21.8% of everything the sport has paid to a country. The full money list ranks every one of them, and the six competitions behind these figures each have a section of their own.
Countries either side of Ethiopia
- United States
- Kenya
- Jamaica
- Great Britain
- Germany
- Australia
- France
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Sweden
- Italy
- South Africa
- Ukraine
- Canada
- Cuba
- Norway
- China
- Czechia
- Botswana
- Greece
- Switzerland
- Spain
- New Zealand
- Brazil
- RUS
- Authorised Neutral Athletes
- Bahamas
- Croatia
- Portugal
- Bahrain
- Nigeria
- Morocco
- Dominican Republic
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Belgium
- Ivory Coast
- Japan
- Qatar
- Serbia
- Colombia
Frequently asked questions
How much prize money has Ethiopia won in athletics?
$5,789,000 across the six competitions this section holds: the Diamond League, the World Championships, the World Indoor Championships, the Ultimate Championship, the World Relays and the World Cross Country Championships. That is 5th of the 130 countries athletics has paid, and 4.3% of the $135,290,875 the sport has sent to a country.
Which Ethiopia athlete earns the most prize money?
Gudaf Tsegay, on $279,500 from 40 paid finishes and eight wins. That is 4.8% of everything Ethiopia has won. Yomif Kejelcha is next on $252,500.
Does prize money won by Ethiopia go to the athlete or the federation?
$5,707,000 of that belongs to 147 athletes by name. The other $82,000 is the federation's, won by six teams whose purse is paid to the country rather than split between the runners.
How many athletes from Ethiopia have won athletics prize money?
147, sharing $5,707,000 between them, which is $38,823 each. 44 of them have won a title, 167 in all. 22 have been paid by more than one of the six competitions.
Where to next
The competitions that paid Ethiopia
Every figure on this page comes out of one of the six below, and each has its own section here, event by event and edition by edition, with the full ladder of what each finishing place was worth. The country money list puts Ethiopia against the other 129 the sport has paid.