Show jumping prize money and how it is split
Every international class splits its fund by one of two tables. The winner takes a quarter under one and a third under the other, and the organiser decides which before anybody jumps.
The rule under both: at least a quarter of the fund goes to the winner, and the money is spread over a quarter of the starters. So the arithmetic that decides whether a rider covers the trip is not the size of the pot. It is which of these two tables the organiser ticked.
The two charts, on the same €100,000 class
What each placing takes under each table
| # | Placing | Chart 1 share | Chart 1 pays | Chart 2 share | Chart 2 pays |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | First | 25% | €25,000 | 30% | €30,000 |
| 02 | Second | 20% | €20,000 | 20% | €20,000 |
| 03 | Third | 15% | €15,000 | 15% | €15,000 |
| 04 | Fourth | 10% | €10,000 | 10% | €10,000 |
| 05 | Fifth | 8% | €8,000 | 6% | €6,000 |
| 06 | Sixth | 6% | €6,000 | 5% | €5,000 |
| 07 | Seventh | 4% | €4,000 | 4% | €4,000 |
| 08 | Eighth | 3% | €3,000 | 3% | €3,000 |
| 09 | Ninth | 3% | €3,000 | 2% | €2,000 |
| 10 | Tenth | 2% | €2,000 | 2% | €2,000 |
| 11 | Eleventh | 2% | €2,000 | 1% | €1,000 |
| 12 | Twelfth | 1% | €1,000 | 1% | €1,000 |
| 13 | Thirteenth | 1% | €1,000 | 1% | €1,000 |
Chart 1: The flatter of the two. The winner takes a quarter of the fund and the money reaches thirteenth place, so a big field with a deep round of jumping is paid down a long way.
Chart 2: The steeper one. Thirty per cent to the winner and less to everyone from fifth down, which is the table a show picks when it wants the headline figure on the winner rather than the depth.
The two tables cross over at fourth place, and everything below it is where the choice bites.
What each chart pays, drawn
The same €100,000 fund, first to thirteenth
Chart 2 the steeper table
The CP International
Spruce Meadows, Canada
- Prize fund
- CA$3,000,000
- In sterling
- £1,610,400
- Winner takes
- CA$1,000,000
- Winner's share
- 33%
- Last place inside the money
- CA$40,000
| # | Placing | Share of the fund | Pays | In sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | First | 33.3% | CA$1,000,000 | £536,800 |
| 02 | Second | 20% | CA$600,000 | £322,080 |
| 03 | Third | 13.3% | CA$400,000 | £214,720 |
| 04 | Fourth | 8% | CA$240,000 | £128,832 |
| 05 | Fifth | 6% | CA$180,000 | £96,624 |
| 06 | Sixth | 4.7% | CA$140,000 | £75,152 |
| 07 | Seventh | 3.3% | CA$100,000 | £53,680 |
| 08 | Eighth | 3% | CA$90,000 | £48,312 |
| 09 | Ninth | 2.7% | CA$80,000 | £42,944 |
| 10 | Tenth | 2.3% | CA$70,000 | £37,576 |
| 11 | Eleventh | 2% | CA$60,000 | £32,208 |
| 12 | Twelfth | 1.3% | CA$40,000 | £21,472 |
The million-dollar class, and the only Grand Prix anywhere whose winner takes a seven-figure cheque in its own currency.
The Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen
CHIO Aachen, Germany
- Prize fund
- €1,500,000
- In sterling
- £1,282,051
- Winner takes
- €500,000
- Winner's share
- 33%
- Last place inside the money
- €20,000
| # | Placing | Share of the fund | Pays | In sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | First | 33.3% | €500,000 | £427,350 |
| 02 | Second | 20% | €300,000 | £256,410 |
| 03 | Third | 13.3% | €200,000 | £170,940 |
| 04 | Fourth | 8% | €120,000 | £102,564 |
| 05 | Fifth | 6% | €90,000 | £76,923 |
| 06 | Sixth | 4.7% | €70,000 | £59,829 |
| 07 | Seventh | 3.3% | €50,000 | £42,735 |
| 08 | Eighth | 2.7% | €40,000 | £34,188 |
| 09 | Ninth | 2.3% | €35,000 | £29,915 |
| 10 | Tenth | 2% | €30,000 | £25,641 |
| 11 | Eleventh | 1.7% | €25,000 | £21,368 |
| 12 | Twelfth | 1.3% | €20,000 | £17,094 |
| 13 | Thirteenth | 1.3% | €20,000 | £17,094 |
The largest single Grand Prix fund in show jumping. The winner takes a third of it and the thirteenth-placed rider still leaves with more than most classes pay in total.
The Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva
CHI Geneva, Switzerland
- Prize fund
- CHF 1,200,000
- In sterling
- £1,104,000
- Winner takes
- CHF 400,000
- Winner's share
- 33%
- Last place inside the money
- CHF 4,000
| # | Placing | Share of the fund | Pays | In sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | First | 33.3% | CHF 400,000 | £368,000 |
| 02 | Second | 20% | CHF 240,000 | £220,800 |
| 03 | Third | 13.3% | CHF 160,000 | £147,200 |
| 04 | Fourth | 8% | CHF 96,000 | £88,320 |
| 05 | Fifth | 6% | CHF 72,000 | £66,240 |
| 06 | Sixth | 4.7% | CHF 56,000 | £51,520 |
| 07 | Seventh | 3.3% | CHF 40,000 | £36,800 |
| 08 | Eighth | 2.7% | CHF 32,000 | £29,440 |
| 09 | Ninth | 2.3% | CHF 28,000 | £25,760 |
| 10 | Tenth | 2% | CHF 24,000 | £22,080 |
| 11 | Eleventh | 1.7% | CHF 20,000 | £18,400 |
| 12 | Twelfth | 1.3% | CHF 16,000 | £14,720 |
| 13 | Thirteenth | 0.3% | CHF 4,000 | £3,680 |
| 14 | Place 14 | 0.3% | CHF 4,000 | £3,680 |
| 15 | Place 15 | 0.3% | CHF 4,000 | £3,680 |
| 16 | Place 16 | 0.3% | CHF 4,000 | £3,680 |
Sixteen places paid, the deepest ladder of any Grand Prix, and the last four of them take CHF 4,000 each. The winner still takes a third of the fund.
The Rolex Grand Prix of the Dutch Masters
's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands
- Prize fund
- €1,000,000
- In sterling
- £854,701
- Winner takes
- €330,000
- Winner's share
- 33%
- Last place inside the money
- €17,500
| # | Placing | Share of the fund | Pays | In sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | First | 33% | €330,000 | £282,051 |
| 02 | Second | 20% | €200,000 | £170,940 |
| 03 | Third | 13% | €130,000 | £111,111 |
| 04 | Fourth | 8% | €80,000 | £68,376 |
| 05 | Fifth | 6% | €60,000 | £51,282 |
| 06 | Sixth | 4.5% | €45,000 | £38,462 |
| 07 | Seventh | 3.3% | €33,000 | £28,205 |
| 08 | Eighth | 2.6% | €26,000 | £22,222 |
| 09 | Ninth | 2.3% | €23,000 | £19,658 |
| 10 | Tenth | 2% | €20,000 | £17,094 |
| 11 | Eleventh | 1.8% | €18,000 | £15,385 |
| 12 | Twelfth | 1.8% | €17,500 | £14,957 |
| 13 | Thirteenth | 1.8% | €17,500 | £14,957 |
The third leg of the Rolex Grand Slam, and the one where the eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth places are worth more than at either of the other two.
The four biggest Grands Prix, side by side
Converted to sterling so the funds can be ranked against each other
| Grand Prix | Where | Places | Winner's share | Winner takes | Prize fund |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The CP International | Spruce Meadows, Canada | 12 | 33% | £536,800 | £1,610,400£1.6m |
| The Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen | CHIO Aachen, Germany | 13 | 33% | £427,350 | £1,282,051£1.3m |
| The Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva | CHI Geneva, Switzerland | 16 | 33% | £368,000 | £1,104,000£1.1m |
| The Rolex Grand Prix of the Dutch Masters | 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands | 13 | 33% | £282,051 | £854,701 |
These are four classes out of the 1,671 in this section, and between them they hold a share of the money that the rest of the calendar never sees. A rider can jump a full season of internationals, place in most of them, and be paid less than thirteenth place at Aachen.
What the charts actually pay, level by level
The median class fund and the median winner at each star rating
| Level | Classes | Median winner | Median cheque | Prize money |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSI5* | 124 | £7,231 | £1,124 | £14,780,664£14.8m |
| International, no star rating | 226 | £214 | £40 | £432,087 |
| CSI4* | 71 | £3,205 | £500 | £1,690,022£1.7m |
| CSI3* | 173 | £3,300 | £423 | £2,651,359£2.7m |
| CSI2* | 325 | £481 | £103 | £2,196,855£2.2m |
| National | 272 | £171 | £96 | £492,612 |
| CSI1* | 480 | £256 | £34 | £672,411 |
A chart is a percentage and a percentage of a small fund is a small cheque.
What the sport pays out each season
Every class of every year added together
Frequently asked questions
How is show jumping prize money split?
By one of two distribution charts, and the organiser picks which. Chart 1 pays the winner 25% of the fund and reaches thirteenth place; Chart 2 pays the winner 30% and pays less to everyone from fifth down. The money has to be spread over a quarter of the starters either way.
What does the winner of a Grand Prix get?
A quarter of the fund under Chart 1 and a third under Chart 2. On a €100,000 class that is €25,000 against €30,000, a difference of €5,000 for the same round.
What is the biggest prize in show jumping?
The CP International at Spruce Meadows, Canada: a fund of CA$3,000,000, £1,610,400, with CA$1,000,000 to the winner.
How far down does show jumping prize money go?
16 places at The Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva, which is the deepest ladder any Grand Prix pays. The FEI charts reach thirteenth, and a show may pay further down out of its own pocket.
Do show jumpers get a salary?
No. There is no wage anywhere in the sport: no federation contract, no retainer and no start money at the levels that pay. The 22,099 cheques in this section are the whole of what was paid, and each one was won by a single round.
Who is the prize money actually paid to?
The owner of the horse, or its lessee where the horse is leased. The rider takes a share of it under a private agreement, and those agreements are not published anywhere.
Where to next
The shows that run these classes, and the riders they pay
The shows
- CHI Geneva prize money
- The Dutch Masters, 's-Hertogenbosch prize money
- Hickstead prize money
- CH De Wolden, Zuidwolde prize money
- Horse of the Year Show prize money
- CSI Ommen prize money
- Outdoor Gelderland, Lichtenvoorde prize money
- Saut Hermes, Paris prize money
- Jumping Indoor Maastricht prize money
- CSIO Rome, Piazza di Siena prize money
- CSI Twente, Geesteren prize money
- CSI Exloo prize money
- CSI Houten prize money
- CSI Ermelo prize money
- Indoor Groningen prize money
- Jumping Schroder, Tubbergen prize money
- CSI Eindhoven prize money
- CHIO Aachen prize money
- CSI Outdoor Wierden prize money
The fifty richest riders
- Martin Fuchs
- Henrik von Eckermann
- McLain Ward
- Steve Guerdat
- Harrie Smolders
- Simon Delestre
- Scott Brash
- Willem Greve
- Pieter Devos
- Daniel Deusser
- Marcus Ehning
- Kent Farrington
- Darragh Kenny
- Max Kühner
- Marlon Modolo Zanotelli
- Jérome Guery
- Richard Vogel
- Ben Maher
- Julien Epaillard
- Peder Fredricson
- Shane Sweetnam
- Robert Whitaker
- Christian Ahlmann
- Thibeau Spits
- Laura Kraut
- Yuri Mansur
- Maikel van der Vleuten
- Kevin Staut
- Hessel Hoekstra
- Shane Breen
- Gilles Thomas
- Bas Moerings
- William Whitaker
- Frank Schuttert
- Christian Kukuk
- William Funnell
- Denis Lynch
- Bertram Allen
- David Will
- Marc Houtzager
- Harry Charles
- Pim Mulder
- Michael Greeve
- Annelies Vorsselmans
- Marriet Smit- Hoekstra
- David Simpson
- Philipp Weishaupt
- Dennis Van den Brink
- Ansgar Holtgers Jr
- Kim Emmen
Levels, seasons and nations
- CSI5* prize money
- International, no star rating prize money
- CSI4* prize money
- CSI3* prize money
- CSI2* prize money
- National prize money
- CSI1* prize money
- The 2018 season
- The 2019 season
- The 2021 season
- The 2022 season
- The 2023 season
- The 2024 season
- The 2025 season
- The 2026 season
- Netherlands prize money
- Great Britain prize money
- Germany prize money
- Switzerland prize money
- Ireland prize money
- Belgium prize money
- United States prize money
- France prize money
- Sweden prize money
- Brazil prize money
The rest of the section
- The show jumping money list
- Prize money by horse
- Prize money by owner
- Every show, by what it pays
- Prize money by nation
- Prize money by star level
- How a Grand Prix pot splits
- What a class actually pays
- Last place prize money
- What it costs to be there
- Global Champions Tour prize money, 2026
- Show jumping prize money