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Milano–Cortina 2026 Medals Set Record for Intrinsic Value as Gold and Silver Prices Soar

The IOC awards no prize money for medals, leaving financial rewards to national bodies.

Overview

  • Based on current spot prices, a Milano–Cortina gold is worth about $2,300 in metal and a silver about $1,400, while bronze is worth only a few dollars.
  • Since Paris 2024, spot gold has risen roughly 107% and silver about 200%, pushing material values to unprecedented levels.
  • Each “gold” medal weighs about 506 grams but contains only around 6 grams of pure gold, with the rest largely silver, and the pieces are struck by Italy’s state mint.
  • More than 700 medals will be awarded across the Olympics and Paralympics in Italy.
  • Italy pays €180,000 for gold, €90,000 for silver and €60,000 for bronze, while national payouts vary widely, and a new $100 million private gift will grant $100,000 to each U.S. athlete simply for participating.