
via Reuters
Paris 2024 Olympics – Athletics – Men’s Pole Vault Qualification – Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France – August 03, 2024. Sam Kendricks of United States in action. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

via Reuters
Paris 2024 Olympics – Athletics – Men’s Pole Vault Qualification – Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France – August 03, 2024. Sam Kendricks of United States in action. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
Sam Kendricks isn’t just a pole vaulter but he’s a spectacle, an athlete who treats gravity like a mere option. His list of achievements? Well, you better hold your breath for that.
The 32-year-old is a two-time NCAA outdoor champion in pole vault in 2013 and 2014. His Olympic career is just as impressive. Scoring 5.85, the American pole vaulter secured the bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. But his best performance on the Olympic stage was yet to come. In 2024, Sam Kendricks secured the silver by scoring 5.95, second to Sweden’s pole vault legend, Mondo Duplantis. But his crowning moments? The World Championship golds in 2017 and 2019. But his best performance so far came at the USA Championships in Des Moines, Iowa, when he soared to a breathtaking 6.6m. But here’s a question that often gets lost in the highlight reels, What is a world-class pole vaulter like Sam Kendricks actually worth?
With all the medals, sponsorships, and records, how much has he turned those soaring achievements into financial success?
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Sam Kendricks’ Net Worth in 2025
Kendricks’ earnings don’t just come from the runway but they extend far beyond the stadium. His estimated net worth? Between $1-5 million. Sure, prize money from events like the Olympics and World Championships contributes, but the real goldmine? Sponsorships.
But the real money comes from that Nike contract! When you’re the top pole vaulter in America, the sponsors come knocking! Did you know Sam juggles all this while serving as a First Lieutenant in the Army Reserve? Now that’s commitment! He’s also shown smart money sense by developing land next to his parents’ place in Oxford Mississippi, with his wife Leanne.
Sam Kendricks sponsors and Brand Endorsements
The two-time Olympic pole vault medalist doesn’t just leap over bars but he has brands backing him every step of the way. Nike, a global giant in athletics, saw something special in the 32-year-old. Other brands have collaborated with the decorated pole vaulter. Take FiberSport for instance. The pole brand, FiberSport really honors its partnership with the 32-year-old. On its website, the brand stated how it’s nothing less than a full-circle moment, “Over a decade ago, designer Bruce Caldwell produced custom performance poles that fit Kendricks’s vaulting style and needs. What followed was a perfect fit.” The brand helped Kendricks propel his career when it was at a nascent stage and now, the legend is paying back. But FiberSport isn’t the only pole vaulting pole brand that the athlete has partnered with!
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Enter UST-ESSX. Kendricks doesn’t just use their poles—he trusts them to carry him to history. It was with a UST-ESSX Recoil™ Special Edition pole that he won the 2017 Shanghai Diamond League, becoming the first American man to claim a Diamond League pole vault title.
What’s your perspective on:
Is Sam Kendricks the most underrated American athlete, or does he get the recognition he deserves?
Have an interesting take?
“It took a great vaulting pole to accomplish this goal,” Kendricks said after clearing 5.88m. “I am pleased to be a member of Team ESSX, as the company has made great strides to create high-performance vaulting poles that offer superior durability for confidence, skinny design for improved gripping, and ultra-responsive return for explosive pop.”
For Sam Kendricks, whether in the capacity of a pole vaulter or a dedicated man in the transition between the different roles is seamless. “Wherever I go around the world, I’m always wearing the uniform under the skin and having to represent, because you never stop being a professional athlete as you would never stop being an officer.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Have something to say?
Let the world know your perspective.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Is Sam Kendricks the most underrated American athlete, or does he get the recognition he deserves?