Olivia Dunne Might Surpass Shedeur Sanders and Bronny James To Become the Highest-Paid NIL Athlete With New Collaboration

LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne made waves with her recent announcement on 1st May 2024, of a multi-million dollar name, image, and likeness partnership with Passes, a platform empowering creators to generate revenue through exclusive content and experiences. With this deal, Dunne joined the ranks of elite athletes seeking to monetize their talents outside of traditional endorsement avenues. However, the question lingers: will this propel her to the summit of NIL earnings?

“Passes provides me with a unique opportunity to capitalize on my creativity and expertise in ways that were previously inaccessible to college athletes,” remarked Dunne. Currently, with NIL valued at $3.7 million, Dunne finds herself on par with Bronny James, son of basketball icon LeBron James. While Shedeur Sanders, an American footballer, tops the list. The stage is set for a potential showdown at the top of the NIL ladder—will Dunne surpass this benchmark?

Passes shakes up NIL game with massive deal

Passes has initiated its first NIL deal, pioneering a pathway for college athletes seeking a stable income source devoid of the constant hassle of securing new brand partnerships. This strategic move underscores Passes’ entry into the NIL arena with the signing of a prominent figure in collegiate sports. The company primarily generates revenue through its creator fee structure, where it deducts 10% plus 30 cents from creators for every purchase made, ensuring a sustainable model.

Furthermore, creators can choose to join a distinct tier, where they incur a flat 20% fee, allowing them to keep 80% of their earnings. This move is expected to position Dunne as one of the top earners in no time. Presently, Shedeur Sanders holds the title of the highest-valued NIL athlete at $4.7 million. However, with Olivia Dunne’s association with Passes, her NIL worth is anticipated to rise, potentially surpassing both Bronny and Sanders.

Notably, Olivia Dunne’s NIL brand portfolio extends beyond Passes, encompassing a diverse array of partners including Vuori, Nautica, Accelerator, Leaf Trading Cards, Motorola, Caktus AI, American Eagle, and Body Armor. This comprehensive network underscores Dunne’s burgeoning presence in the NIL landscape and solidifies her status as a sought-after influencer across various industries. However, Olivia Dunne has other decisions to make as well, which could benefit her NIL further.

Olivia Dunne’s D-Day! Will she stay or go?

The next pivotal decision for Dunne revolves around what to do, if anything, with her additional year of LSU eligibility stemming from the COVID-19-disrupted 2020 season. Will she extend her stay in Baton Rouge for another year of gymnastics and continued dominance in the realm of NIL, or will she explore other avenues as a professional? If she joins LSU, her NIL will further rise especially after winning the recent NCAA championship.

While Dunne has confirmed meeting with her LSU coaching staff this week to deliberate on her future, she has chosen to keep her decision under wraps for now. On the other hand, Bronny James’s NIL value seems to be dwindling by the day. Following a challenging season with the University of Southern California, Bronny faced a significant decline of $800,000 in his NIL worth.

Initially valued at nearly $5.9 million, Bronny’s setback came after a five-month hiatus due to a cardiac arrest. Upon his return to the court in December, his performance faltered. As USC fell short of securing a spot in the NCAA Tournament, Bronny’s NIL value experienced a notable dip, settling at $4.5 million. It’s bound to be captivating to see if Olivia surpasses both Bronny and Sanders to become the highest-earning NIL college athlete.