2024 has exceeded expectations for Olivia Dunne, the newly crowned NCAA 2024 Championship LSU Tigers gymnastics team member. In 2023, Dunne made waves, emerging as the highest-paid female athlete in her demographic. She was the highest-valued women’s college athlete with an estimated NIL valuation of $3.3 million as of May 2023.

However, in 2024, she finds herself with the second-highest NIL valuation. She has surpassed basketball star Bronny James and trails behind University of Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Similarly, 21-year-old all-around Olympic champion Suni Lee, with a much more successful athletic career was minting money in the collegiate world with NIL. However, her premature departure cost her millions.

Suni Lee’s NIL success with the Auburn Tigers

Sunisa Lee’s remarkable success at the Tokyo Olympics, becoming the first Hmong-American Olympian and first Asian American woman to win the Olympic all-around title, not only made her one of the sport’s brightest stars but also transformed her into a millionaire. After her NCAA debut with the Auburn Tigers women’s gymnastics team in January 2022, Lee strategically capitalized on her name, image, and likeness, securing numerous endorsement deals.

AUBURN, AL – FEBRUARY 10: Sunisa Lee of Auburn competes on the balance beam during a meet against LSU at Neville Arena on February 10, 2023 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Stew Milne/Getty Images)

Among her notable partnerships is her collaboration with Crocs, where she serves as a brand ambassador. Alongside Crocs, Lee also secured deals with CLIF Bar, Amazon, Gatorade, Invisalign, Target, and more, bringing her estimated NIL empire to a value of $1.5 million. A report by On3 NIL in December 2023 ranked Lee as the 10th highest-ranked athlete in the On3 NIL 100, with a market value estimated at $1.5 million.

However, on November 15, 2022, Lee announced that the 2022–2023 season would be her final season competing for Auburn University. She made this decision to focus on returning to elite gymnastics to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Unfortunately, in March 2023, Lee was diagnosed with a rare kidney condition for which there is no cure.

Consequently, on April 3, 2023, Lee announced that she would end her sophomore season early due to her health issues, thus concluding her NCAA gymnastics career. As we reflect on this, let us compare her NIL success in 2022 to that of the highest-paid female athlete, Olivia Dunne, a fellow gymnast, in 2024.

NIL dominance of Olivia Dunne

LSU standout and Bergen County native Olivia Dunne made headlines again on May 1, 2024, when she announced her new multi-million NIL deal with Passes. The social media platform helps creators grow and further monetize their social media following through exclusive content.

Dunne, already the highest-earning female athlete, has been on a roll, accumulating multiple NIL deals from top brands like American Eagle, Vuori Clothing, Nautica, Body Armour, Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions, GrubHub, and others. But thanks to Passes, her NIL valuation has soared, now ranking second, according to On3.

With over 9 million followers across various social media platforms, Dunne has rightfully earned the title of “most followed NCAA athlete on social media.” Her TikTok account alone boasts an impressive 330 million likes. Leveraging her massive social media following, her estimated annual value has reached a whopping $3.9 million as of May 2024.

Her popularity has made her one of the most lucrative individuals in the NIL era. But that’s not all. Livvy has also achieved great success on and off the mat. She was named a WCGA All-American (UB) in 2021 and a WCGA Academic All-American that same year. Dunne added to her impressive resume by helping the LSU Tigers squad secure the 2024 National Championship title. However, despite Dunne’s immense success, Suni Lee managed to surpass her in certain aspects of fame.

How could Suni surpass Livvy?

Beyond her elite and collegiate success with NIL, Sunisa Lee’s participation in Season 30 of Dancing with the Stars, where she finished fifth, continued to add to her wealth. According to reports, contestants on the show can earn up to $125,000 in rehearsals alone and have the potential to earn a maximum of $295,000. Her successful participation in the Tokyo Olympics and $75,000 in prize money also contribute to her earnings.

Even after college, Lee’s earnings have continued to soar. With a massive social media following of 3.5 million, Lee has the potential to earn up to $21,000 per post, and reports suggest she could make as much as $100,000 for each sponsored post. Taking into account all her earnings, medal victories, and salary, Suni Lee has amassed an estimated net worth of $3 million in 2024.

However, if she had continued her career with Auburn University, her NIL could have exponentially increased, especially with her Paris Olympics run aiming for her second Olympics. Though Suni Lee is already successful because of NIL, she could have outshined Olivia Dunne given her potential second Olympic run and the number of brand deals she could have secured.

Moreover, she still has the opportunity to come back for her remaining NCAA years if all goes well. Do you think there is a possibility that Suni Lee could have surpassed Livvy in terms of NIL deals if she had remained a college athlete? Share your thoughts in the comments below!