For years, Olivia Dunne has been the face that critics loved to criticize. To some, she was just “the pretty gymnast.” A social media darling with no real substance, mocked for having “no personality,” and questioned for what she really brought to the sport of gymnastics. While trolls dismissed her success as nothing more than a lucky mix of good lighting and a ring light, Dunne quietly built an empire worth $6 million. And now, she’s finally shedding light on how she did it. Not overnight, and definitely not by accident.

At LSU, Dunne didn’t just compete in leotards. She competed in a market dominated by football stars and male-driven narratives and somehow carved out a space where a female gymnast could thrive both on the mat and on the internet. While the NIL boom opened doors for many, Olivia had already walked through them. From balancing her LSU gymnastics commitments to creating a brand that resonated far beyond college sports, Dunne’s rise wasn’t a fluke.

It was a masterclass in authenticity, timing, and hustle. Long before the NCAA opened the floodgates of NIL deals, Olivia Dunne was already laying the groundwork. At just 10 years old, she began sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses of her life on the U.S. junior national gymnastics team, peppered with her signature humor and unfiltered personality. That early connection became her biggest strength.

“I think that my audience could feel that authenticity because it was something I was doing before the rule change,” she told SI Swimsuit. “This was years in the making. It didn’t come to me easily, and I think that’s a big misconception. I want my legacy to be that you’re more than just your sport.” And the numbers prove her legacy is already taking shape. Ranked No. 4 on the March 2025 On3 NIL valuation list, Dunne isn’t just leading in gymnastics.

She’s leading the entire field of women in college athletics. In fact, she’s the only female student-athlete in the entire top 100. Her social media presence is unmatched, boasting 5.3 million followers on Instagram and an astounding 8 million on TikTok. No other student-athlete has crossed that threshold, and brands have taken notice. Her visibility isn’t just a metric.

Its influence, and that influence, recently landed her another powerful move. A partnership with AthleteCon through her very own Livvy Fund. AthleteCon, a convention created to empower college athletes with NIL education and resources, joined forces with Dunne’s Livvy Fund. Dunne’s impact doesn’t stop there.

According to estimates, she can earn between $12,000 and $19,000 per post on TikTok, and she once revealed that a single brand paid her more than $500,000 for one post. Forbes estimates she brought in $4 million in 2024 alone. She’s now pursuing a master’s degree in technology management with plans to expand the Livvy Fund nationwide. She’s not just a gymnast, but a visionary changing the NIL game from the inside out.

Olivia Dunne’s legacy beyond the mat

Since the NCAA ushered in its name, image, and likeness (NIL) policy in 2021, few athletes have seized the moment like Olivia Dunne. Already a standout gymnast, the rule change launched her into a new stratosphere where sport meets stardom. With over 13 million followers combined on Instagram and TikTok, Dunne’s influence reaches far beyond the gym.

According to On3, her NIL valuation sits at a staggering $4.1 million, making her the No. 1-ranked female athlete in the NIL space. She isn’t just riding a wave. She’s the one creating it. That wave looked blissful in an April 6 TikTok post she called a “quick lil life update🔮.” The video, full of coastal serenity and cinematic calm, felt like a soft close to one chapter and the start of something beautifully unknown.

But just two weeks later, the curtain officially fell on her collegiate gymnastics career. “Gymnastics, you have filled my heart and will always be a part of me,” she said through teary eyes in a farewell video shared on April 21. “You’ve shaped me into the person I am today, creating memories and sisterhoods that will last a lifetime beyond the sport. You are my first love.”

The two-minute tribute, equal parts emotional and elegant, encapsulated everything Livvy’s fans have come to adore: heart, honesty, and an unshakable connection to her roots. Though she competed in just four events during her senior season, Dunne made every appearance count. Her top score, a 9.8750 on floor, may not have cracked the elusive perfect 10, but under the NCAA’s tightened scoring standards, it stood tall.

It wasn’t just a number. It was a parting gift to the sport that shaped her. Livvy may have stepped off the mat for the last time, but her journey is far from over. Whether she’s launching NIL ventures, growing her Livvy Fund, or simply reminding people that women athletes can be both powerful and profitable, Dunne’s legacy is already larger than life and still growing.