Olivia Dunne, who from a gymnastic queen soon became a social media sensation, has had her share of controversy along the way. The national gymnastics champion at LSU has an estimated NIL valuation of $3.7 million, according to On3. In 2022, a New York publication published a piece entitled “New Endorsements for College Athletes Resurface an Old Concern: S** Sells.” The article highlighted the influx of money in women’s sports.

Watch What’s Trending Now!

They expressed, “The new flood of money — and the way many female athletes are attaining it — troubles some who have fought for equitable treatment in women’s sports and say that it rewards traditional feminine desirability over athletic excellence.” The article specifically focused on Dunne’s growing social media profile and estimated her earnings of over $2.3 million in endorsement deals at that time (2022). This sparked a heated debate about the values being promoted in women’s sports. But during that controversy, former professional golfer Paige Spiranac came to Dunne’s defense.

Paige Spiranac, who has similarly leveraged her athletic skills and online presence to achieve fame and fortune, weighed in on the controversy. She remarked, “I’m so sick of women belittling the accomplishments of other women because it’s done differently than they would. @livvydunne is getting hate for making $2 million a year.” She continued, “She’s built a successful business at 20, all while being a student-athlete. That’s badass.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Later, Dunne reciprocated the appreciation, stating, “Paige epitomizes the idea that you can be both beautiful and athletic while achieving success. It’s empowering to have her support and stand by my side.” Two years have passed since Spiranac’s defense of Dunne, and recently, they met again—this time for a special reason.

When Dunne and Spiranac met at Sports Illustrated’s 60th anniversary event!

Olivia Dunne and the 31-year-old Spiranac stole the spotlight at a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 60th anniversary promotional event over the weekend, both donning similarly stunning, sheer black gowns. Their glamorous appearance turned heads as they exuded confidence and style on the red carpet. Later, Dunne shared an Instagram story featuring a photo of their meeting which included both of them together, captioned simply with “Twinning.” Playfully, she also added “Mother,” which might be because of her mentorship.

ADVERTISEMENT

It’s worth noting that Olivia Dunne made her debut on the iconic Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover just last year, marking a significant milestone in her career, while Spiranac graced one of the covers for the 2024 edition, further solidifying her status as a prominent figure in the sports and entertainment world. Despite their individual achievements and growing profiles, Dunne and Spiranac consistently show support for each other as seen last month.

Who’s the wealthier star – Olivia Dunne or Paige Spiranac?

At the national championship meet in April, LSU clinched victory with an impressive score of 198.2250, narrowly surpassing Cal, which secured second place with an overall score of 197.8500. Paige Spiranac took to Instagram to extend her congratulations to Olivia Dunne with a fiery emoji. Now, the question arises: who is more wealthier, Olivia or Paige?

ADVERTISEMENT

Spiranac’s success has reportedly amassed her around $3 million, with each Instagram post potentially fetching an impressive $13,000, as noted by Pinkvilla. Meanwhile, Olivia Dunne’s social media savvy propelled her to millionaire status, boasting a net worth of approximately $2.3 million according to Parade.com. Despite her financial success, Dunne prefers to keep discussions about money at bay. However, she has hinted at substantial earnings from individual sponsorship deals, coyly stating, “I would say it’s…six figures.” When pressed for specifics, Dunne conceded that it exceeds $500,000. As their respective fortunes continue to grow, they continue to support each other along the way.

ADVERTISEMENT

Share this with a friend:

Link Copied!

Written by

author-image

Maleeha Shakeel

3,606 Articles

Maleeha Shakeel is a Senior Olympic Sports Writer at EssentiallySports, known for covering some of the biggest moments in global sport. From the World Athletics Championships 2023 to the Paris Olympics 2024 and the Winter Cup 2025, she has reported live on events that define sporting history. Her coverage has also been cited by Olympics.com on its official platform. Whether breaking developments in real time, such as her widely-followed live blog on Jordan Chiles’ medal revocation, or crafting feature stories that explore the mental and emotional journeys of athletes, Maleehah’s work blends accuracy, clarity, and storytelling flair to resonate with fans worldwide. As part of EssentiallySports’ Journalistic Excellence Program, an in-house initiative to hone advanced reporting, editorial strategy, and audience-focused writing, she has developed a distinct voice that focuses on people, pressure, and pivotal moments. From chronicling Sha’Carri Richardson’s sprints to capturing Letsile Tebogo’s rise, her reporting offers readers insight beyond the scoreboard.

Know more

Edited by

editor-image

Suman Varandani