What Is Ryan Lochte's Net Worth?
Ryan Lochte is an American competitive swimmer who has a net worth of $300 thousand. Ryan Lochte has won more medals than any other swimmer except for Michael Phelps. Ryan Lochte rose to prominence after his family moved from New York to Florida, where he trained under his father and later competed for the University of Florida. There, he became a two-time NCAA Swimmer of the Year and a 24-time All-American.
Lochte's international breakthrough came at the 2004 Athens Olympics, where he won gold in the 4×200-meter freestyle relay and silver in the 200-meter individual medley. Over four Olympic Games from 2004 to 2016, he amassed 12 medals: six gold, three silver, and three bronze. This made him the second-most decorated male swimmer in Olympic history, behind only Michael Phelps. He currently holds the world record in the 200-meter individual medley (long course) and has set multiple world records in both long and short course formats.
Beyond the Olympics, Lochte has earned 90 medals across major international competitions, including 39 world championship titles. His dominance in backstroke, freestyle, and individual medley events, along with his powerful underwater kick, made him a formidable competitor throughout his career.
However, his public image took a hit in 2016 following the so-called "Lochtegate" incident in Rio, where he falsely claimed to have been robbed. The scandal led to a 10-month suspension and the loss of several major sponsorships.
Endorsements and Financial Problems
At the peak of his career, Ryan Lochte was one of the most heavily sponsored athletes in the world. Thanks to his Olympic success and high-profile persona, he was earning $1-3 million per year through endorsement deals with brands like Speedo, Ralph Lauren, Gatorade, Nissan, Airweave, AT&T, Gillette, and Syneron Candela. These partnerships made Lochte a household name and a mainstay in international advertising campaigns.
By the time he reached the 2016 Rio Olympics, however, several of those deals had quietly expired. Companies like Gatorade, Nissan, and Procter & Gamble had already opted not to renew contracts signed around the 2012 London Games. Still, Lochte entered Rio with a handful of major sponsors and a chance to reestablish his marketability.
That chance quickly vanished. After Lochte fabricated a story about being robbed at gunpoint—an incident later revealed to be a drunken encounter with armed security guards after he and teammates vandalized a gas station bathroom—his remaining endorsement deals collapsed almost overnight. Speedo cut ties after a decade-long partnership and redirected $50,000 of his sponsorship fee to charity. Ralph Lauren, Airweave, and Syneron Candela also terminated their relationships, citing concerns over values and conduct.
In total, Lochte lost an estimated $1 million in endorsements within days. He was also suspended by USA Swimming for 10 months. A second suspension followed in 2018 after Lochte received an illegal intravenous infusion, further damaging his brand.
Despite the sharp drop in income, Lochte continued to live lavishly. By 2019, he publicly admitted that his savings had dwindled to $20,000 and that he was living paycheck to paycheck. He was forced to sell several personal assets, including his Porsche and his Florida home.
Despite the sharp drop in income, Lochte continued to spend like a star. By 2019, he publicly admitted his savings had dwindled to $20,000 and that he was living paycheck to paycheck. He sold off personal assets including his Porsche and one of his Florida homes.
More recently, financial troubles have resurfaced as part of his divorce proceedings. In 2024, he and wife Kayla Rae Reid were hit with a $99,000 IRS lien for unpaid income taxes. Additional liens from a Florida hospital totaled more than $167,000, and the City of Gainesville filed a separate claim on their marital home. These issues, along with mounting legal costs and custody disputes, have once again placed Lochte's finances in the spotlight, revealing just how far he's fallen from his multimillion-dollar endorsement heyday.
Early Life & College
Ryan Steven Lochte was born on August 3, 1984, in Rochester, New York. He was raised in Bristol until age 12, when his family relocated to Florida so his father, Steven Lochte, could take a job as a swim coach. The move marked a turning point in Ryan's life. Although he had been introduced to swimming at a young age, he was known more for goofing off than discipline. As a young teen, he showed little interest in serious training and was frequently kicked out of practice for not taking the sport seriously.
That changed after a series of early defeats instilled in him a competitive edge. Lochte began dedicating himself to training and soon developed into a national-caliber swimmer. He later attended the University of Florida, where he became a standout athlete. Competing under coach Gregg Troy, Lochte became a seven-time NCAA champion, 24-time All-American, and twice named NCAA Swimmer of the Year. His collegiate dominance laid the groundwork for his international success.
Professional Career
Ryan Lochte made his Olympic debut at the 2004 Summer Games in Athens, where he won a gold medal in the 4×200-meter freestyle relay and a silver in the 200-meter individual medley. His early success signaled the arrival of a serious rival to Michael Phelps. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Lochte expanded his medal haul with two golds and two bronze medals, including a world-record performance in the 200-meter backstroke.
Between Olympic cycles, Lochte cemented his legacy as one of the most versatile swimmers in history. He dominated the World Championships and Pan Pacific Championships, consistently medaling in freestyle, backstroke, and individual medley events. His powerful underwater kick and refined technique helped him set multiple world records in both long- and short-course formats. At the 2012 London Olympics, Lochte reached the peak of his career, winning five medals: two gold, two silver, and one bronze. He also famously beat Phelps head-to-head in the 400-meter individual medley final.
In the years that followed, Lochte continued to compete at a high level, but his performance at the 2016 Rio Olympics marked a downturn. He won just one gold medal, in the 4×200-meter freestyle relay. The bigger story, however, was the infamous "Lochtegate" scandal, in which he falsely claimed to have been robbed at gunpoint by men posing as police. The story unraveled quickly, and it was revealed that Lochte and several teammates had vandalized a gas station bathroom. The controversy overshadowed his performance, led to a 10-month suspension, and cost him millions in endorsements.
In 2018, Lochte faced further trouble when he was suspended again, this time for receiving an illegal intravenous infusion. Although the substance involved was not banned, the method violated anti-doping rules. Lochte maintained his innocence and continued training in hopes of returning to Olympic form. He attempted a comeback at the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2021 but failed to qualify for the Tokyo Games, effectively ending his Olympic career.
Despite the setbacks, Lochte remains one of the most decorated swimmers in history, with 12 Olympic medals—six gold, three silver, and three bronze—and more than 90 medals across international competition.
TV and Film
Outside the pool, Ryan Lochte has pursued a number of media and entertainment ventures. His easygoing personality and celebrity status led to appearances on a wide range of television shows. He guest-starred on the sitcom "30 Rock" and competed on reality TV hits like "Dancing with the Stars" and "Celebrity Big Brother." In 2013, he starred in his own short-lived reality series, "What Would Ryan Lochte Do?," which aired on E! and followed his life as an athlete and aspiring media figure.
Lochte has also dabbled in acting, appearing in the comedy film "A Little Something for Your Birthday" and lending his persona to several commercials and promotional campaigns.
Personal Life
Ryan Lochte began dating former Playboy Playmate Kayla Rae Reid in 2016, shortly after the Rio Olympics, where he earned his 12th Olympic medal as part of the men's 4×200-meter freestyle relay team. The couple made their relationship public in September of that year, just months after Lochte had shared his first photo with her on social media. By October, he proposed during a private helicopter tour over Los Angeles.
They welcomed their first child, son Caiden Zane, in 2017, and officially tied the knot in 2018. Two daughters followed: Liv Rae in 2019 and Georgia June in 2022. For several years, the couple appeared to enjoy a stable family life, frequently sharing updates and family moments with fans online.
However, in March 2025, Kayla filed for divorce after nearly seven years of marriage. She publicly confirmed the filing in June, describing the process as one of the most painful and challenging seasons of her life. In her announcement, she cited deep reflection and a desire to protect her children and her peace as key factors in the decision.
Lochte addressed the separation the same day, expressing gratitude for their years together and emphasizing his ongoing commitment to co-parenting their three children with care and respect. Both Ryan and Kayla acknowledged the difficulty of the decision and asked for continued support as they navigate this new chapter in their lives separately.
Controversy
Ryan Lochte's career has been marred by multiple controversies, the most damaging of which occurred during the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. The incident, widely referred to as "Lochtegate," began when Lochte and fellow swimmer Jimmy Feigen claimed they had been robbed at gunpoint by men posing as Brazilian police. The story quickly unraveled under scrutiny, and Brazilian authorities accused the swimmers of fabricating the event to cover up their own drunken behavior after vandalizing a gas station bathroom.
Surveillance footage appeared to show an intoxicated Lochte and his teammates damaging property, then being confronted by armed security guards. While the athletes ultimately paid for the damages, Lochte's decision to publicize a false version of events triggered international backlash. Though he never filed a formal police report, Lochte was charged with falsely communicating a crime, a charge that carried a potential sentence of up to 18 months. The case was eventually dismissed, but the fallout was swift and severe.
All four of Lochte's major sponsors—including Speedo, Ralph Lauren, and Airweave—dropped him within days. He was also suspended from competitive swimming for 10 months by USA Swimming and the US Olympic Committee. In 2017, he secured a new apparel deal with TYR, signaling a possible path to redemption.
However, controversy returned in 2018 when Lochte was suspended for 14 months after receiving an intravenous infusion that violated anti-doping rules. Though the substance involved was reportedly vitamins and not performance-enhancing drugs, the infusion exceeded the 100-milliliter threshold allowed under USADA guidelines. Lochte denied any intent to cheat and maintained that he had never knowingly used a banned substance.
Real Estate
In 2012, Ryan sold his residence in Gainesville, Florida, for an undisclosed fee, although he originally purchased it back in 2006 for around $375,000. The home boasts 2,470 square feet of living space and an extremely spacious pool. It was later revealed that the decision to sell this property was the result of the aforementioned financial difficulties Lochte was experiencing. After moving out, Ryan later admitted that he and his family lived in an 1,800-square-foot apartment.