How much money does CrossFit move?

The functional training brand, which has 517 affiliated boxes in Spain, withstands the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic

The good times that CrossFit is going through mean that some of its most representative figures, such as Mat Fraser, can earn large amounts of money.

After more than 20 years of existence, the functional training brand CrossFit, driven by the American entrepreneur Greg Glassman, has been able to grow and develop in an incredible way, reaching a total of 158 countries around the planet, which means it earns millions in revenue from clubs that are allowed to use the CrossFit brand.

The numbers in Spain reflect a more than adequate resistance of the CrossFit world to the Covid-19 pandemic, since only 1% of the boxes affiliated with this brand have been reported to have lost their stores. With a total income of approximately 45 million dollars worldwide from brand usage rights, CrossFit has become one of the most attractive economic showcases in the field of competition, so it is not surprising the economic figures that some of the most representative figures of this discipline earn, whether through sporting merits, advertising contracts or social networks.

How much money does CrossFit generate?

An empire valued at $4 billion. That is the legacy that Greg Glassman leaves behind after 20 years at the helm of the CrossFit brand. The American businessman resigned last summer as CEO of the brand , following some unfortunate statements on his social networks in the midst of the anti-racism movement 'Blacks Lives Matter'. He is replaced in the position by Dave Castro, who is also the current director of the CrossFit Games .

Over the course of two decades, the CrossFit brand has earned the trust of a total of 15,000 clubs that have joined it across the globe. Each of these clubs must pay an annual fee of $3,000 for the right to use the brand. In addition, in order to become a CrossFit coach , a basic course is required, which ensures the company another source of income. Opening the Open Series to the public is another of CrossFit's business avenues, which allows users to register, at $20 per participation, to be able to compete professionally and even have the opportunity to reach the CrossFit Games, the company's most important event.

The arrival of Covid-19 has unfortunately meant the end of many sports centres, something that CrossFit boxes, due to their own characteristics, have been able to overcome to a greater extent. “The perimeter closures in some communities have affected business, but many people have realised that they have to do sport. The capacity limitations affect all CrossFit boxes, but it cannot be compared to other gyms, because being industrial warehouses, we can maintain classes of fourteen people,” says Natalia Díez, general manager of CrossFit in Spain to the website palco23 , a media specialising in sports economic information.

Who are the highest paid CrossFit figures?

The evolution of CrossFit, for which Greg Glassman has been one of the main people responsible, has led to an improvement in the economic conditions of its athletes, since not only does the growth of the brand allow for greater prizes to be offered to the winners of the competitions, but also the greater recognition of these figures offers them the opportunity to see their income increase due to the different contracts with advertising brands and even with their actions on social networks, among which Instagram and YouTube stand out.

Thanks to a study by Money.co, we can now reveal what was once an open secret: Mat Fraser , five-time CrossFit Games champion and recognised by the community as the greatest of all time (now retired from individual competition), is number one in terms of both income and followers on Instagram and YouTube. With approximately 2.5 million followers on social media, the American would pocket around $8,000 for each post on his social media.

He is followed by Noah Olsen, with an average of 650,000 followers on social media each, and Canadians Brent Fikowski and Patrick Vellner. Their earnings, well below Fraser's, range between $2,000 and $2,500 per post.

In addition, there are the prizes that are awarded for finishing in the top 20 of the CrossFit Games. While the champion pockets almost $350,000, the second and third place winners take home $128,000 and $89,000, respectively, with the minimum prize being $8,000. The prize money does not vary between the men's and women's categories, proving once again that CrossFit is gender-neutral.