Gymnast and Influencer Olivia Dunne Says She Made Over $500,000 for 1 Social Media Post

Olivia Dunne has taken major advantage of a new, prosperous era for college athletes.

Dunne, who will enter her senior year as a member of Louisiana State University's gymnastics team this fall, has used her blossoming social media fame to earn "six figures" per a brand-sponsored post, she revealed on the Full Send podcast last week.

When pushed by co-host Kyle Forgeard to get specific, Dunne said, "I don't usually ever talk about money"; but when asked if she's ever earned over $500,000 for a post, she said, "Yeah."

"I'm very fortunate," Dunne said. "It's just crazy to me."

The influencer has partnered with brands like American Eagle, Motorola and BodyArmor following the 2021 Supreme Court ruling that deemed college athletes were allowed to earn money based on their own names, images and licensing. 

"My whole entire life was so different after that," Dunne said of the ruling. "It was balancing school, now working with brands, and practice on top of that. It was a big change."

Dunne was quick to capitalize, even if she's operating without much of a playbook.

"I'm kind of just winging it," she said. "The whole area is so unprecedented. I'm just going with the flow."

Still, Dunne has been very thoughtful with the professional collaborations that she embarks upon, which she routinely blasts out to her 7.6 million followers on TikTok and 4.2 million followers on Instagram.

"I love getting long-term brand deals," Dunne explained. "Those are the best because you build a relationship with the brand, and they want you year after year. Sometimes they pay you more as the years go on."

In addition to her social media content, Dunne also appeared in the 2023 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. 

All of the hustle has paid off, as an April report by USA Today estimated Dunne's value at $3.4 million, the third-highest of any college athlete.