The Diamond League has shared its plans for increased prize money heading into the 2025 season. The circuit previously announced that $500,000 in prize money would be awarded at each regular season meet and then $2.24 million at the Diamond League final.

Here’s what you need to know:

New “Diamond+” Disciplines

– Diamond+ Disciplines will offer greater prize money including $20,000 for winners at series meetings (double the standard Diamond Discipline prize of $10,000). $50,000 will be awarded to winners at the Diamond League Final (compared to $30,000 in other disciplines).

– Four events (two male and two female) will be designated as Diamond+ at each series meet.

– Eight events (four male and four female) will be Diamond+ at the Final.

– The Diamond+ Disciplines at each Diamond League meet will be announced in early 2025.

Diamond League Series Meeting – Diamond+ Discipline Prize Money

1st Place: $20,000

2nd Place: $10,000

3rd Place: $6,000

4th Place: $5,000

5th Place: $3,000

6th Place: $2,500

7th Place: $2,000

8th Place: $1,500

9th Place and below: $750

Diamond League Final – Diamond+ Discipline Prize Money

1st Place: $50,000

2nd Place: $20,000

3rd Place: $10,000

4th Place: $6,000

5th Place: $5,000

6th Place: $4,000

7th Place: $3,000

8th Place: $2,000

Slight Increases To Non-Diamond+ Disciplines

– For the regular Diamond League events at each meet, slight tweaks have been made to the prize money structure. In 2024, $25,000 was spread across each event from first to eighth place. Winners would earn $10,000. At the 2024 Diamond League final, $60,000 was spread across first through eighth place in each event. Winners would earn $30,000.

– In 2025, athletes finishing 9th-12th will now receive prize money with payouts of $500 to $1,000 at series meets and finals.

– Prize money remains equal for male and female athletes across all disciplines.

– $500,000 per regular series meet and $2.24 million at the Final.

Diamond League Series Meeting – Non-Diamond+ Discipline Prize Money

1st Place: $10,000

2nd Place: $6,000

3rd Place: $4,000

4th Place: $3,000

5th Place: $2,500

6th Place: $2,000

7th Place: $1,500

8th Place: $1,000

9th Place and below: $500

Diamond League Final – Non-Diamond+ Discipline Prize Money

1st Place: $30,000

2nd Place: $12,000

3rd Place: $7,000

4th Place: $4,000

5th Place: $2,500

6th Place: $2,000

7th Place: $1,500

8th Place: $1,000

9th Place and below: $500

The Bigger Picture

The prize money hike comes amidst a broader push to elevate track and field's financial incentives. In 2024, World Athletics awarded each individual track and field Olympic gold medalist and relay teams with $50,000 for the victory at the Paris Olympics. It became the first international sports governing body to award prize money to Olympic gold medalists. World Athletics is planning to extend the bonus initiative to the Olympic silver and bronze medalists for the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.

– The 2026 World Athletics Ultimate Championship will feature a record $10 million prize pool with $150,000 for each winner.

– Grand Slam Track, which debuts in April 2025, and the ATHLOS meet in NYC set the tone for lucrative rewards. Grand Slam Track will dish out $262,500 in prize money per event at each of its respective four meets — with winners taking home $100,000. (That’s a total of $3.15 million in prize money at each Slam; $12.6 million in prize money across all four Slams) ATHLOS featured $110,500 awarded across six women’s track events – with winners earning $60,000.

When does the 2025 Diamond League season start?

– The 2025 Diamond League season opens on April 26th in Xiamen, China.