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800,000 divided between the 40 skippers
In 2020, Vendée Globe winner Yannick Bestaven won ?200,000. That's a far cry from the results bonuses in other professional sports such as soccer, tennis or Formula 1. "1/4 or a 1/8 finalist at Rolland Garros who gets eliminated wins the same thing even though he spends 4 times 3 hours there, we do 74 days" explained Armel Le Cleac'h at his arrival press conference in 2016.
By way of comparison, each player on the French soccer team wins the Euro and pockets ?300,000. The Tour de France cyclist wins ?500,000, and the Rolland Garros winner ?2 million!
In all, the Vendée Globe skippers are entitled to a total prize money of ?800,000. This year, 2024, the edition offers the same prize money as the last edition.
Here is a breakdown of the prize money compared with the previous 2 editions:
- 1st: ?200,000 inc. VAT (?200,000 in 2020, ?160,000 in 2016)
- 2nd: ?140,000 incl. VAT (?140,000 in 2020, ?100,000 in 2016)
- 3rd: ?100,000 incl. VAT (?100,000 in 2020, ?75,000 in 2016)
- 4th: ?80,000 incl. VAT (?80,000 in 2020, ?55,000 in 2016)
- 5th: ?50,000 incl. VAT (?50,000 in 2020, ?40,000 in 2016)
- 6th: ?40,000 incl. VAT (?40,000 in 2020, ?30,000 in 2016)
- 7th: ?30,000 incl. VAT (?30,000 in 2020, ?25,000 in 2016)
- 8th: ?25,000 incl. VAT (?25,000 in 2020, ?20,000 in 2016)
- 9th: ?20,000 incl. VAT (?20,000 in 2020, ?15,000 in 2016)
- 10th: ?15,000 inc. VAT (?15,000 in 2020, ?10,000 in 2016)
The skippers ranked above 10th place will share the remaining 100,000 Euros (including tax). Each skipper's share may not exceed the prize money received by the 10th-placed skipper. The remainder will then be divided equally between all the ranked skippers from the 4th onwards. In the event that 10 or fewer skippers are classified, the remainder of the prize money not distributed will be divided equally among all the classified skippers.
Winnings on race prizes and any bonuses are exempt from income tax.
A bright future
The victory bonus awarded by the organization is not the only one that the winner can pocket. In fact, the winner usually receives a bonus from his sponsor. But victory or good results also reinforce a skipper's loyalty to his partner, and make it easier for him to find another sponsor.
Yannick Bestaven, winner of the last edition in 2020/2021, was able to launch the construction of a new boat thanks to the support of his sponsor Maître Coq. " Today is a great gift and a first for both my partner Maître CoQ and myself. A new IMOCA, built together. This Maître CoQ V is the fruit of a collective effort that began 17 months ago, when the management of Maître CoQ asked me what I wanted to do after winning this Vendée Globe. And, why not win it a second time? "I offered. " Banco...", they replied, "What could be better than taking on a challenge? "explained the navigator in the summer of 2022, when he launched his Verdier design.
In 2016, Armel le Cléac'h was also able to count on the support of Banque Populaire for the construction of a new Ultim maxi-trimaran, as was François Gabart, who after his victory in the 2012 Vendée Globe switched to the Ultim with the construction of the Macif trimaran.
