Grand National 2025 Prize Money: 18 richest jackpots including Premiership, Champions League and Wimbledon
The world's greatest athletes compete for the world's greatest prizes and the story is no different at Aintree
Every dog has it's day and every sports star has their golden carrot dangling at the end of trophy glory.
Being at the top of horse racing, football, tennis and golf et al is not an easy, but the rewards are high.
And that includes the Grand National, which isn’t just any horse race – it’s four-mile two-and-a-half furlong marathon of mud, muscle, and madness over 30 gruelling fences with names like Becher’s Brook and The Chair.
Since 1839, it’s been held annually at Aintree in Liverpool, and this year 34 of the finest jockeys will do whatever it takes to cross the finish line first and edge their name into history.
With Grand National Day fast approaching, Record Sport, along with MyBettingSites, have analysed how its prize money compares to other major sporting events—and the figures are eye-opening.
The winner of the world's greatest steeplechase takes home £500,000, that is half of the overall pot for the day. It is a significant sum but it still falls far behind other top-tier sports.
"The Grand National isn’t just about prize money—it’s about history, drama, and a global audience that spans generations. Few sporting events can match its impact," said a MyBettingSites spokesperson.
Where does the Grand National Prize Money rank?
The Grand National winner takes home £500k, a significant sum but it is dwarfed by many of its sporting counterparts.
Even in the world of horse racing the Aintree jackpot pales in comparison to other competitions. The prize money for winning the Saudi Cup is the highest in the sport, set at a staggering £15.5 million!
The Saudi Arabian race has been regarded as the richest horse race in the calendar since the inaugural run in 2020. The Aintree spectacle still beats out all the national competition, though, with the Cheltenham Gold Cup offering £351,688 for the winning jockey and co.
In the world of football the money reins down the heaviest with the Premier League offering a staggering £176m to the winning side. Arne Slot's Liverpool are in pole position to lift the crown this season and some of that big pay day may be enough to convinced star man Mohamed Salah to remain at Anfield.
Four of the top six places on the 18-strong are football competitions including the FIFA World Cup (£33m) and Champions League (£21.7m).
Closer to home, the Scottish Premiership dished out around £4.2m to league winners Celtic at the end of the 2023-24 season, which includes prize money and TV revenue, but not any bumper payments from playing in UEFA competitions.
On to another type of racing and Formula One doesn't shy away from splashing the cash either with the winning team receiving a galling £110.2m.
The United States' poster child for all American sports entertainment, the Super Bowl, still boasts an impressive tally of £23.7m to the winning team.
The full list compiled by MyBettingSites:
- Premier League - £176m
- Formula One Championship - £110m
- FIFA World Cup - £33m
- Super Bowl - £23.7m
- UEFA Champions League - £21.7m
- UEFA European Championship - £6.6m
- Rugby World Cup - £4.8m
- NBA Championship - £3.7m
- US Open Golf - £3.4m
- ICC Cricket World Cup - £3.1m
- US Open Tennis - £2.8m
- US PGA Championship Golf - £2.75m
- Wimbledon - £2.7m
- French Open Tennis - £2m
- The Open Golf - £2m
- Grand National - £500k
- Cheltenham Gold Cup - £352k
- Irish Football League - £125k.
Why can't the Grand National compete with other major sports?
Horse racing has a passionate following, but it is still a niche sport in the grand scheme of things.
The likes of football and Formula One have a global appeal that is very difficult to match. The likes of American Football and the NBA have a dedicated following mostly in the USA - but that is still a population of £340m people!
Fewer viewers mean less revenue from TV rights and sponsorships.
Additionally, it's the way money is distributed. In team sports the jackpot is divided among players, staff, and the club.
In horse racing, the £500k goes to the owner, trainer, and jockey, making it more comparable to individual sports like tennis or golf.
For the US Open, by comparison, over £3.3 million goes to the solo player who wins. These sorts of sports attract massive audiences and sponsorship deals, boosting their prize money.
Horse racing, by contrast, leans on tradition and prestige rather than global commercial power.