Kaylah Walton
Before Olivia Dunne rose to fame as a leading figure in collegiate athletics and social media, she encountered stringent NCAA regulations that barred athletes from monetizing their talents or receiving any gifts.
The Amazon Prime documentary, The Money Game, features Dunne discussing the effects these rules had on her initial experiences in college sports.
Dunne recalled the challenges faced under the NCAA’s guidelines before the implementation of the NIL (name, image, and likeness) policy in July 2021, which allowed athletes to earn from endorsements.
She noted that merely accepting a small gift from a sponsor could jeopardize her eligibility to participate in competitions.
“You can’t take anything!” Dunne insisted. “The risk of losing your NCAA eligibility isn’t worth it.”
“A free sweatshirt or something similar isn’t worth that risk.”
Frustrated, Dunne highlighted the disparity between the restrictions athletes faced versus the freedoms enjoyed by non-athlete students who could accept gifts from brands without repercussions.
She often watched her friends freely accept items from her favorite brands while she had to refuse, feeling this was inequitable.
Dunne’s fortune explodes with NIL
Thankfully, with the rule changes, Dunne‘s financial opportunities skyrocketed, establishing her as one of the top earners in the NIL landscape.
With lucrative partnerships with major brands like Microsoft, Purina, and Snapchat, her net worth has surged to approximately $6 million.
Her vast social media following—5.3 million on Instagram and 8.1 million on TikTok—further contributes to her revenue, as her posts generate substantial earnings.
What began as a period of discontent with NCAA regulations has transformed into an inspiring success narrative.
As Dunne progresses through her college journey, supporters eagerly anticipate her future endeavors, especially considering she has another year of eligibility ahead, positioning her to amplify her influence and income even more.
