Net Worth Ranker
What Is Nancy Kerrigan’s Net Worth?
Nancy Kerrigan, an accomplished American figure skater, has amassed a net worth of $10 million. This financial standing reflects her successful career, marked by Olympic medals and recognition as the 1993 U.S. Figure Skating Champion. Her prominence was heightened by an incident involving rival Tonya Harding, catapulting Kerrigan into the international spotlight. This event, occurring in January 1994, significantly raised her profile, leading to various endorsements and opportunities.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born on October 13, 1969, in Stoneham, Massachusetts, Nancy Ann Kerrigan is the youngest of three children. Her parents, Daniel Kerrigan, a welder, and Brenda Kerrigan (née Schultz), a homemaker, supported her early aspirations in figure skating. Nancy’s two brothers, Michael and Mark, were involved in hockey. Kerrigan’s journey in figure skating began at a young age, with private lessons starting at eight years old. To support her passion, her father often worked multiple jobs, including operating the ice resurfacer at the local rink in exchange for her lessons.
By the age of sixteen, Kerrigan began training with coaches Evy and Mary Scotvold, marking a pivotal point in her career. The Scotvolds remained her coaches throughout her competitive journey. Kerrigan’s early success included winning the Boston Open at nine years old. She progressed steadily, achieving fourth place at the junior level of the 1987 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, signaling her emergence onto the national stage. While known for her jumping abilities, she initially faced challenges with compulsory figures.
Kerrigan’s senior debut season in 1988 saw her ranked 12th nationally. She continued to climb the ranks, securing fifth place in 1989 and fourth in 1990. The elimination of compulsory figures after the 1990 season allowed Kerrigan to further advance in national rankings. In 1991, she achieved third place at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, earning her first qualification for the World Figure Skating Championships, where she won a bronze medal. This bronze medal contributed to an unprecedented American sweep of the women’s podium, with Krist Yamaguchi and Tonya Harding winning gold and silver, respectively, marking the first time a single country achieved this feat at the World Championships.
The 1992 season marked further improvement for Kerrigan, as she finished second at the national championships. At the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France, she won a bronze medal, followed by a silver medal at the 1992 World Championships. Following Kristi Yamaguchi’s retirement in 1993, Kerrigan became the United States champion, despite a less-than-perfect performance that season.
The 1994 Cobo Arena Attack and Olympic Silver
On January 6, 1994, at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Detroit’s Cobo Arena, Kerrigan was attacked by Shane Stant, who struck her right lower thigh with a police baton. The attack was orchestrated by Jeff Gillooly, the husband of Kerrigan’s rival, Tonya Harding, and his co-conspirator, Shawn Eckardt. Their intent was to prevent Kerrigan from competing in the National Championships and the 1994 Olympics. The extent of Harding’s prior knowledge of the attack remains a subject of debate. Harding later pleaded guilty to being an accomplice after the fact for covering up the connection after discovering her husband’s involvement.
The injury prevented Kerrigan from competing at the National Championships, where Harding and Michelle Kwan placed first and second, respectively. Despite this, Kerrigan was selected for the U.S. Olympic team, with her peers recognizing her deserving place. The USFSA subsequently named her to the 1994 Olympic team. The attack was depicted in the film “I, Tonya” (2017). Kerrigan dedicated herself to recovery and practice, enabling her to compete at the 1994 Olympics just seven weeks after the attack. She performed exceptionally well, winning the silver medal at the competition, a significant achievement that further cemented her legacy in figure skating.
Post-Olympic Career and Sponsorships
Following her retirement from competitive skating in 1995, Kerrigan primarily focused on performing in ice shows, including “Champions on Ice,” “Broadway on Ice,” and an adaptation of the musical “Footloose.” She also made numerous television appearances, including on “Dancing with the Stars” (2017), “Fresh Off The Boat” (2018), and “Skating with Celebrities” (2006). In 2002, she released an instructional book, “Artistry on Ice: Figure Skating Skills and Style,” sharing her expertise in advanced figure-skating technique.
Kerrigan’s marketability soared after the 1992 Olympics, leading to corporate sponsorship contracts with companies such as Campbell’s Soup, Evian, Reebok, and Seiko. The attack in January 1994, just before the Olympics, dramatically increased her profile. Before the 1994 Olympics, Kerrigan secured $9.5 million worth of endorsement contracts, significantly contributing to her financial success and overall net worth.
Personal Life
In 1995, Kerrigan married Jerry Solomon, her agent. They have three children together, and Solomon has a son from a previous marriage. While specific details of Kerrigan’s personal investments, real estate holdings, or other assets are not publicly available, her net worth of $10 million reflects her successful career, endorsements, and post-competitive activities.
It’s important to note that the calculation of a celebrity’s net worth is often based on publicly available information and estimations, including endorsements, salaries, and business ventures. While the provided net worth is a widely recognized estimate, the exact figures may vary depending on the sources and methodologies used.
