Kai Trump, the president’s 17-year-old granddaughter, could be one of the highest paid female athletes ever — and she hasn’t even started college yet.
According to the sports data site On3, Kai Trump’s name, image, and likeness (NIL) is valued at $1.2 million. That valuation places her behind only LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne, LSU basketball player Flau’jae Johnson, and UConn basketball standout Paige Bueckers among top-earning female athletes.
NIL is the “leading index in the industry that determines the projected annual value for high school and college athletes.” Kai Trump also finalized an NIL deal with Dallas-based Leaf Trading Cards last month, which sells autographed cards at $20 a pack.
The high school senior expressed gratitude to her family when she announced her commitment to the University of Miami, writing that she was thankful for “my Grandpa for giving me access to great courses and tremendous support.”
Her social media following plays a significant role in that valuation. Kai Trump has “1.5 million followers on Instagram, 920,000 on X, and 2.9 million on TikTok,” The Independent reported. She also has a YouTube channel which, while primarily focused on golf, recently gave viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the inauguration.
Kai Trump has described how her grandfather regularly checks in on her athletic endeavors, indicating that golfing conversations are frequent in their family.
Speaking at the Republican National Convention, she noted that the president, “calls me during the middle of the school day to ask how my golf game is going and tells me all about his. But then I have to remind him that I’m in school, and I’ll have to call him back later.”
