Tonya Harding, now known as Tonya Price, is a former American Olympic figure skater. She was once one of the most talented skaters in the world and made history in the early 1990s. Harding became the first American woman to land a triple axel in competition, a jump that changed women’s skating forever.
As of now, she has an estimated net worth of $150,000 (according to celebrity net worth). Despite her achievements, Harding’s name is most often linked to controversy. Her career collapsed after the infamous 1994 attack on fellow skater Nancy Kerrigan. The scandal led to a lifetime ban from figure skating. In later years, Tonya tried to rebuild her life through boxing, television appearances, and regular jobs. Her story remains one of the most debated in sports history.
Tonya Harding’s fame, fall, and net worth
This Day in History: Tonya Harding becomes infamous
Tonya Harding reached the peak of her skating career in 1991. She won the U.S. Figure Skating Championships and finished second at the World Championships. That same year, she landed a triple axel, a moment that secured her place in skating history. In 1992, she competed at the Winter Olympics and finished fourth overall.
Everything changed in January 1994. Nancy Kerrigan was attacked during practice for the U.S. Championships.
The attack was later linked to Harding’s ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly, and his associates. Harding denied knowing about the plan in advance. However, she later pleaded guilty to having knowledge of the attack after the fact and not reporting it. As punishment, she received probation, community service, a $100,000 fine, and a lifetime ban from figure skating.
After being banned, Harding struggled financially. Her skating income disappeared overnight. In 2002, she turned to boxing and appeared on Fox’s “Celebrity Boxing,” winning her first match. She later competed as a professional boxer but retired in 2004 due to asthma and injuries. She also appeared on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” in 2018, where she finished in third place.
In 2017, Harding returned to public attention through the film “I, Tonya.” The movie starred Margot Robbie and earned major awards. Tonya reportedly received only $1,500 for licensing her life rights, along with possible bonuses. The film helped shift public opinion and portrayed her as more of a victim than a villain.
Outside of sports and TV, Harding has worked regular jobs, including painter, welder, deck builder, and hardware store clerk. She is married to Joseph Price and has a son. Today, her $150,000 net worth reflects both her early success and the long-lasting impact of one of sports’ most damaging scandals.