Nathan Chen

Nathan Chen is an American figure skater who dominated men’s figure skating in the late 2010s and early 2020s, earning the nickname “Quad King” for his unprecedented ability to land multiple quadruple jumps in a single program. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Chinese immigrant parents, Chen began skating at age three, inspired by watching the 2002 Winter Olympics in his hometown. He trained under Rafael Arutyunyan and quickly rose through the ranks of American figure skating.

Chen burst onto the international scene as a teenager, winning his first U.S. National Championship in 2017 at age 17. He went on to win an astonishing six consecutive U.S. titles from 2017 to 2022. At the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, Chen experienced a disappointing short program but delivered a historic free skate featuring six quadruple jumps, a feat never before achieved at the Olympics. He finished fifth overall but used the experience as motivation. On the Grand Prix and World Championship circuit, Chen was virtually unbeatable, winning three consecutive World Championship titles (2018, 2019, 2021) and three Grand Prix Finals.

Chen’s redemption came at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, where he delivered masterful performances in both the short program and free skate, winning the Olympic gold medal by a commanding margin. His short program score of 113.97 set a new Olympic record. The victory cemented his status as one of the greatest figure skaters in history and a generational talent who transformed the sport with his technical innovations and athletic approach to skating.

Following his Olympic triumph, Chen stepped away from competitive skating to focus on his education at Yale University, where he studied statistics and data science. He has balanced his academic pursuits with select professional skating appearances and endorsement deals with brands including Bridgestone, Nike, Invisalign, and United Airlines. At 27, Chen’s estimated net worth of $5 million reflects his Olympic earnings, endorsements, and show skating income, with potential for significant growth as he determines the next phase of his career.