Are you interested in Nancy Kerrigan net worth? Nancy Kerrigan is an American figure skater whose net worth is estimated at $10 million.
She earned two Olympic medals and was crowned the U.S. Figure Skating Champion in the 1993 competitive season. Kerrigan is most famously recognized for her involvement in a controversial incident with rival Tonya Harding.
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Nancy Kerrigan Net Worth
Nancy Kerrigan is an American figure skater with a net worth of $10 million. She won two Olympic medals and was the U.S. Figure Skating Champion during the 1993 competitive season.
Kerrigan is perhaps best known for her involvement in a notorious incident with rival Tonya Harding. This event, which took place in January 1994, became one of the most significant stories of the 1990s, making both skaters international household names.
Sources of Income
Kerrigan’s financial success can be attributed to several factors:
- Competitive Skating: Her achievements in national and international competitions brought her significant prize money and recognition.
- Endorsements: Following her success at the 1992 Olympics, she secured lucrative sponsorship deals with major brands such as Campbell’s Soup, Evian, Reebok, and Seiko. The heightened media attention after the 1994 attack further increased her endorsement opportunities, reportedly totaling $9.5 million before the 1994 Winter Olympics.
- Professional Performances: After retiring from competitive skating in 1995, Kerrigan performed in various ice shows, including “Champions on Ice” and “Broadway on Ice,” contributing to her income.
- Television Appearances: She has participated in several TV shows, such as “Dancing with the Stars” in 2017, which have added to her earnings.
Nancy Kerrigan Biography
Nancy Ann Kerrigan (born October 13, 1969) is a retired American figure skater. She earned bronze medals at the 1991 World Championships and the 1992 Winter Olympics, as well as silver medals at the 1992 World Championships and the 1994 Winter Olympics. Additionally, she won the 1993 U.S. National Figure Skating Championship and was inducted into the United States Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 2004.
On January 6, 1994, Kerrigan was attacked by an assailant wielding a police baton, targeting her landing knee. The attacker was hired by Jeff Gillooly, the then-husband of her rival, Tonya Harding. Although injured, Kerrigan made a swift recovery.
Both skaters participated in the 1994 Winter Olympics, where Kerrigan won a silver medal in a contentious competition against gold medalist Oksana Baiul. Following the Games, Harding was permanently banned from competitive figure skating. Kerrigan later toured with various ice skating shows, including Champions on Ice and Broadway on Ice. In 2017, she appeared as a contestant on Dancing with the Stars.
Nancy Kerrigan Early Life
Kerrigan was born in Stoneham, Massachusetts, as the youngest child and only daughter of welder Daniel Kerrigan (1939–2010) and homemaker Brenda Kerrigan (née Schultz, b. 1940). Of English, Irish, and German descent, she remarked, “There’s very little Irish in me, just my name.” While her brothers, Michael and Mark, played hockey, she began figure skating at the age of six. She started private lessons at eight and won her first competition, the Boston Open, at nine.
Coming from a modest background, Kerrigan’s father often worked multiple jobs to support her skating aspirations, even driving the Zamboni at their local rink in exchange for her lessons. She was coached by Theresa Martin until she was 16, after which she trained with Evy and Mary Scotvold, who remained her coaches throughout her competitive career.
Nancy Kerrigan Career
Nancy Kerrigan’s journey in figure skating began with her first competition win at the Boston Open when she was just nine years old. Her dedication to the sport saw her place fourth at the junior level during the 1987 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, marking the start of her rise in national prominence. Known for her exceptional jumping ability but less so for compulsory figures, Kerrigan made her senior-level debut in 1988, ranking 12th nationally. She steadily improved, finishing fifth in 1989 and fourth in 1990.
The elimination of compulsory figures after the 1990 season proved pivotal for Kerrigan. In 1991, she earned third place at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships and qualified for her first World Figure Skating Championships, where she won a bronze medal. This victory was historic as part of the first-ever American sweep of the women’s podium at the World Championships, with Kristi Yamaguchi taking gold and Tonya Harding securing silver.
The 1992 season saw Kerrigan climb even higher, finishing second at the U.S. National Championships. She went on to win a bronze medal at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France, followed by a silver medal at the World Championships the same year.
With Kristi Yamaguchi’s retirement from competition in 1993, Kerrigan stepped into the spotlight as the U.S. champion. Despite securing the title, her performances that season were inconsistent, including multiple falls during a televised event and other struggles throughout the year. Nonetheless, Kerrigan’s persistence and skill kept her among the sport’s elite.
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1993 Cobo Arena Attack
On January 6, 1994, Nancy Kerrigan became the target of a shocking attack during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Cobo Arena in Detroit. While walking through a corridor after a practice session, she was struck on her right lower thigh with a police baton by Shane Stant.
The assault was orchestrated by Jeff Gillooly, then-husband of Kerrigan’s rival Tonya Harding, along with his accomplice Shawn Eckardt. The plan was to injure Kerrigan and hinder her from competing in both the National Championships and the upcoming 1994 Winter Olympics.
The incident sparked widespread controversy, particularly over Harding’s involvement. While Harding denied prior knowledge of the attack, she later pleaded guilty to obstructing the investigation, admitting she helped cover up her husband’s connection after learning of his role. The event and its fallout remain one of the most infamous scandals in figure skating history and were dramatized in the 2017 film I, Tonya.
The injury forced Kerrigan to withdraw from the National Championships, where Harding won the title and Michelle Kwan placed second. Despite this setback, Kerrigan’s peers and the U.S. Figure Skating Association (USFSA) recognized her skill and resilience, awarding her a spot on the 1994 Olympic team.
Just seven weeks after the attack, Kerrigan made an astonishing recovery. She competed at the Winter Olympics in Lillehammer and delivered an outstanding performance, earning the silver medal and cementing her legacy as one of figure skating’s most remarkable competitors.
Post-Olympic Career
After retiring from competitive figure skating in 1995, Nancy Kerrigan transitioned to a successful career in entertainment and advocacy for the sport. She became a prominent performer in numerous ice shows, including Champions on Ice, Broadway on Ice, and an ice adaptation of the musical Footloose. Her talent and artistry on the ice continued to captivate audiences in these theatrical performances.
Kerrigan also explored opportunities in television, appearing on popular programs such as Skating with Celebrities (2006), Dancing with the Stars (2017), and Fresh Off the Boat (2018). Beyond her performances, she shared her expertise with aspiring skaters through her instructional book, Artistry on Ice: Figure Skating Skills and Style, published in 2002, which offered advanced techniques and insights into the artistry of figure skating.
Her post-competition career highlighted her versatility and dedication to promoting figure skating both as an art form and a sport.
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Nancy Kerrigan Sponsorships
After her success at the 1992 Olympics, Nancy Kerrigan became a highly sought-after figure in the corporate world, securing sponsorship deals with major brands such as Campbell’s Soup, Evian, Reebok, and Seiko.
Her public profile soared even higher following the infamous Cobo Arena attack in January 1994, just a month before the Winter Olympics. This increased visibility led to lucrative endorsement contracts worth $9.5 million ahead of the 1994 Games, solidifying her status as a household name.
Nancy Kerrigan Personal Life
In 1995, Kerrigan married her agent, Jerry Solomon. The couple has three children together, and Solomon also has a son from a previous marriage. Their family life has remained relatively private, with Kerrigan continuing to balance her professional endeavors and personal commitments.
Nancy Kerrigan Husband
In 1995, Kerrigan married her agent, Jerry Solomon. This was Kerrigan’s first marriage and Solomon’s third. Together, they have three children: Matthew, born in 1996; Brian, born in 2005; and Nicole, born in 2008. Solomon also has a son from a previous marriage.
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Nancy Kerrigan Children
Nancy Kerrigan and Jerry Solomon have three children:
- Matthew: Born in 1996.
- Brian: Born in 2005.
- Nicole: Born in 2008.
Kerrigan has openly discussed the challenges she faced in expanding her family, revealing that she experienced six miscarriages over eight years. Despite these difficulties, she and Solomon are proud parents to their three children.
Nancy Kerrigan Daughter
Nicole Solomon, born in 2008, is Nancy Kerrigan’s only daughter. While Kerrigan has kept her family life relatively private, she has occasionally shared moments of her children participating in ice skating, reflecting her passion for the sport.
Nancy Kerrigan Recent Appearance
As of January 2025, Nancy Kerrigan was seen mourning the victims of a plane crash that affected the figure skating community. She tearfully paid tribute to the skaters who lost their lives in the tragic incident.
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Nancy Kerrigan Relationship with Tonya Harding
The incident involving Tonya Harding remains a significant part of Kerrigan’s history. In January 1994, Kerrigan was attacked by an assailant hired by Harding’s ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly. This event led to intense media scrutiny of both skaters.
Following the attack, Kerrigan recovered and won a silver medal at the 1994 Winter Olympics, while Harding was eventually banned from competitive figure skating. Over the years, both have led separate lives. Kerrigan continued her involvement in figure skating and related ventures, while Harding faced legal issues and later participated in reality television. As of 2024, there have been no widely reported interactions between the two.
Nancy Kerrigan’s journey from a young skater in Massachusetts to an Olympic medalist and public figure showcases her talent, determination, and resilience. Her legacy in the figure skating world remains significant, and she continues to be a respected figure in the sport.
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