MICHAEL PHELPS
The most decorated Olympian in history with 23 gold medals, now an entrepreneur and mental health advocate.
Michael Phelps won 23 Olympic gold medals — more than most countries win in total — and then talked openly about the depression and suicidal thoughts that came after. He has turned his post-swimming career into a platform for mental health advocacy while investing in wellness, water safety, and venture capital. The man who dominated the pool for two decades is now trying to fix the things the pool could not fix.
Net Worth
$100 million
Nationality
American
Time Horizon
Long-Term
Risk Appetite
3 / 10
CAREER & BACKGROUND
Born in 1985 in Towson, Maryland. Started swimming competitively at age 7.
Made his first Olympic team at 15, becoming the youngest male swimmer on a US Olympic team in 68 years. At the 2004 Athens Olympics, he won 6 gold and 2 bronze medals.
Then he went to another level. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Phelps won 8 gold medals in 8 events — breaking Mark Spitz's record of 7 golds at a single Games.
He continued through 2012 London (4 gold, 2 silver) and came back from retirement for 2016 Rio (5 gold, 1 silver). Career total: 28 Olympic medals, 23 of them gold.
Both are all-time records. After retiring for good in 2016, Phelps became a mental health advocate.
He spoke publicly about his battles with depression and ADHD, and has worked with Talkspace and other organizations to destigmatize mental health treatment for athletes. He has also invested in ventures including a swim school franchise (Michael Phelps Swimming), a venture fund focused on wellness, and advisory roles in sports technology and water safety.
COMPANIES & ROLES
Founder of Michael Phelps Swimming (swim school franchise). Investor and advisor in wellness and sports tech startups.
Mental health advocate and Talkspace partner. Brand ambassador for multiple companies.
23 Olympic gold medals — the all-time record.
INVESTING STYLE & PHILOSOPHY
Mission-aligned investing. Phelps invests in areas he knows personally — swimming, water safety, wellness, mental health, and sports performance.
He does not speculate in markets or chase trends. His investments align with his life experience and advocacy.
THE PLAYBOOK
Risk Approach
Low. Phelps is conservative with money.
His investments are in areas he understands deeply, and he prioritizes brands and causes he believes in over financial returns alone.
Money Habits
Lives in Scottsdale, Arizona with his family. Known for being disciplined and routine-oriented — habits from his swimming career.
Not a flashy spender. Focuses his time on family, golf, mental health advocacy, and his swim school franchise.
BIGGEST WIN
Becoming the most decorated Olympian in history. 23 gold medals across 5 Olympic Games.
The 2008 Beijing performance — 8 golds in 8 events — may be the greatest individual achievement in Olympic history.
BIGGEST MISTAKE
The DUI arrests. Phelps was arrested for DUI twice (2004 and 2014).
The second arrest led to a suspension from competitive swimming and a period of depression. He has been honest that these were his lowest moments and that they ultimately led him to seek help for his mental health.
FINANCIAL PHILOSOPHY
Invest in what you know and what matters to you. Phelps has been open about the fact that he is not a financial expert — he invests in businesses connected to his expertise in swimming, athletics, and mental health.
FAMILY & PERSONAL LIFE
Married to Nicole Phelps (née Johnson) since 2016. Three sons: Boomer, Beckett, and Maverick.
Phelps has said that becoming a father was the most transformative experience of his life — more meaningful than any gold medal.
EDUCATION
No university degree (attended University of Michigan but did not graduate). Dedicated his youth entirely to swimming.
Diagnosed with ADHD at age 9 — swimming was the structured activity that channeled his energy.
BOOKS & RESOURCES
His first autobiography about his swimming career
His second book covering the 2008 Beijing Olympics
The Brave Athlete by Simon Marshall
The sports psychology book aligned with his mental health advocacy
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QUOTES (5)
23 gold medals and I still struggled with depression. Success doesn't fix what's broken inside. Getting help does.
My DUI arrests were the worst moments of my life. They were also the moments that finally forced me to ask for help.
Becoming a father changed me more than any gold medal. Boomer, Beckett, and Maverick are my real legacy.
Swimming gave me everything — discipline, fame, medals. But it also took everything — my identity, my social skills, my mental health. The trade-off was not obvious at 15.
NETFIGO SCORE
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