The world's best athletes are gathering in Rio de Janeiro in hopes of bringing home gold during the 2016 Summer Olympics.

For many of these gifted athletes, competition is a labor of love that takes more than it gives in terms of finances. But ever since the Olympics allowed professional athletes to compete, many of its competitors are high profile and high-net-worth athletes.

We took a look at the top athletes scheduled to compete in this year's Olympics and used net worth data from TheRichest.com to determine which athletes going for gold already have a bit tucked away. Not surprisingly, most of the athletes ranked on this list are professionals, particularly from the NBA and PGA.

Continue reading to find out which U.S. athletes ranked highest in terms of net worth. You might be surprised by some of the names:

United States women's basketball player Diana Taurasi boards a bus at the airport after arriving at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday, Aug. 3. (Photo: Charlie Neibergall/AP Photo)

20. Diana Taurasi

Sport: Basketball.

Net worth: $500,000.

Aly Raisman competes on the balance beam during the women's U.S. Olympic gymnastics trials in San Jose, California, on July 10. (Photo: Gregory Bull/AP Photo)

19. Aly Raisman

Sport: Gymnastics.

Net worth: $500,000.

United States goalkeeper Hope Solo holds the ball during a women's Olympic football tournament match against New Zealand at the Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Wednesday, Aug. 3. (Photo: Eugenio Savio/AP Photo)

18. Hope Solo

Sport: Soccer.

Net worth: $2.5 million.

Ryan Lochte swims in the men's 200-meter individual medley final at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials, on July 1, in Omaha, Nebraska. Lochte finished in second place. (Photo: Mark J. Terrill/AP Photo)

17. Ryan Lochte

Sport: Swimming.

Net worth: $3 million.

Gabby Douglas competes on the uneven bars during the U.S. women's gymnastics championships on June 26 in St. Louis. (Photo: Jeff Roberson/AP Photo)

16. Gabby Douglas

Sport: Gymnastics.

Net worth: $3 million.

United States guard Klay Thompson (11) defends the basket from Argentina guard Manu Ginobili (5) during the first half of their warm-up international exhibition game on July 22 in Las Vegas. (Photo: L.E. Baskow/AP Photo)

15. Klay Thompson

Sport: Basketball.

Net worth: $4.3 million.

Bubba Watson watches his tee shot on the 17th hole during a practice round for the PGA Championship golf tournament at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey, on July 27. (Photo: Mike Groll/AP Photo)

14. Bubba Watson

Sport: Golf.

Net worth: $5 million.

United States forward/center Paul George (13) controls the ball over Argentina forward Luis Scola (4) during the first half of their warm-up international exhibition game on July 22 in Las Vegas. (Photo: L.E. Baskow/AP Photo)

13. Paul George

Sport: Basketball.

Net worth: $8 million.

In this Aug. 27, 2015, file photo, United States' Allyson Felix celebrates after winning the gold medal in the women's 400m final at the World Athletics Championships at the Bird's Nest stadium in Beijing. (Photo: Mark Schiefelbein/AP Photo)

12. Allyson Felix

Sport: Track and field.

Net worth: $8.5 million.

In this Aug. 23, 2015, file photo, Tyson Gay of the United States looks at his time from a men's 100-meter semifinal at the World Athletics Championships at the Bird's Nest stadium in Beijing. (Photo: David J. Phillip/AP Photo)

11. Tyson Gay

Sport: Track and field.

Net worth: $12 million.

Argentina guard Carlos Delfino (10) has a shot rejected by U.S. center DeMarcus Cousins (12) during an exhibition basketball game on July 22 in Las Vegas. The United States won 111-74. (Photo: L.E. Baskow/A.P. Photo)

10. DeMarcus Cousins

Sport: Basketball.

Net worth: $15 million.

Toronto Raptors' DeMar DeRozan (10) drives around Cleveland Cavaliers' Kyrie Irving (2) during the first half of Game 5 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference finals on May 25 in Cleveland. (Photo: Tony Dejak/AP Photo)

9. DeMar DeRozan

Sport: Basketball.

Net worth: $22 million.

Matt Kuchar of the United States plays his tee shot off the 15th during the third round of the British Open Golf Championship at the Royal Troon Golf Club in Troon, Scotland, on July 16. (Photo: Matt Dunham/AP Photo)

8. Matt Kuchar

Sport: Golf.

Net worth: $25 million.

Kyrie Irving (10) of the United States drives to the basket as China's Wang Zhelin, center left, defends during the second half of an exhibition basketball game on July 26 in Oakland, California. The United States won 107-57. (Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP Photo)

7. Kyrie Irving

Sport: Basketball.

Net worth: $30 million.

Guard Kyle Lowry (7) of the United States ends up with the fans chasing a ball versus Argentina during the first half of their warm-up international exhibition game on July 22 in Las Vegas. The USA defeated Argentina 111-74. (Photo: L.E. Baskow/AP Photo)

6. Kyle Lowry

Sport: Basketball.

Net worth: $38 million.

Michael Phelps of the United States swims during a training session prior to the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Aug. 2. (Photo: Matt Slocum/AP Photo)

5. Michael Phelps

Sport: Swimming.

Net worth: $55 million.

Venus Williams

Venus Williams, of the United States, reaches for a shot from Alison Riske, of the United States, during a semifinal in the Bank of the West Classic tennis tournament in Stanford, California, on July 23. Williams won 6-1, 7-6 (2). (Photo: Jeff Chiu/AP Photo)

4. Venus Williams

Sport: Tennis.

Net worth: $75 million.

Carmelo Anthony

In this Aug. 12, 2012, file photo, Carmelo Anthony of the United States celebrates after the men's gold medal basketball game at the 2012 Summer Olympics. At right is teammate Kevin Durant. (Photo: Charles Krupa/AP Photo)

3. Carmelo Anthoy

Sport: Basketball.

Net worth: $85 million.

Kevin Durant

NBA basketball player Kevin Durant demonstrates his skill during a fans meeting event in Hong Kong on July 12. (Photo: Kin Cheung/AP Photo)

2. Kevin Durant

Sport: Basketball.

Net worth: $100 million.

Serena Williams

Serena Williams of the United States returns to Angelique Kerber of Germany during the women's singles final on day 13 of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London on July 9. (Photo: Ben Curtis/AP Photo)

1. Serena Williams

Sport: Tennis.

Net worth: $145 million.

Instant Insights /

20 wealthiest U.S. Olympic athletes in Rio

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