What is the prize money at the 2024 Boston Marathon? How much does the winner get?

The Boston Marathon is a marathon like no other. One of the six World Marathon Majors (although with Tokyo, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York), it was first held in 1897, making it the oldest such event on the planet. And because of the prestige that brings, it is also the most lucrative.

2024 Boston Marathon total prize purse

The total prize money for the 2024 edition of the race is $1,137,500, distributed between highest achievers in the open division, two different wheelchair divisions and the Masters division, as well as seven para-athletics divisions.

In 2023, Kenyan runner Evans Chebat won the men’s open division for the second year running, shedding almost a minute off his time from 12 months earlier. His compatriot Hellen Obiri, a two-time Olympic silver medallist in the 5,000 metres, was first in the women’s equivalent in just her second ever marathon.

Cash prizes for top 10 finishers

The pair picked up $150,000 each, which is also the top prize on offer this year. In the opening division, there are cash rewards for the top 10 finishers, with second picking up $75,000, all the way down to tenth, worth $5,500.

The top 10 in the men’s and women’s T53/54/34 wheelchair division are also handsomely rewarded, with the winner receiving $40,000, which drops down to $1,500 for tenth.

There are additional cash prizes for the top three in the T51/T52 wheelchair division ($1,500, $750, $500), while “veteran” runners can also boost their bank balance, with first, second and third in the Masters division pocketing $5,000, $2,500 and $1,500.

What is the bonus for a course record at the Boston Marathon?

The Boston Marathon was also the first World Marathon Major to offer a bonus for setting a new course record. $50,000 is on offer to anyone who can make history on the streets of the capital of Massachusetts in the open and T53/54/34 wheelchair divisions.

Kenyan Geoffrey Mutai currently holds the records in the men’s open race, clocking 2:03:02 in 2011. Three years later, Buzunesh Deba of Ethopia set the fastest time in the women’s open division at 2:19:59.

Last year, two Swiss athletes set new records in the T53/54/34 wheelchair races. Marcel Hug won the men’s edition in 1:17:06, with Manuela Schär triumphing in the women’s in 1:28:17.

The Boston Marathon has a long history of striving for equality. As well as being the first of the big six marathons to offer equal prize money to athletes competing in both open and wheelchair divisions, and the first to award a prize purse for athletes with upper limb, lower limb, and visual impairments, this year will see new divisions introduced for athletes with coordination impairments and intellectual impairments.