Lance Armstrong net worth, salary, earnings, wealth: Rise and fall of once iconic American cyclist, face of prestigious Tour de France and investment lessons from Olympic medalist

Lance Armstrong, once an iconic but later turned disgraced American cyclist, has experienced topsy-turvy life that is nothing less than Hollywood movie. Armstrong largely due to his fight with cancer, then meteoric rise as the face of the international cycling and iconic Tour de France, finally the fall, remained the cynosure of all eyes.

Lance Armstrong was stripped of his seven titles from 1999-2005 for doping. However, Lance Armstrong's net worth, salary, earnings from foundation, income from endorsement and wealth are well documented.

Lance Armstrong Lifetime Ban


On October 22, 2012, cyclist Lance Armstrong was formally stripped of his seven Tour de France victories and received a lifetime ban from Olympic sports after the International Cycling Union chose not to appeal doping charges against Armstrong by the United States Anti-Doping Agency.

Back then Lance Armstrong said in an interview with legendary talk show host Oprah Winfrey that he received the "death penalty" for using performance-enhancing drugs and lying about it for over a decade. The Texan conceded he deserved to be punished for years of doping that helped him win a record seven Tour de France titles.

Lance Armstrong was born on September 18, 1971, in Texas, U.S. In 1993, he won a Tour de France stage at Verdum. Then Armstrong bagged the Triple Crown in the U.S. and world championship in Oslo, Norway. In 1999, Armstrong emerged victorious for the first time at Tour de France, taking four stage victories on the way.

Armstrong won a bronze medal for the individual time trial at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. In 2001, he became only the fifth man in 88 editions of the Tour to win three or more times in succession following Louison Bobet (1953-55), Jacques Anquetil (1961-64), Eddy Merckx (1969-72) and Miguel Indurain (1991-95).

Armstrong retired in 2005 after winning the Tour for an unprecedented seventh consecutive time.

In September, 2008, Armstrong announced he would come out of retirement to compete in the 2009 Tour de France to raise awareness of the global cancer burden. Armstrong finished third in the 2009 Tour de France behind Spain's Alberto Contador and Luxembourg's Andy Schleck. He returned a year later to finish 23rd after a crash in the first mountain stage brought an end to any hopes of a title challenge.

In his last race, Armstrong finished 65th overall and almost six minutes adrift of race winner Cameron Meyer of Australia in the 2011 Tour Down Under as continued allegations over illegal doping overshadowed his swansong. Armstrong announced second retirement from competitive cycling on February 16, 2011.

Lance Armstrong Fight with Cancer

In October 1996, Armstrong was diagnosed with testicular cancer. At that time, Armstrong was 25-year-old. Armstrong signs for the Cofidis team but was diagnosed with testicular cancer and given less than a 50 percent chance of survival. Armstrong had surgery and aggressive chemotherapy. In 1997, he was declared free of cancer and joined the U.S. Postal team.

Lance Armstrong Net Worth, Earnings, Salary

During Armstrong's cancer treatment, he had to undergo testicle removal surgery. Armstrong lost $600,000 salary with Team Confidis. However, U.S. Postal Service and Discovery cycling team handed him $200,000 annual contract.

Armstrong during his peak had signed major endorsements with Nike, Oakley, Trek and Anheuser Busch. Armstrong said that he lost about $75 million when his sponsors deserted him last year after USADA released its damning report on him.

Armstrong's cancer foundation raised nearly $500 million. Armstrong had invested $100,000 Chris Sacca's venture capital which acquired Uber and years later, Armstrong made by USD 20 million to USD 30 million.

Armstrong, whose fall from grace cost him millions of dollars in lawsuits and endorsements, said his investment in Uber Technologies Inc had saved his family. Armstrong said in the interview he was not aware that he was investing in Uber, which at the time was worth $3.7 million, when he gave money to venture capitalist Chris Sacca of Lowercase Capital.

According to Celebrity Net Worth, during his peak, Armstrong had a net worth of $125 million. That has come down significantly but the once iconic cyclist still has a net worth $50 million.