How much gold is in an Olympic gold medal, and how much is it worth?

February 10, 2026

TL;DR

The melt value of an Olympic gold medal is approximately $2,500 due to high gold and silver prices.
Gold medals are made of 500 grams of silver plated with six grams of gold; silver medals are 500 grams of silver.
Gold prices have reached record highs, significantly increasing the component value of Olympic medals.
Beyond melt value, Olympic medals hold significant collectible value, with some selling for tens of thousands to millions of dollars.
Athletes like Jesse Owens and Greg Louganis have sold medals for substantial sums, sometimes to fund personal needs or charities.
Some athletes, like Ryan Lochte, are less sentimental about medals, viewing memories as more important.
There are ongoing investigations into reports of some Olympic medals breaking.

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