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Dylan Alcott, one of Australia’s most inspiring athletes, has built an estimated net worth of around USD 5 million (about AUD 7.4 million) as of 2024.
Known worldwide as a wheelchair tennis and basketball champion, Alcott has turned his sporting success into a career in media, business and philanthropy.
A Champion on and off the Court
Alcott’s journey began in Melbourne, where he was born with a spinal cord tumor that left him paraplegic.
He grew up in the bayside suburb of Hampton and attended Brighton Grammar School on a scholarship funded by the family of Mark Comport, a former student with a disability who had passed away.
To honor that support, Alcott and the Comport family now help fund another student’s tuition at the same school.
He first made headlines as a teenager when he won a gold medal in wheelchair basketball at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics.
But it was his return to wheelchair tennis in 2014 that made him a household name.
Over eight years, he won 15 Grand Slam singles titles, 8 doubles titles, and achieved the rare Golden Slam in 2021, taking all four majors and Paralympic gold in the same year.
How He Grew His Fortune?
While wheelchair tennis prize money is only a fraction of what able‑bodied stars earn, Alcott built his wealth through a mix of achievements and ventures.
In an interview with AFR Weekend in April 2024, he joked about the pay gap:
“Novak wouldn’t get out of bed for that,”
Alcott said with a laugh, after revealing he earned no more than about $400,000 in prize money over his career.
Instead, Alcott turned to sponsorships with brands like Nike, Kia, ANZ, Longines, NEC, NIB, and Grant Burge Winery.
He also takes part in equity deals, backing start‑ups through Athletic Ventures alongside other Australian athletes.
His investments include restaurant chain Guzman y Gomez and software firm Hnry.
As part of his ambassador roles, Alcott owns vehicles such as a Kia EV6 and a Toyota Rav4, which have been modified for accessibility.
He also lives in a Melbourne property valued at around AUD 3.1 million.
From Centre Court to Centre Stage
Since retiring after the 2022 Australian Open, Alcott has explored new passions. He co‑founded The Field, a job platform for people with disabilities, which recently secured major investment from Angus Knight Group.
Alcott has also stepped into acting, joining Jason Donovan on stage in The Rocky Horror Show. A four‑star review in The Guardian praised him as a “welcome surprise” on stage. Speaking about his reasons for performing, Alcott told AFR Weekend:
“I really struggle when I don’t see people who are like me on the screen … I’ve always had a burning desire to do that after sport.”
A recent TikTok video posted on his official account showed him dancing in costume during the show’s iconic “Time Warp” scene, further proving he isn’t afraid to try something new (watch the TikTok here).
A Life Beyond Sport
Off the court and stage, Alcott remains deeply involved in advocacy. His Dylan Alcott Foundation funds opportunities for young Australians with disabilities.
He also launched Ability Fest, a fully accessible music festival, and regularly speaks out about the importance of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
In his media career, he has hosted Invictus Games Today alongside Chris Bath and Anthony “Lehmo” Lehmann, co‑hosted ABC’s live music show The Set, and won a TV Week Logie Award for Most Popular New Talent in 2019.
He credits his family—parents Martin and Resie and his brother Zack—for shaping his positive outlook.
In interviews he often recalls how Zack would “hide the TV remote on the fridge,” forcing him to adapt and find ways around challenges.
Personal Side and Future Goals
Alcott shares his life with his fiancée Chantelle Otten, a well‑known sexologist. The couple, who met at the launch of his book Able, have spoken openly about wanting children in the future.
When asked recently if he’d ever run for parliament, Alcott laughed and said:
“There’s been some chat here and there… but I’m too young, and I think you can get more done outside. But you never know … prime minister one day?” (AFR Weekend, Apr 2024).
Since retiring, Alcott has also been candid about looking after himself again, saying he gained around 15 kilograms during a busy post‑retirement schedule of over 300 public appearances, and now trains four times a week and plays golf to stay fit.
