In a few short years, star LSU gymnast Olivia “Livvy” Dunne has made more of a name for herself as a budding entrepreneur than for the sport that launched her into the spotlight. But while the 21-year-old plans to stay on the team for a fifth year after earning her bachelor's degree this spring, she's already planning her next steps.
Since the NCAA enacted updated NIL (name, image and likeness) rules in 2021 to allow college athletes to begin leveraging their personal brands, Dunne has secured an estimated $9.5 million in endorsement deals with brands like American Eagle, Nautica, Raising Cane's, Ulta Beauty, Purina and Accelerator energy drink. Dunne, who has 5.3 million followers on Instagram and 8.1 million on TikTok, now charges around $125,000 for sponsored social media posts.
While promoting the new six-part Prime Video docuseries Money GameDunne, who has followed LSU athletes as they navigated the uncharted waters of the NIL, New York Post to discuss what will happen next for him. Much of his strategy can be summarized as follows: Sports Illustrated SwimsuitThe blonde, who is set to debut in 2023, also graced the pages of the magazine's 60th anniversary issue this year.
“I feel like [Sports Illustrated] “It's something that can continue after college,” he explained. “I think that's important, to create a significant brand that can continue after college. And [SI Swim] “One of them is, I don't even want to call it a partnership, because they're like family to me. It's great.”
But beyond building her own personal brand, Dunne is dedicated to educating other young athletes about NIL deals. In July 2023, she founded The Livvy Fund to use her business acumen to help female LSU athletes monetize their own careers.
“Girls don't know where to start. Because sometimes that's half the battle,” she continued. “And if you're a woman, it's very important to take advantage of your NIL while you're in college, because after college there aren't a lot of professional leagues for most women's sports.”
“So I definitely want to do something [in NIL] “I've always loved sports. So definitely something in the sports arena.”
When it comes to sports, Dunne saw her star rise even further last year when she began dating rookie Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes. The two young athletes are shaping up to be a power couple, but either way, it’s clear there’s no slowing Dunne down.