The 10 Richest Ping-Pong Players in France: Ranking of 2025 Fortunes
Richest Ping-Pong Players in France
French table tennis has seen the birth of talented champions who have shone with racket in hand and made the most of their success. In this ranking, we reveal the 10 richest table tennis players in France in 2025. Even if their fortunes remain modest compared to the stars of other sports, our French table tennis players have nothing to be ashamed of. Between tournament winnings, sponsorship contracts, club salaries and diversified careers, they have transformed their sporting exploits into a solid financial fortune.
Top 10 Richest French Ping-Pong Players in 2025
10. Tristan Flore - 500,000 euros
Tristan Flore, a young up-and-comer who has become a fixture on the French table tennis scene, opens the ranking with an estimated fortune of 500,000 euros. European junior champion in his youth, Flore joined the French senior team, winning medals in doubles and team events. His career was marked by a number of injuries, but he nonetheless accumulated a wealth of experience. Pro Tour and national championship wins. Supported by equipment sponsors as he progressed, he was able to put aside part of his income as a professional player. At 29, Flore remains active in the Pro A (French championship) and continues his quest for titles, while securing his financial future.
9. Adrien Mattenet - 600,000 euros
First Frenchman to join Top 20 worldwide since the Gatien era, Adrien Mattenet has capitalized on his talent to amass around 600,000 euros personal fortune. Revealed to the general public at the 2012 Olympic Games, this lanky table tennis player has made a name for himself with his offensive style and determination. Over the course of his career, Mattenet has won several international Opens, amassing prize money for table tennis.
Sponsorship contracts, notably with a French brand of ping-pong tables, have boosted his income. Now at the end of his sporting career, he is involved in coaching youngsters and has been able to invest part of his earnings, ensuring a smooth transition to the post-competition phase.
8. Damien Éloi - 700,000 euros
A veritable acrobat at the table and a veteran of French table tennis, Damien Éloi is one of the most fortunate, with a valuation of around 700,000 euros. Active from the 1990s until well into the 2010s, Éloi was involved in four Olympic Games and won several medals in doubles (notably alongside Jean-Philippe Gatien at the Worlds).
His performances have earned him tournament bonuses on every continent, and its longevity has assured Bundesliga player contractsone of the most lucrative. An appreciated showman, Damien has also taken part in table tennis exhibitions and clinics, adding a few fees to his nest egg. Ever the enthusiast, he is now involved in training young table tennis players, while enjoying the financial rewards of his long career.
7. Christophe Legoût - 800,000 euros
A regular fixture in the French elite in the 2000s, Christophe Legoût has amassed a fortune estimated at 800,000 euros. A multiple French champion and pillar of the national team, he shone in the Pro A championship and internationally, taking part in three Olympiads. His part of his income comes from his victories in France and Europebut also expatriate player's salary - Legoût has played for well-endowed German and Belgian clubs.
Supported during his career by a Japanese equipment manufacturer, he benefited from modest but regular advertising contracts. After putting away his competitive racket, he moved to Australia for a few years to coach young talent, converting his experience into income. Serious and consistent, Christophe has used the stability of his career to secure his financial future.
6. Emmanuel Lebesson - 1 million euros
European champion in 2016 to everyone's surprise, Emmanuel Lebesson has turned this feat into a financial springboard, building an estate of around 1 million euros. This redoubtable top-spin left-hander has racked up winnings in international tournaments thanks to his European gold medal and French championship titles. His sudden notoriety earned him sponsoring agreements with sports equipment brands, and opened the doors to prestigious foreign clubs (he played in the Japanese league, which is very lucrative for foreigners).
Alongside his sporting career, which he will continue to pursue in 2025, Lebesson has completed a number of projects. personal investmentsHe's also aware of the importance of preparing for the post-ping-pong era. Always a competitor at heart, he continues to climb the table to increase his fortune, while inspiring the new generation with his atypical career path.
5. Félix Lebrun - 1.2 million euros
A precocious prodigy of French table tennis, Félix Lebrun, at just 18 years of age, already boasts a fortune estimated at 1.2 million euros. The youngest member of this top 10, he revealed himself by winning his first matches on the world circuit against top 10 players as a teenager. His dazzling performances (bronze medallist at the European Singles Championships) have enabled him to win a series of lucrative sponsorship contracts with a racquet manufacturer and national partners delighted to associate their image with this rising talent.
Félix also benefits from financial support from his training club in France and bonuses for each national title won (he is already senior French champion). Although it's still early in his career, the youngest of the Lebrun brothers has chosen toinvest your first earnings prudentlywhile keeping an eye on the sporting - and financial - summits of world ping-pong.
4. Alexis Lebrun - 1.5 million euros
Félix's elder brother and French table tennis phenomenon, Alexis Lebrun occupies 4th place with a fortune of around 1.5 million euros. At the age of 20, Alexis has already won several stages of World Table Tennis and dominated the national scene (multi-champion of France). These successes have earned him substantial prize money for the discipline, reinforced by its transfer to a major european club aiming for the Champions League.
On the sponsorship front, his spectacular playing style and charisma have earned him a contract with a global equipment manufacturer, as well as partnerships with consumer brands looking for young ambassadors. Alexis Lebrun has diversified his earnings by taking part in high-profile exhibition events alongside international legends, adding to his reputation - and his bank account. Determined to keep up the momentum, he could well climb even higher up the rankings in the years to come.
3. Patrick Chila - 1.8 million euros
Patrick Chila, a French ping-pong icon of the 90s and 2000s, is on the podium with an estimated fortune of 1.8 million euros. Bronze medallist in doubles at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 (alongside Gatien), he also won four French singles titles. Although the endowments of his time were more modest, Chila nevertheless accumulated winnings in international tournaments (notably on the Pro Tour, where he won several Opens).
His popularity has brought him sponsorship contracts extended with equipment brands (including his famous signature racket blade, widely sold in France). Nicknamed "Chilax" for his Olympian calm, he has intelligently prepared for his sporting retirement. Patrick has invested inreal estate and became a national coach, drawing a salary from the federation. Always close to the tables as a TV consultant during major competitions, he continues to build on his image while enjoying a well-deserved financial stability.
2. Simon Gauzy - 2.5 million euros
Simon Gauzy, the current star of French table tennis, has climbed to 2ᵉ place with an estimated net worth of 2.5 million euros. A former world No.8, Gauzy has carried the French colors high, reaching the European Championship final in 2016 and winning numerous Opens on the pro circuit. Throughout his career, he has pocketed over €300,000 in prize money in singles and doubles, a remarkable achievement in this sport. But it is above all thanks to his player contracts abroad He was a mainstay of German club Ochsenhausen, and was then recruited by a major Russian club, where he earned substantial wages abroad.
In terms of sponsorship, Simon is the ambassador of a sportswear brand and owns his own line of equipment (racquets and rubbers bearing his name), which provides him with additional income via royalties. At the ripe old age of 30, Gauzy capitalizes on his experience: he also takes part in top-of-the-range training courses and plans to open his own academy in the long term, proof that his entrepreneurial spirit rivals his backhand topspin.
1. Jean-Philippe Gatien - 5 million euros
A living legend of French table tennis, Jean-Philippe Gatien dominates the ranking with an estimated fortune of 5 million euros. The only French world singles champion (crowned in 1993) and Olympic runner-up in 1992, Gatien's exceptional record of achievement has left its mark on the history of table tennis. His exploits have earned him performance bonuses at a time when Chinese champions reigned supreme, and opened the doors to lucrative partnerships (equipment manufacturers, personal sponsorship with a French bank in the 90s). Nicknamed "La Gat'" by his fans, this left-handed player with a formidable attacking game was able to prepare his reconversion very early on.
Right at the end of his sporting career, he co-founded the Paris' first ping-pong barJean-Phppe Gatien has also been involved in a number of successful sports-related businesses. Jean-Philippe Gatien has also held the position of Sports Director for the organizing committee of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, a prestigious role accompanied by a comfortable salary. At 56, the man who remains the greatest French table tennis player of all time boasts a diversified and solid estate, the fruit of a masterful sporting career and wise management of his image and investments.
Conclusion
French table tennis proves that a successful career on the table can also translate into solid financial success. Whether they are promising young talents or established legends, these table tennis players have made the most of their performances by combining tournament winnings, sponsorship contracts and attractive salaries at prestigious clubs. Their career paths demonstrate that, even in a sport whose overall income is more modest than that of other disciplines, passion and perseverance can build up a substantial fortune and allow you to prepare for the future with peace of mind.
FAQ : The wealth of French table tennis players
Who will be the richest French table tennis player in 2025?
Visit 2025is Jean-Philippe Gatien who remains France's richest ping-pong player. His fortune is estimated at around 5 million euros, far ahead of his compatriots. This discrepancy can be explained by his unique career, punctuated by major titles, and by his successes off the table after his retirement from sport.
How do table tennis players earn their money?
There are several sources of income for table tennis players. First, there are the tournament winnings (prize money) when they achieve good results in international competitions. Then, the best sign sponsoring agreements with equipment manufacturers (brands of tables, rackets, balls) or other sponsors who pay them to wear their colors. They also receive club salaries if they play in professional leagues (in France, Germany, China, etc.). Finally, many diversify their income by giving internships, becoming coaches, media consultants, or investing in personal sports-related projects.
Can a table tennis player become a millionaire?
Yes, it's possible, even if it's rare. The world's best table tennis players, particularly in China or in GermanyThanks to highly professional leagues and generous sponsorships, they can accumulate earnings in excess of a million euros over several years. In France, only the very best, such as Jean-Philippe Gatien and Simon Gauzy, have managed to reach or approach millionaire status. Most top-level players earn a decent living without amassing fortunes comparable to those of tennis or soccer stars.
How much does a ping-pong player earn in France?
In France, the salary of a professional table tennis player varies according to level and club. In the Pro A league (the elite), an average player can earn some thousands of euros per monthwhile the best French players on the circuit are eligible for 10,000 monthly or more if they are highly ranked and courted by clubs.
Abroad, particularly in German Bundesliga or in Chinese Super LeagueFor international stars, salaries can be even higher. It should be noted that to these basic incomes must be added match bonuses, any federal subsidies for national players, and individual sponsorship contracts. For example, a reigning French champion will earn a club salary, victory bonuses and advertising revenue, which can bring him or her close to a comfortable income equivalent to that of a senior executive.
