Olivia Dunne: Biography, Relationship & NIL Net Worth

Most college gymnasts compete in relative obscurity, their routines seen by a few thousand fans in the stands. Olivia Dunne is not one of them. The LSU athlete has become one of the most recognizable figures in the NCAA, with a social media following that tops 13 million on Instagram alone and a relationship with MLB pitcher Paul Skenes that keeps tabloids busy. Her path from gymnast to influencer to Sports Illustrated cover model shows how NIL rules have rewritten the playbook for college athletes.

Age: 21 (born October 1, 2002) ·
Instagram followers: over 13 million ·
TikTok followers: over 7.8 million ·
Annual estimated earnings: $3.2 million (2023, per On3) ·
NCAA sport: LSU gymnastics ·
Notable magazine feature: Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover model (2023)

Nine biographical data points, one pattern: Olivia Dunne’s profile blends athletic achievement with influencer-scale reach, a combination that makes her a case study in modern college sports economics.

Her biographical profile shows a clear picture of her background and standing.

Who is Olivia Dunne in a relationship with?

Olivia Dunne is dating Paul Skenes, a right-handed pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The relationship became public in 2023 and has since become a recurring topic in sports media coverage. Skenes, who played college baseball at LSU, was selected first overall in the 2023 MLB Draft by the Pirates (People).

Are Paul Skenes and Olivia Dunne still together?

Yes, as of 2024, the couple is still together. Both have shared glimpses of their relationship on social media, and Dunne has been spotted at Pirates games supporting Skenes. The relationship has remained stable despite Skenes being based in Pittsburgh for his MLB career while Dunne continues her gymnastics eligibility at LSU in Baton Rouge (ESPN).

How did Olivia Dunne and Paul Skenes meet?

The couple met at Louisiana State University, where both were student-athletes. Dunne was on the gymnastics team and Skenes played baseball for the Tigers. Their paths crossed on campus, and they began dating during Skenes’s final season at LSU before he declared for the MLB Draft (Sports Illustrated).

Do Paul Skenes and Olivia Dunne live together?

No, they do not currently live together. Skenes resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, while Dunne lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where she attends LSU and competes for the gymnastics team. The long-distance arrangement is a practical necessity given their respective career commitments.

The pattern: Dunne’s relationship with Skenes adds a celebrity dimension to her profile, but it also highlights the logistical friction between elite college athletics and professional sports careers. The couple is making it work across state lines, but the long-term picture remains open.

How much does Olivia Dunne make per year?

Olivia Dunne’s annual NIL earnings are estimated at $3.2 million to $4.1 million, depending on the valuation source. On3, the NIL valuation platform, placed her endorsement value at $4.1 million in 2025 coverage by ESPN. People reported in July 2024 that On3’s NIL 100 list pegged her worth at $3.9 million, making her the top-earning NCAA female athlete after the NCAA adopted its NIL policy in July 2021.

What is Olivia Dunne’s net worth?

Estimates of Dunne’s total net worth vary widely. Sports Illustrated reported in 2024 that she had earned $9.5 million during her time at LSU, with On3 evaluating her at $3.9 million per year, up from $3.3 million before LSU won the national championship. Marca reported a $3.7 million NIL valuation. Sportskeeda placed the figure at $3.5 million in January 2024.

More speculative estimates from lower-tier sources suggest a broader range. EssentiallySports reported a net worth of around $9.5 million and a $4.2 million NIL value in late 2024, while IBTimes published a $2.3 million estimate. The variance reflects different methodologies and the difficulty of pinning down a single number for a rapidly evolving NIL market.

Who is the richest female gymnast?

Simone Biles holds that title. The seven-time Olympic medalist has an estimated net worth exceeding $20 million, built through Olympic prize money, endorsement deals with brands like Athleta and Uber Eats, and a documentary series. Biles’s career earnings dwarf those of any NCAA gymnast, including Dunne (ESPN).

The implication: Dunne’s earnings are substantial by NCAA standards, but they operate within a narrow band defined by NIL rules. The range of estimates — from $2.3 million to $9.5 million — reflects the absence of standardized reporting, not a lack of income. Until athletes are required to disclose deal values, the real number will remain a matter of calculation, not fact.

What ethnicity is Olivia Dunne?

Olivia Dunne is of white ethnicity (Caucasian). She was born in Westwood, New Jersey, and grew up in a suburban household with her parents and siblings. Her ethnic background has not been a prominent part of her public profile, but it is occasionally queried by fans seeking a fuller biographical picture.

How old is Olivia Dunne?

She is 21 years old, born on October 1, 2002. That makes her one of the younger high-profile NIL earners in college sports, though she is already in her fifth year of NCAA eligibility due to the COVID-19 eligibility extension and a redshirt year (People).

How tall is Olivia Dunne?

Dunne stands at 5 feet 6 inches (168 cm). Her height is typical for an NCAA gymnast — enough to allow for the leverage and power required in floor routines and vault, but compact enough for the rotational demands of tumbling and aerial skills.

What this means: Dunne’s biographical details — age, height, ethnicity — are straightforward, but they matter in the context of her marketability. Brands seeking a relatable, all-American athlete profile find a clean match. Her youth and five years of remaining eligibility also mean her earning window is longer than most college athletes.

Why is Olivia Dunne so popular?

Dunne’s popularity is built on a three-part foundation: viral gymnastics content on TikTok, a steady stream of lifestyle and fashion posts on Instagram, and the prestige boost of a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover. She began posting gymnastics videos on TikTok in 2021, shortly after the NCAA’s NIL rule took effect, and the algorithm rewarded her. Her videos — a mix of practice routines, meet highlights, and behind-the-scenes campus life — accumulated millions of views within months (ESPN).

As of 2024, Sports Illustrated reported that Dunne had 8.1 million TikTok followers and 5.3 million Instagram followers. More recent figures from ESPN indicate she now has more than 13 million followers across both platforms combined. That scale puts her in the same tier as many professional athletes and mainstream influencers.

What does Olivia Dunne do now?

Dunne continues to compete for the LSU gymnastics team while managing her NIL portfolio. She returned for a fifth year in 2024, a decision reported by The Athletic alongside details of her deal with Passes, a platform that allows creators to monetize exclusive content. Her NIL collaborations include Vuori, an activewear brand, and Purina, a pet care company — a notably diverse portfolio that extends beyond the typical athlete-endorsement categories (The Athletic).

Is Olivia Dunne an actress?

She has a small acting credit. Dunne appeared in a television adaptation of Baywatch produced by Fox. The role was a minor one, but it signals her interest in expanding beyond gymnastics and social media into broader entertainment. No further acting roles have been confirmed as of 2024.

The pattern: Dunne’s popularity follows a playbook that didn’t exist before 2021. She is not a traditional celebrity who happens to be an athlete — she is an athlete who built a celebrity operation on social media, then used that operation to unlock financial opportunities that would have been illegal for a college athlete five years ago.

What does Olivia Dunne do now?

As of 2024, Dunne remains an active LSU gymnast while running what is essentially a media and endorsement business. Her daily routine includes training, competition, content production, and brand obligations. She has described her schedule as a tight rotation of practice sessions, photoshoots, and filming days for social media content.

Is Olivia Dunne still competing for LSU?

Yes. She announced in July 2024 that she would return for a fifth year, using the NCAA’s COVID-19 eligibility extension. People reported that her return was motivated by a desire to compete for a national championship after LSU’s 2024 title win. The decision also extends her NIL earning window, since NCAA athletes can monetize their name, image, and likeness as long as they retain eligibility.

What are Olivia Dunne’s future plans?

Dunne has not publicly detailed her post-NCAA plans. The most likely paths include professional gymnastics, a full-time career as a content creator and influencer, or a move into television and entertainment. Her deal with Passes suggests she is building a direct-to-audience revenue model that would survive the end of her college career. The uncertainty is not about whether she will monetize her fame — it’s about which channel she will prioritize.

What this means: Dunne’s fifth year at LSU is a deliberate play. Every additional season of eligibility is another year of NLL earnings at peak market value. The calculus is simple: stay in school, keep the deals flowing, and delay the decision about what comes next until the NCAA eligibility clock runs out.

Dunne has built something that didn’t exist before the NIL era: a college athlete who earns like a professional influencer while maintaining NCAA eligibility. The model works for now, but its durability depends on rules that could change and a market that could shift. For the next wave of NCAA athletes weighing whether to follow her path, the choice is clear: build the audience before the rules change, or watch the window close.