Swedish pole vault superstar Mondo Duplantis , fresh off his 12th world record, made a revealing comment recently that’s stirring conversation across the athletics world.

On February 28, 2025, Duplantis set a new indoor world record of 6.27m at the All-Star Perche meet in Clermont-Ferrand. He then followed it up just months later with an even more impressive 6.28m clearance at the Stockholm Diamond League on June 15, 2025, in front of an adoring home crowd.

But what should have been a celebration of athletic greatness has taken an intriguing turn.

The Bonus Debate

In a post-competition interview with Tiara Williams, Mondo Duplantis was asked about the financial bonuses tied to his world records.

“So everybody’s wondering about your bonuses,” Williams probed. “Do you get a bonus every time you break it? And does the debate just continue to grow every time?”

Mondo Duplantis didn’t dodge the question.

“Yeah, well, I mean, it’s pretty true. It’s true. I got to make a living, you know? A man’s got to make a living… And there is a bit of a glitch, you could say, whatever you want to say. For sure. But man, I got to do what I got to do. That’s pretty much at the end of the day. Collect it, yeah. Yeah, but I see this stuff.”

That “glitch” he refers to major athletics events like the Diamond League, World Championships, and Olympics offer hefty bonuses for world records, typically $50,000 or more per record, but only once per meeting, no matter how many times an athlete breaks it during the event.

This revelation has sparked fresh debates on the fairness of incremental records and whether the system might be indirectly encouraging strategic, centimeter-by-centimeter improvements rather than big, audacious record leaps.

How Much Has Duplantis Earned from World Records?

Since February 2020, Mondo Duplantis has raised the men’s pole vault world record an astonishing 12 times. From his first 6.17m vault in Toruń, Poland to his latest 6.28m in Stockholm, his progressions have mostly come in one-centimeter increments, and with each came a generous payday.

Based on reported bonuses:

• Six non-Diamond League records (like at the Paris Olympics 2024) reportedly netted $100,000 each, confirmed by Forbes.
• Six Diamond League records secured him a minimum of $50,000 each, per official event regulations.

That adds up to at least $900,000 from world record bonuses alone, and he’s still just 25 years old. With his current form and global appeal, those figures are likely to climb even higher.

Could This Force a Rule Change?

Duplantis’ comments have placed a spotlight on the sport’s bonus policy, with some insiders suggesting that World Athletics may soon face pressure to revise how bonuses are awarded for world records.

Possible tweaks could include requiring a minimum improvement threshold or limiting how often payouts can be claimed within a specific time frame.

As the pole vault icon continues to dominate his event, this debate over ethics, economics, and incentive structures is set to grow, much like the bar Duplantis keeps raising.

For now, though, the world will keep watching as the Swedish star makes history, and collects the bonuses that come with it.