Tonya Harding Net Worth, Career Conspiracy, and Downfall

Tonya Harding is a well-known former American Olympian figure skater, retired boxer, and reality TV personality. During her skating career, she tasted flavours of success, but a controversy doomed her name. 

Tonya Harding would have been successful if she had not faced her career controversy. Let’s get into the detail on What is Tonya Harding Net Worth, her career stories, including controversy, and her personal life. 

Tonya Harding Net Worth

Tonya Harding net worth is estimated at $150,000 in 2025. She generated most of her wealth from her career earnings in figure skating, boxing, and becoming a reality TV star. During her reigning era, she earned a name, fame, and immense net worth. 

In addition, she makes endorsement deals with brands, which add lucrative wealth to her bank balance. She was at her career peak, but a controversy failed her, resulting in her ban from figure skating in the Olympics. The incident was a significant blow, and she couldn’t move forward. 

In 2017, the film “I, Tonya,” was made based on Tonya Harding's life events. It starred Margot Robbie as Harding. According to several reports, Tonya got just $1,500 amount with an additional share of the movie's profits to license her rights to "I, Tonya." 

With the film on the screen, Tonya appeared as a victim and less of a villain than had been previously perceived because of her career controversy with Nancy Kerrigan. 

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Tonya Harding Early Life

Tonya Maxene Harding was born in Portland, Oregon, on November 12, 1970. Tonya Harding Mom, LaVona, worked as a waitress to make money for her family. Tonya started ice skating at the age of 3, under the coaching of Diane Rawlinson. 

At 16, Tonya dropped out of Milwaukie High School to pursue skating full-time but gained her high school equivalent degree, General Educational Development (GED), in 1988. She has lived a dark childhood. 

In "The Tonya Tapes," a 2008 authorized biography on Tonya Harding, it was revealed that Tonya experienced psychological abuse by her mother, molestation, and rape by her half-brother. 

Tonya Harding Career

Tonya Harding's career journey started as one of the Olympics shining stars but ended in misery. She started ice skating at the age of 3. In 1986, she was the official figure skater at the U.S. World Championships. From 1986 to 1994, Tonya was a winning figure skater in the Olympics, improving each passing year. 

In 1991, Harding wrote a history as she became the first American woman to land a triple Axel. She won the U.S. Ladies’ Singles title, finishing second at the World Championships. 1994 proved a bad year for Harding, 

In 1994, she won the U.S. Championships. However, her win was overshadowed by a controversy between her and her co-player, Nancy Kerrigan. As a result, she was banned from figure skating for her lifetime. 

After her ban from figure skating, she transitioned into a boxing career. Tonya Harding Boxing was short-lived. She appeared on Fox’s Celebrity Boxing and Comedy Central's "The Man Show. She played her last boxing match in 2004 and announced her retirement due to her asthma and health conditions. 

Tonya then made it to reality TV. She became a reality TV star and appeared on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" in 2018, coming in third place. She also engaged herself in a cooking show named “The Worst Cook On Earth.”

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Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding Controversy

Tonya Harding’s career journey is incomplete without mentioning Nancy Kerrigan. They are two famous names in Olympian figure skating. In 1994, Nancy was attacked and injured to prevent her from taking part in the Championship. 

In 1994, a man attacked Nancy Kerrigan after her practice session, striking a police baton on her right knee several times. The news revealed that the attacker had been hired by Tonya's ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly, and his friend, Shawn Eckhardt. 

The attack on Nancy was plotted to advantage Tonya of the Championship. To Tonya’s surprise, she won the 1994 Championship. Harding initially denied any knowledge of the attack, but later it was unveiled that Tonya was behind all the conspiracy and attack. 

She pleaded guilty to conspiracy to hinder the prosecution. As a result of the attack, she was sentenced to three years of probation, 500 hours of community service, and a $100,000 fine. The United States Figure Skating Association banned her from the sport in 1994.

Tonya Harding Personal Life

Harding had a complex relationship status. At the age of 15, in 1986, she was dating a 17-year-old Jeff Gillooly, with whom she tied the knot in 1990 but got divorced in 1993. Even after the divorce, Tonya’s ex-husband, Jeff, managed her skating career. 

Harding gave a second chance to herself, and married Michael Smith. Unfortunately, their marriage lasted a year from 1995-1996. Her third marriage with Joseph Price in 2010 proved fortunate for Harding. The couple welcomed a son, Gordon, in 2011.

Tonya had anger issues as she dealt with her everyday life. In 2000, Harding was arrested after attacking boyfriend Darren Silver. She was punished with three days in prison, a suspended prison sentence of 167 days, and 10 days of community service. 

After her misfortune of getting banned from figure skating and retirement from boxing due to ill health conditions, she lived a miserly life. Harding has worked as a painter, welder, deck builder, and Sears hardware sales clerk to generate income. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Tonya Harding Son?

Tonya Harding gave birth to her son on February 19, 2011. She welcomed her son, Gordon, with her third marriage with Joseph Price. She had no children from her previous marriages. 

Why was Tonya Harding blamed?

In January 1994, Harding was blamed for being a part of plotting an attack on her figure skating co-player, Nancy Kerrigan. Initially, she denied the blame but later surrendered herself to a plea bargain in which she pled guilty to conspiracy to hinder prosecution.