Daria Bilodid at a Glance
- Net Worth: $2 Million
- Birthdate: October 10, 2000
- Birthplace: Kyiv, Ukraine
- Nationality: Ukrainian
- Profession: Judoka, Model
- Height: 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
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What is Daria Bilodid’s Net Worth?
Daria Bilodid has a net worth of $2 million. This fortune is derived primarily from her status as one of the most marketable athletes in Olympic sports, combining elite performance on the tatami with a lucrative portfolio of blue-chip sponsorships. While prize money in judo is modest compared to tennis or golf, Bilodid has leveraged her historic achievements and global popularity to secure financial opportunities rare for combat sports athletes.
Her income streams are diversified across competitive earnings, state stipends from the Ukrainian government for Olympic achievers, and high-profile brand ambassadorships. Following her transition from the -48kg to the -57kg weight class, she has maintained her commercial appeal, remaining a central figure in international judo marketing campaigns and lifestyle media.
Early Life
Daria Bilodid was born into a family with a deep legacy in martial arts, making her entry into judo almost inevitable. Her father, Gennadiy Bilodid, was a two-time European judo champion and a World Championship bronze medalist, known for his technical prowess. Her mother, Svitlana Kuznetsova, was also a judoka and later became her primary coach, orchestrating Daria’s rise to the top of the sport.
Despite this pedigree, her parents initially steered her toward rhythmic gymnastics, hoping to avoid the physical toll of combat sports. Daria trained in gymnastics extensively during her early childhood, developing the flexibility and balance that would later become her signature on the mat. However, at age six, she insisted on switching to judo, drawn to the competitive intensity she saw in her parents’ careers. Her parents eventually relented, and her mother took over her training, blending traditional judo techniques with the extreme flexibility Daria had cultivated as a gymnast.
Career
Daria Bilodid’s career is defined by a meteoric rise that shattered records before she even reached adulthood. She burst onto the senior circuit with a style that baffled opponents: a unique “anaconda” strangle hold that utilized her long limbs to secure submissions from impossible angles. In 2018, at just 17 years old, she defeated Funa Tonaki in the final of the World Championships in Baku, becoming the youngest World Judo Champion in history. This victory turned her into an overnight sensation in the judo world. She proved her dominance was no fluke by defending her title at the 2019 World Championships in Tokyo, cementing her status as the queen of the -48kg division.
During this period, she went on a remarkable unbeaten streak, winning European titles and Grand Slam gold medals across Paris, Abu Dhabi, and Düsseldorf. The postponement of the 2020 Olympics due to the pandemic, however, presented a severe physical challenge. As she grew into her twenties, maintaining the -48kg weight limit became increasingly dangerous and draining. Despite these struggles, she competed at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (held in 2021). While she was the heavy favorite for gold, the physical toll of the weight cut impacted her performance. She lost in the semifinals but rallied to defeat Shira Rishony of Israel to win a bronze medal—Ukraine’s first-ever Olympic medal in women’s judo.
Following the Tokyo Games, Bilodid made the crucial decision to move up to the -57kg category to preserve her health. The transition was difficult; she went from overpowering smaller opponents to facing physically stronger judokas in a deeper weight class. Critics questioned if she could replicate her earlier dominance, and for a time, she struggled to reach the podium at major events. However, in April 2024, she silenced doubters by winning the European Championship gold medal in Zagreb. This victory marked her first major title in the new weight class and signaled her return to elite form just in time for the Paris Olympics.
At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Bilodid showed flashes of brilliance, defeating Nera Tiebwa in the opening round in just five seconds. However, her campaign ended in the Round of 16 against Japan’s Haruka Funakubo. In a tense, tactical battle that went into Golden Score (overtime), Bilodid was disqualified after accumulating three penalties (shidos). Following the Paris Games, she briefly stepped away from competition to join the International Judo Federation’s media team, serving as a presenter for the 2025 Baku Grand Slam, though she remains active in training and committed to continuing her competitive career.
Personal Life
Bilodid’s personal life has frequently attracted media attention due to her high profile in Ukraine. She was previously in a relationship with Italian Olympic judo champion Fabio Basile, a pairing that was widely covered by European sports media. Later, she dated Dynamo Kyiv footballer Denys Popov, though the couple eventually separated.
Outside of her romantic life, she is known for her disciplined lifestyle and interest in media. She holds a degree in journalism and has expressed a strong interest in a broadcasting career post-retirement, a path she began exploring with her presentation work in 2025. She currently resides in Kyiv and remains deeply involved in supporting youth sports initiatives in Ukraine.
