Rising actors. Biotech entrepreneurs. AI engineers… and Jutta Leerdam.
This year, Nike’s golden girl and Olympic speed skater Leerdam has made Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Europe List – and she’s in good company.
The 27-year-old star has built herself an empire with suitors lining up around the rink with endorsement deals at the ready.
At the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympics, Leerdam won gold for the Netherlands in the 1000m event and set an Olympic record along the way.
And fiance Jake Paul was waiting in the wings as he shared on Instagram a message to their future kids.
He said: “Hey, little kids. It’s your parents. You guys are not even born yet, but we’re making a video for you.
“Your mom is about to go for gold. And I just got her flowers. Your mom is really cute. We love you, even though you’re not born yet.”
It’s a real-life love story: ‘The Problem Child meets the Golden Girl’. But Leerdam’s path to carving her name into the esteemed Forbes list started long before the medal.
Born in South Holland as the third of four kids, Leerdam was named after a successful windsurfing champion due to her dad’s fascination with the sport.
As hyperactivity crept in, Leerdam’s parents pushed her towards field hockey, gymnastics, and tennis. But, aged 11, the future star switched to speed skating.
Junior championships soon followed, then the Olympics.
The skating star delivered the defining performance of her career at the 2026 Winter Olympics, rewriting the record books to claim gold in the women’s 1,000m.
The Dutch sprinter backed it up with a silver in the 500m, underlining her status as one of the standout speed skaters of her generation. It marked another step in a steady Olympic rise, having previously taken silver in the 1,000m in Beijing.
But then it’s what Leerdam has achieved off the rink that makes her a fully-fledged superstar.
The Olympic champion has amassed a huge following of nearly TEN MILLION followers across Instagram and TikTok.
It is clear to see how she has become one of winter sports‘ most visible athletes.
Leerdam’s wide mix of deals shows her pulling in fans from all angles, from hardcore sports brands like Red Bull to luxury giants Dior and Omega, as well as more everyday names like Hema.
Experts think her sponsorships and social media tie-ups are raking in between £400,000 and £550,000 a year, with her overall net worth believed to be around £4 million as of 2026. She also banks around £55,000 per Instagram post.
And then comes Nike.
After claiming her gold at the Winter Olympics with a mix of tears and make-up running down her face, she unzipped her skinsuit to reveal her sports bra and the recognisable tick emblazoned on the front.
Of course the clip went viral and Nike got their ‘Just Do It’ moment.
The marketing stunt is rumoured to have earned Leerdam a whopping £730,000.
So it is a wonder where the 27-year-old will go from here?
Speaking to her millions of followers, Leerdam said: “This is such a pinch me moment that I’m on the Forbes 30 Under 30 List. It’s just so surreal. What is my life? It’s just so crazy. This year was crazy.”
On Instagram, she added: “Wow, this year has been incredible. I got to achieve so many of my goals and dreams.
“I’m just so grateful for the journey, the people around me and everyone supporting me along the way.”
And after seeing the Problem Child’s reaction to Golden Girl’s Olympic win, it is fair to say he’ll be in line to congratulate his future wife. And no doubt he’ll be recording a video for his future kids.
Leerdam met Paul after being invited on his podcast, although she didn’t take his advances seriously at first.
Their relationship blossomed over time and they went public in April 2023 with the YouTuber posting on Instagram captioned “I’m Dutch now.”
Paul popped the question to Leerdam on March 21, 2025, during a romantic getaway in St Lucia, with a beach setting lit up by flowers and candles.
The couple confirmed their engagement the following day on Instagram, calling it “the most magical day of our lives” as the skater showed off her diamond ring.
Despite their demanding schedules – Paul in the boxing ring and Leerdam on the ice – the pair often spend time apart, maintaining a long-distance relationship.
But they stay closely connected through calls, messages and regular visits, while making sure to show up for each other’s biggest career moments.
