Wang Meng, speed skater

   2010 earning:  10.4 million yuan  (US$1.59 million)

In today's short track speed skating world, Wang Meng is unquestionably the queen. She is the most decorated Chinese Winter Olympic athlete ever with four Olympic gold medals, a silver and a bronze.

In the 2006 Winter Olympics, Wang Meng won gold in the 500-meter event, silver in the 1,000-meter and bronze in the 1,500-meter. She also won the 500-meter and 1, 000-meter gold medals at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and added a third gold medal in the 3, 000-meter relay with the Chinese team.