Karch Kiraly Net Worth [2021 update]

The legendary Olympic athlete Karch Kiraly’s net worth is $2 million.

Kirch Kiraly is a notable volleyball player, coach, and broadcaster.

He was born on born November 3 of 1960, in Jackson, Michigan, United States.

The sixty-year-old volleyball player has played many national and international tournaments and has won many awards throughout his very successful sports career.

He was 6 when he started playing volleyball accompanied by his father. As a result, he took part in a volleyball tournament, and his father, just at 11.

Karch Kiraly playing Volleyball
Karch Kiraly playing Volleyball

Consequently, he commenced playing in the Santa Barbara High School team and was recognized as the most valuable player (MVP) in 1978 in California.

In 1981, he got into the national team and established himself as a solid passer while playing outside hitter. He proved to be an outstanding defender and a highly prolific outside hitter.

The 1984 Olympics were spoiled by the boycott of the Soviet and Eastern bloc teams. Nevertheless, the US National team proved to be the World’s best team after winning the 1985 FIVB World Cup and the 1986 FIVB World Championship.

In addition, he is also the only player (man and woman) to win Olympic gold medals in both indoor and beach volleyball.

He played college volleyball for the UCLA Bruins and won three national championships under head coach Al Scates.

He is the US National Women’s Volleyball Team coach and worked for ESPN and provided color commentary for the AVP on NBC broadcasts.

Additionally, he worked as an analyst for NBC Sports in the 2008 Summer Olympics while covering a Beach volleyball competition. 

Quick Facts

Birth Name Charles Frederick Kiraly
Nickname Karch, “Thunderball in Volleyball”
Date of Birth November 3, 1960
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Age 63 Years Old
Nationality American
Birth Place/City Jackson, Michigan, United States
Wife Janna Kiraly (m. 1986)
Children Kristian Kiraly, Kory Kiraly
Profession Volleyball player, coach, and broadcaster
Net Worth $2 Million
Education  The University of California, Los Angeles(UCLA)
Social Media Twitter, Instagram
Weight 205 lb (93 kg)
Jersey No. 31
Hair color N/A
Skin Tone/Complexion Type II: Fair skin
Last Update April, 2024

Karch Kiraly Net Worth and Income

The very celebrated volleyball player of all time, Karch Kiraly net worth is $2 million.

Named by FIVB as the Best Male Volleyball Player in the World in the years 1986 and 1988. 

Kiraly holds the record in beach volleyball history with 148 career wins, breaking the all-time mark of 139. Kiraly was the first volleyball player ever to make $3 million in beach volleyball prize money.

In 1989 Kiraly played in 16 professional tournaments and brought home $96,378 in prize money.

By 1990 he had gathered his first AVP most valuable player award, winning seven tournaments and $124,625 in prize money.

Karch Kiraly House

The three-time Olympic winner bought a 3,858-square-foot, four-bedroom house in late 2001 for $1.425 million.

The house has been since beautifully renovated.

The gourmet kitchen was outfitted in Thermador and Dacor appliances, Calacatta Caldia marble counters, and a large walk-in pantry. 

In the master suite, the spa-like bathroom has a double shower, dual-basin vanity, and a free-standing tub. 

Kiraly also recently sold his ocean-view house in a gated community of San Clemente for $3.55 million, which contributed to his Net Worth.

Kirch Kiraly Lifestyle and Vacations

Lifestyle

The rich volleyball player lives a lavish lifestyle with his wife and two children in Heber City, Utah.

The athlete is often seemed wearing his hot pink hat.

Karch Kiraly was an easily recognizable figure during his days playing volleyball on the beach.

Vacations

Kiraly is fond of vacationing with his family. He went on a vacation with his wife to Hawaii.

Additionally, while coaching for the national women’s team, he acquires many chances to visit different countries.

Karch Kiraly Charity

Kiraly teamed up with the presenting sponsor of the 2007 US Open in conjunction with USA Volleyball, ‘Crown Imports’ assisted in organizing the US Beach Volleyball that was held in Huntington Beach, California.

Karch Kiraly Endorsements & Book Publications

Endorsements

Kiraly worked as the brand ambassador of ‘The King of the Beach Team and Spalding’ for over 10 years.

With his long-time partner, Kent Steffes, Kiraly, they appeared briefly in the 90s famous TV show ‘Baywatch.’ 

The Hall of Famer also presents himself as a Sports speaker. Karch Kiraly speaking engagements, appearances, and speaking fees range from $5000-$10000. 

Book Publication

His autobiography, i.e., “Karch Kiraly’s Championship Volleyball,” was co-authored by Jon Hastings, published by Simon and Schuster in 1996, and several other books on volleyball were written by him.

This revised edition of the volleyball player’s autobiography “Karch Kiraly’s Championship Volleyball” provides a complete course in volleyball skills, including Serving, Bumping, Setting, Hitting, Blocking Basic and Advanced Team Defense and Offense Strategies.

Several other authors have also written books on his inspirational volleyball career and overall life. 

Career

Kiraly is known for his overall volleyball skill and laser-like concentration. He is regarded as the Greatest of All Time “GOAT”  in Volleyball.

A few of his awards include American Volleyball Professionals, Best Offensive Player, Comeback Player of the Year, Sportsman of the Year, etc.

Subsequently, Kiraly was titled head coach of the US National Women’s Volleyball team to participate in the 2016 Olympics held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Being coached by Kiraly, the Women’s National Team won the FIVB World Championship beating China in the Gold Medal final in the year 2014.

Fortunately, Karch became the fourth person who won a World Championship gold medal as a player and a coach.

Not to mention,  his excellent coaching of the US National women’s team at the 2016 Olympics led the team to a bronze medal, also making himself the fourth player to win medals as a player and a coach. 

Start of Career

Karch started playing volleyball with his father as a young boy and afterward made it a profession because of his intense interest and passion for the game.

At the age of 23, he was pronounced as the youngest player on the ‘gold medal team.’ He played all 19 games of the Olympics competition, which no any of his teammates have played.

In just two seasons, the team was successful in winning many championships such as the Italian volleyball League (1991), the Italian Cup (1991), FIVB Volleyball Men’s Club World Championship (1991), CEV Championships League (1992), and European Supercup (1992).

The famous athlete is also known as the “Winningest Player” in the history of Beach Volleyball. He partnered up with Kent Steffes, and together they won several awards. However, their partnership remained on and off through 1996, but they managed to win 76 titles together.

Young Karch Kiraly on volleyball field
Young Karch Kiraly on volleyball field

Awards and Recognition

In the 1988 Summer Olympics, the team won a second gold medal defeating USSR in the championship match. Kiraly also got chosen as a captain for the 1988 team in Seoul, Korea. FIVB named Kiraly the top player in the world for the years 1986 and 1988

Four times, he has won King of the Beach Invitational (in 1991,1992,1993,1996). Kiraly won five tournaments in 1999, including four AVP-sanctioned events and one at a USA volleyball-sanctioned event. The succeeding year he won the AVP-sanctioned tournament.

Throughout the 1980s, he successfully led the USA National team to become unforgettable in beach volleyball and got into it professionally in 1983.

All the great effort led him to be inducted into the Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2001 and the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 2008.

Kiraly assisted U.S. National team in achieving a gold medal at Summer Olympics in 1984-Men’s tournament event, defeating Brazil in the finals.

He also helped win the 1986 Paris World Championships and 1996 Moscow Goodwill Games.

In the world championship held in 1986, Kiraly was entitled as “world’s best volleyball player” by the president of FIVP, Ruben Acosta.

In fact, being outstanding in both indoor and outdoor volleyball, He has won three Gold Medals in Olympics, being outstanding in both indoor and outdoor volleyball.

 

To sum up, his dedication towards the game has driven him into being a legend and entitled him as the greatest men’s volleyball player of the sports century. 

3 facts about Karch Kiraly

  • Kiraly is the only player to win gold medals in both beach and indoor volleyball.
  • Karch’s name is one of the names remembered as a well-known sportsperson in sports history.
  • Unfortunately, he retired from the US National Team in the year 1989.

FAQs

Why is Karch Kiraly the best volleyball player?

Kiraly has a total win of 148, making him the 'Winningest' Player in sport's history. 
He also won at least one tournament in 24 of the 28 seasons in the span of four years.

How has Karch Kiraly impacted volleyball?

He has won 148 beach volleyball matches and has won over 3 million dollars in prize money.

How did Karch Kiraly get his name?

Karch is derived from the Hungarian “Karcsi,” which translated means, Charlie.

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