Professional Athletes Turn to Side Jobs to Fund Their Careers
In Southern California, many professional athletes are facing a difficult financial reality. Despite their success in sports, the high cost of living in cities like Los Angeles is forcing some to look for creative ways to earn money. One example is Avery Poppinga, a professional beach volleyball player who recently shared her story about the challenges of being an elite athlete.
Poppinga, a graduate of Loyola Marymount University, explained that the life of a professional athlete is very expensive. Between travel for competitions, training equipment, and basic needs like food and rent, the costs add up quickly. For many women in sports like beach volleyball, the prize money from tournaments is often not enough to cover these daily expenses.
To bridge this financial gap, Poppinga and other athletes have started using OnlyFans, a subscription-based social media platform. While the site is often known for other types of content, these athletes use it as a side job to fund their professional sports careers. Poppinga stated that the extra income helps her pay for her children’s food and the high annual costs of competing at a high level.
This situation highlights a larger issue for professional women athletes in the United States. Many of them have to juggle multiple side jobs or live with several roommates just to continue playing the sports they love. In expensive regions like Southern California, having a professional title does not always guarantee financial security.
As the cost of living continues to rise, more athletes may find themselves in similar positions. For now, players like Poppinga are doing whatever is necessary to stay in the game. Their stories show the hard work and dedication required to be a professional athlete today, even when the financial rewards are not enough to pay the bills.