Italo Ferreira at a Glance
- Net Worth: $4 Million
- Profession: Professional Surfer
- Nationality: Brazilian
- Birthdate: May 6, 1994
- Birthplace: Baía Formosa, Brazil
- Height: 5’6″ (1.68 m)
What is Italo Ferreira’s Net Worth?
Italo Ferreira has a net worth of $4 million. The Brazilian professional surfer built his fortune through a combination of elite World Surf League (WSL) prize money, lucrative endorsement deals with global brands, and strategic business investments. As the first-ever Olympic gold medalist in surfing and the 2019 World Champion, Ferreira commands one of the highest earning potentials in the sport.
His financial portfolio is diversified beyond competition winnings. While contest victories provide substantial cash infusions—such as the $100,000+ prizes for WSL tour wins—the bulk of his annual income stems from long-term sponsorship agreements. Major partners like Red Bull, Oakley, and Ford leverage his high-energy performance and massive social media following, ensuring a steady revenue stream regardless of contest results. Additionally, Ferreira has expanded into entrepreneurship with his own coffee brand and restaurant partnerships, securing his financial future beyond his competitive career.
Sponsorship Deals
Corporate backing is the primary engine of Ferreira’s wealth. For seven years, he was a marquee athlete for Billabong, a deal that significantly contributed to his early financial stability. In early 2024, that partnership concluded, marking a shift in his business strategy. He subsequently elevated his relationship with Red Bull, moving the brand to the prime “beak” (nose) location on his surfboard—a spot reserved for a surfer’s highest-paying sponsor. Industry analysts estimate top-tier Red Bull head-to-toe deals for world champions to be in the high six-figure range annually.
Beyond energy drinks, Ferreira maintains a portfolio of blue-chip endorsements. He has long-standing relationships with Oakley for eyewear and Timmy Patterson for surfboards. His commercial appeal extends to non-endemic brands as well; he has partnered with Ford and Bridgestone, showcasing his marketability to mainstream audiences in Brazil and abroad. Recently, he aligned with Decathlon, further diversifying his apparel and equipment backing.
Contest Earnings
Ferreira is one of the most consistent prize money earners on the World Surf League Championship Tour (CT). Since joining the elite tour in 2015, he has amassed over $2.5 million in career prize money. His 2019 World Title run alone generated significant earnings, combining event wins at the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal, and the Billabong Pipe Masters.
His success continued into the 2025 season, where he claimed victory at the Surf Abu Dhabi Pro. A standard CT event win typically awards $80,000 to $100,000, depending on the season’s purse structure. Furthermore, his historic gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (held in 2021) earned him a sizeable bonus from the Brazilian Olympic Committee and triggered performance incentives in his sponsorship contracts, likely adding tens of thousands of dollars to his income that year.
Business Ventures
Transitioning from athlete to entrepreneur, Ferreira has launched several business initiatives. In August 2024, he introduced Stoke-Ed Coffee, a specialty coffee brand produced in Chapada Diamantina, Bahia. The brand capitalizes on his personal passion for coffee and his “stoked” public persona. The visual identity of the brand—black and gold—pays homage to his first surfboard and his Olympic achievement.
He is also a partner in Oyá, a restaurant located in Bali, Indonesia, a frequent destination for professional surfers. Closer to home, he founded the Instituto Italo Ferreira in his hometown of Baía Formosa. While primarily a non-profit organization focused on youth development and environmental sustainability, the institute solidifies his brand legacy in Brazil, enhancing his long-term marketability and influence.
Early Life
Italo Ferreira da Costa was born in Baía Formosa, a small fishing village in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. His path to professional surfing is often cited as one of the most inspiring stories in the sport. Lacking the resources to buy a surfboard, he learned to surf using the styrofoam lid of his father’s fish cooler. This humble beginning taught him to read the ocean and fueled a relentless drive to succeed.
His talent was eventually spotted by Luiz “Pinga” Campos, a renowned Brazilian surf scout who discovered other top talents like Adriano de Souza. Under Pinga’s mentorship, Ferreira moved to Guarujá, São Paulo, to train and compete. He quickly rose through the junior ranks, winning the Brazilian percolation circuit and eventually qualifying for the World Championship Tour in 2014, signaling his arrival on the global stage.
Career
Ferreira burst onto the World Surf League Championship Tour in 2015. His rookie season was explosive; he reached the quarterfinals in multiple events and made the finals in Portugal. His dynamic, aerial-heavy style earned him the prestigious Rookie of the Year award, instantly marking him as a future title contender.
The pinnacle of his competitive career arrived in 2019. In a season defined by a fierce rivalry with compatriot Gabriel Medina, Ferreira showcased incredible consistency and grace under pressure. The title race came down to the final heat of the final event at the Billabong Pipe Masters in Hawaii. Ferreira defeated Medina in the final, securing both the Pipe Masters trophy and his maiden World Title. He dedicated the victory to his grandmother and uncle, who had passed away shortly before the event.
Following his world title, Ferreira etched his name in history books at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Surfing made its Olympic debut at Tsurigasaki Beach, and Ferreira dominated the field. despite snapping his board in the opening minutes of the final against Kanoa Igarashi, he recovered to win the first-ever Olympic gold medal in surfing. This victory elevated him to national hero status in Brazil. He has remained a top contender since, consistently finishing in the top tier of the WSL rankings and securing major wins, including the recent 2025 Abu Dhabi Pro title.
Real Estate
Ferreira has invested a portion of his wealth back into his hometown of Baía Formosa. He owns a substantial beachfront property that serves as his primary residence and training base when he is not traveling. The house is frequently featured in his social media content and includes gym facilities and storage for his extensive quiver of surfboards. This investment highlights his connection to his roots, choosing to remain in the small village rather than relocating permanently to major surf hubs like California or Hawaii.
Personal Life
Known for his high energy and deep religious faith, Ferreira is often seen praying before heats and crediting God for his victories. He maintains a disciplined fitness regimen, often training with boxing and high-intensity interval workouts to support his explosive surfing style. While he keeps his romantic relationships relatively private, he is very public about his close relationship with his family and community. His lifestyle revolves around surfing, training, and managing his growing business interests, reflecting a focus on longevity in both sport and commerce.
