U.S. Olympic track and field legend Ralph Boston had an estimated net worth of $5 million at the time of death, according to multiple sources. Boston was born on May 9, 1939 and died April 30, 2023 aged 83 from complications from a recent stroke.

Much of Boston’s net worth was accrued from his successful career as a track and field athlete. He rose from a large family in segregated Mississippi to become a world record holder and Olympic gold, silver, and bronze medalist in track and field.

Boston is an alumnus of Oak Park High School in Laurel, where he honed his athletic abilities in football, track, and other sports.

He won the National Collegiate Athletic Association long jump title in 1960 while attending Tennessee State University.

At the Mt. SAC Relays in August of the same year, he broke Jesse Owens’ 25-year-old world record in the event. Already the world record holder, he broke it by jumping 27′ 1/2″ at the Modesto Relays on May 27, 1961.

Boston’s final record improvement to 8.35m came at the Modesto Relays in 1965. Ter-Ovanesyan tied it at altitude in 1967. He lost the national title to Jerry Proctor in 1967.

After retirement, Boston worked as the field event reporter for the CBS Sports Spectacular coverage of domestic track and field events.

He was inducted into the USA Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1974 and into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1985.