Every November, New York City transforms into the ultimate proving ground for endurance, grit, and glory. On 2nd November 2025, the world’s top marathoners will once again charge through all five boroughs in the TCS New York City Marathon, finishing amongst the roaring crowds in Central Park. As one of the six Abbott World Marathon Majors, this event promises high stakes, record-breaking ambitions, and life-changing rewards. And the prize money and the elite lineup this year have made things even more exciting. 

What is the prize money for the 2025 New York City Marathon?

According to the New York Road Runners (NYRR), the men’s and women’s open division champions will each receive US $100,000. The prize pool extends through the top ten finishers, with payouts descending from US $60,000 for second place and US $40,000 for third to US $2,000 for tenth. The total prize pool is around $534,000.

NYRR also awards separate bonuses to top US and Masters competitors, ensuring broader recognition across categories. The wheelchair division offers even greater parity in 2025, with first-place finishers earning US $50,000 each. Prizes continue through tenth place, reflecting NYRR’s commitment to supporting para-athletes at the same elite level as their able-bodied counterparts. Wheelchair racers are also eligible for additional course-record bonuses, providing financial incentives for world-class performances. This robust structure underscores NYRR’s dedication to rewarding excellence, inclusion, and endurance across every division of the iconic New York City Marathon.

But that’s not the only money that the athletes can aspire to chase. There’s also a time bonus that is cumulative with the prize money. 

Are there any performance or record bonuses?

The NYC Marathon has listed a bonus of $50,000 to athletes, male or female, for breaking an existing event record. This bonus is actually limited to the winner of the race, and the athlete must break the record. A tie is not eligible for the bonus prize. For the open division, the record time is 2:05:06 for men. It was set by Geoffrey Mutai in 2013. And women have to break Margaret Okayo’s 2003 record of 2:22:31. 

Of course, the wheelchair division also has time bonuses. For sub-1:29:22 in the men’s category, the bonus is set for $7,500. And for women, going sub-1:43:04 will get them the same amount. NYRR also offers member division time bonuses to reward fast finishes. Male runners earn $1,000 for sub-2:18:00, $750 for sub-2:19:00, and $500 for sub-2:20:00. Female runners receive $1,000 for sub-2:41:00, $750 for sub-2:42:00, and $500 for sub-2:43:00.

While the financial gains are significantly strong, one must wonder if there are runners who can actually break these records? How does the list of contenders look for the NYC Marathon 2025?

Who are the top runners to watch in the 2025 New York City Marathon?

At the forefront stands Eliud Kipchoge from Kenya. With two Olympic gold medals and a former record time of 2:01:09, Kipchoge’s dominance has raised the entropy of the fanbase. In the NYRR podcast, the Kenyan stated, “[I felt] this is the best time to line up at the start of the New York Marathon, reason being I felt that I want to be [among] the big crowd of runners that break their records in the best course ever.”

The pressure is definitely high. After all, Evans Chebet, the third man to win both the NYC and Boston marathons in 2022, will pose a huge threat to Kipchoge. We also need to watch out for Kenenisa Bekele, another one of Kipchoge’s strongest rivals. Additionally, Joe Klecker will carry out America’s hope in the upcoming marathon. The line-up also features the 2024 London Marathon champion, Alexander Mutiso, and the new world marathon champion from Tokyo 2025, Alphonce Simbu. 

In the women’s race, watch for Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands, who headlined the field fresh off a major comeback. The two-time Olympian, Emily Sisson, who won the Boston 10K, will also run in NYC. Well, one has to look out for the fastest marathoner in the USA. Additionally, Daniel Romanchuk and Susannah Scaroni, the defending champions in the wheelchair divisions, will also compete on November 2. 

Now, let’s compare the prize pool forthe  NYC Marathon with other major marathons, shall we?

How does the New York City Marathon prize money compare to other majors?

First and foremost, it’s the prize pool. The Boston Marathon rewarded the winner with a whopping $150,000. That’s about one-third more than what the NYC Marathon is supposed to reward the winner. However, the amount is definitely higher than many other major marathons. Take the Berlin Marathon, for example, where the first prize for the open division is $22,600. Even the Tokyo Marathon gave $3,200 less to the winners in the elite field. Nevertheless, NYC is still a long way from the $250,000 prize for the Nagoya Women’s Marathon. Yes, that’s the current highest prize purse for any marathon in the whole wide world. 

We know that you’re already intrigued about the marathon. Are you wondering about watching the event live?

Where can you watch the 2025 New York City Marathon live? 

US coverage is carried by ESPN and ABC television and the ESPN App streaming platform. NYRR’s official ‘Watch the Race’ page provides live pro-feed streaming and runner tracking tools globally. So, now that you’re all set for the New York City Marathon, do let us know who you’re rooting for the win.