Paris Olympics 2024 gold medals contain 6 grams of gold worth $950

The Paris Olympics 2024 has seen athletes from around the world compete for the coveted gold, silver, and bronze medals. But have you ever wondered what these medals are actually made of?

According to Forbes, the gold medals awarded at the Summer Games weigh 529 grams, but surprisingly, they contain only 6 grams of gold. 

The majority of the medal is made up of 505 grams of silver and 18 grams of iron.

The value of the gold medals can be calculated based on the current prices of gold, silver, and iron.

As of July 26 when the World Olympics kick started, the gold medals are worth approximately $950. 

However, if they were made entirely of gold, they would be worth around $41,000.

Interestingly, medals made entirely of gold were last awarded at the 1912 Olympics. The rising price of gold has made it impractical to continue this tradition.

The gold medals awarded at the 2024 Paris Olympics are the most expensive in modern sports history, surpassing the previous record of $708 set at the 2012 London Olympics.

One unique feature of the medals awarded at the Paris Olympics 2024 is the hexagonal piece of iron placed between the medals. 

This 18-gram piece of iron is taken from the famous Eiffel Tower in Paris, making it a truly special and valuable component of the medals.