Charles Frederick “Karch” Kiraly is an American volleyball player, coach, and broadcast announcer. He played for his country in the Olympics for over a decade and had an amazing career.
Being a three-time Olympic gold medalist, Karch has a net worth of $2 million. In this article, we will write about Karch Kiraly’s net worth and income, including his personal and professional life.
About Karch Kiraly
Kiraly was born in Santa Barbara, California on November 3, 1960. His mother’s name is Antoinette Kiraly. His father, Laszlo Kiraly, was a member of the Hungarian junior national volleyball team. Kiraly majored in biochemistry in college and considered a career in medicine after graduation.
Kiraly and his wife, Janna, live in Heber City, Utah, with their two sons, Kristian and Kory. With his father’s encouragement, he began playing volleyball at the age of six. Kiraly competed in his first beach volleyball tournament at the age of 11 with his father.
Career
Karch debuted in the national team in 1981. He won silver medals at the NORCECA Championships in 1981 and 1987. He also won gold medals in 1983 and 1985, representing the United States.
He completed the Volleyball triple crown by winning gold medals in 1984 at the Olympic Games, World Cup in 1985, and World Championship in 1986. In 1988, he received the MVP award and gold medals as team captain at Olympic Games and the Savin Cup and Pan American Games in 1987. Between 1990 and 1992, Karch played professional volleyball in the Italian leagues right after winning two gold medals.
He and his teammates of II Messagero won the World Club Championship in 1991. He retired in 1992.
Karch worked as a commentator for the AVP on N.B.C broadcasts. He also worked as an ESPN broadcaster. In 2008, he was an analyst for N.B.C. Sports for their Summer Olympics beach Volleyball sports coverage.
He began coaching his sons Kristian and Kory. He led the U.S. National Women’s Volleyball team in 2012, and the team won a silver medal at the London Olympics.
The authority chose him to be the head coach of America’s National Women’s Volleyball Team in 2012 for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. And in October 2014, his team defeated China in the Gold Medal final at the FIVB World Championship.
Thus, he became the fourth individual to win World Championship gold medals both as a player and a coach.
He also led the American women’s national volleyball team to their first-ever gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Karch Kiraly’s Net Worth Details
Karch Kiraly’s net worth is estimated to be $2 million as of 2025. He earned this wealth mainly through his volleyball deals and his fair share of investments. Besides, he has various other income sources besides a Volleyball career.
Salary
Karch Kiraly earns around $0.4 million per year through volleyball partnerships, endorsements, and other business ventures.
As an amateur, he received $80k per year. However, it increased with time and his position.
In 1990, he won a gold medal with prize money of $13,200 at the AVP Pro Beach Ball tournament out of $60k. In 1991, he and Steffen won $0.15 million prize money out of $0.25 million. By 2008, he earned a good amount of prize money. He earned a total of around $3 million in prize money.
Besides, he has also been a part of Tv shows and media. He worked as a broadcaster for ESPN. He was also a guest speaker on many occasions for years. Moreover, In 2005, he was a commentator and Sports analyst for AVP broadcasts on N.B.C. Sports.
He produced the film Spiker. In Baywatch, he played “Kurt Stevenson,” a beach volleyball player. And in 2013, he appeared in the ‘Court and Spark’ film.
Karch also earns through social media platforms. He constantly posts pictures and updates his life on his Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. He has around 3k followers on Facebook, 15k followers on Twitter, and 1575 followers on Instagram.
Endorsements
Quiksilver, RayBan, Scott Hawaii, Freestyle, and many more.
Quick Facts
| Full name | Charles Frederick “Karch” Kiraly |
| Nickname | “Karch” |
| Birthdate | November 3, 1960 |
| Birthplace | Jackson, Michigan, U.S. |
| Age | 62 years old |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 6’2″ (1.88 m) |
| Weight | 205 lb (93 kg) |
| League | NBA |
| Profession | Volleyball Player |
| School | Santa Barbara High School |
| College | The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) |
| Team | Joined the US National team in 1982 |
| Jersey Number | #31 for UCLA
#15 for USA |
| Olympics Gold | 1984 – Los Angeles (Indoor)
1988 – Seoul (Indoor) 1996 Atlanta (Beach) |
| World Championships | 1986 France (Gold) |
| Parents | Laszio Kiraly and Antoinette Kiraly |
| Relationship status | Married to Janna Kiraly |
| Children | Kristian Kiraly
Kory Kiraly |
| Net Worth | $2 million |
| Merch | Autobiography, Autograph, Trading Card |
| Social Media | Facebook
|
Spouse
Kiraly is married to Janna Kiraly, and they live in Heber City, Utah, with their 2 sons, Kristian and Kory.
FAQs
1. Who is Karch Kiraly and why is he considered a volleyball legend?
Karch Kiraly is a former American volleyball player and current coach, widely regarded as the greatest male volleyball player of all time. He is the only athlete to win Olympic gold medals in both indoor (1984, 1988) and beach volleyball (1996). His career includes numerous accolades, including being named the FIVB Best Player of the 20th Century.
2. What are Karch Kiraly’s major achievements in volleyball?
Kiraly won three Olympic gold medals (1984, 1988 for indoor; 1996 for beach), NCAA championships with UCLA (1979, 1981, 1982), and 148 professional beach volleyball titles. He also led the U.S. Women’s National Team to its first-ever Olympic gold in 2020 as a coach, completing a unique “triple crown” in volleyball.
3. What was Karch Kiraly’s college volleyball career like?
At UCLA, Kiraly played from 1978 to 1982 under coach Al Scates. His teams won three NCAA championships and had a remarkable 123–5 record over four years. He earned All-American honors every year and graduated cum laude with a degree in biochemistry.
4. How did Karch Kiraly transition from player to coach?
After retiring from professional play in 2007, Kiraly began coaching at St. Margaret’s Episcopal High School and later joined the U.S. Women’s National Team as an assistant coach in 2009. He became head coach in 2012, leading the team to historic successes, including an Olympic gold medal in Tokyo 2020.
5. What makes Karch Kiraly unique in Olympic history?
Kiraly is the only player to win Olympic medals in both indoor and beach volleyball categories. Additionally, he is one of only two individuals to win Olympic golds as both a player and a coach, achieving this milestone with the U.S. Women’s National Team in 2020.
6. How has Karch Kiraly influenced volleyball beyond playing?
Kiraly has shaped the sport through coaching, broadcasting, and writing books on volleyball techniques. His leadership brought innovation to U.S. women’s volleyball, culminating in their first Olympic gold medal in 2020. The annual Karch Kiraly Award also honors top collegiate outside attackers.
7. What challenges has Karch Kiraly faced in his life?
In 2017, Kiraly was diagnosed with colon cancer but kept it private until entering remission in 2021. Despite this challenge, he continued coaching and led the U.S. Women’s National Team to an Olympic gold medal during this period.
8. Where does Karch Kiraly live and what is known about his personal life?
Kiraly resides in Heber City, Utah, with his wife Janna and their two sons, Kristian and Kory. His father, Laszlo Kiraly, was also a volleyball player for Hungary’s junior national team before immigrating to the U.S., inspiring Karch’s early interest in the sport.
9. What records did Karch Kiraly set during his beach volleyball career?
Kiraly holds the record for most professional beach volleyball titles with 148 wins across four decades of competition. He earned over $3 million in prize money and partnered with multiple players, most notably Kent Steffes, with whom he won his Olympic gold medal in beach volleyball.
10. What are Karch Kiraly’s plans for the future?
In October 2024, it was announced that Kiraly would transition to coaching the U.S. Men’s National Volleyball Team for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles after leading the women’s program to multiple medals across three Olympics. This marks another chapter in his storied career as a leader in volleyball.
