Gaius Appuleius Diocles was a Roman chariot racer, known not only for his incredible success on the track but also for amassing a fortune that makes him the wealthiest athlete in history. Born in 104 A.D. in what is now Portugal, Diocles embarked on his racing career at the age of 18, quickly gaining fame for his daring and strategic racing style. Over the course of 24 years, he participated in an estimated 4,257 races and secured victory in an astounding 1,462 of them. His ability to survive the perilous world of chariot racing was what set him apart from others who often perished within a few short years of entering the sport.
Chariot racing in ancient Rome was not just a sport, but a highly dangerous spectacle that drew massive crowds to arenas like the Circus Maximus. Twelve racers, pulled by teams of horses, would circle the track seven times in a race that often ended in crashes, injuries, or even death. Competitors wore little protective gear, and unlike their Greek counterparts who held reins in their hands, Roman charioteers tied the reins around their waists. While this freed up their hands for better control of the horses, it also posed a deadly risk; if their chariot crashed, they could be dragged across the track by the horses, often leading to fatal injuries.
Despite the deadly risks, Diocles became a master at surviving the chaos. He was known for his strategy of staying behind the pack for most of the race, avoiding collisions, and then surging forward at the last possible moment to claim victory. This style of racing allowed him to avoid many of the crashes that ended the careers and lives of less experienced racers. His incredible longevity in the sport made him a legend, and his success on the track made him incredibly wealthy. By the time he retired, Diocles had earned 35,863,120 sesterces, a sum so vast that it could have paid the annual wages of nearly 30,000 Roman soldiers.
What makes Diocles’ wealth even more remarkable is its modern equivalent. Historians estimate that his total earnings would be worth around $12.7 billion today, making him richer than some of the wealthiest athletes in modern history, such as Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods. Despite this immense fortune, Diocles did not pursue a life of luxury or political power. Unlike other prominent figures of his time who used their wealth to gain influence, Diocles retired quietly to a small town in what is now Italy, living out his days in relative seclusion. His choice to step away from public life, despite his wealth and fame, only adds to the mystery of his character.
