April 15, 2024 
Ranked 19th in the world, 30-year-old Nicola Philippaerts (BEL) has already amassed an impressive resume.
He competed in his first Olympics at age 22. He’s ridden for Belgium at the World Equestrian Games (2018) and World Championships (2022), not to mention three World Cup Finals, four Nations Cup Finals and three European Championships. He’s a standout talent among her peers.
But the best is still to come—2024 is trending to be Philippaerts best yet.
At least, for his bank account.
In less than four months, the Philppaerts twin has earned €338,209 in prize money, according to his Jumpr stats. That’s a figure on par with his total earnings in 2019 (€385,204) and roughly half of what he earned every year from 2021 through 2023.
For context, he took home less than €50k during the same period last year.
At his current rate, Philippaerts is poised to crack the million euro in earnings for the first time this year. You know who else takes home that kind of annual paycheck? Kent Farrington.
And if Philippaerts keeps pace with the past month, it’ll be closer to two million.
Most of his 2024 earnings have come in the past 30 days in North America with 12-year-old Zangersheide mare H&M Luna van’t Ruytershof (€142,310) and 11-year-old Selle Français gelding Derby de Riverland (€45,799).
The stand out star of his American tour is “Luna.”
In the past two weeks, they’ve jumped to three podium finishes on the Longines Global Champions Tour, taking a 1.50m win and 1.55m third place finish in Miami and their first 1.60m Grand Prix title in Mexico City.
On Sunday, Philippaerts and the chestnut mare topped a five horse jump off as one of only two double clears in Peter Grants course—and, in doing so, booked their ticket to the GC Playoffs in November.
“She has a heart of gold, she is a real lion when she gets in the ring,” said Philippaerts. “She really deserves this win.”
It’s Philppaerts first LGCT Grand Prix win since 2018. And sets in motion the possibility for the first Super Cup father-son record.
Ludo Philippaerts, Nicola’s father, was the very first Longines Global Champions Tour Champion of Champions, securing the overall Championship in 2006.
Can Nicola were to repeat the feat, nearly 20 years later? He’s going to try.
“It means a lot, of course. To be able to jump the LGCT Super Grand Prix is a real honor and I can’t wait to compete there.”
The LGCT next heads to Shanghai for the fourth leg of the season.
