The Melbourne Cup prize money for the winning horse is currently around AUD 4.5 million, with the total prize pool typically in the range of AUD 8–10 million depending on the year and sponsors. In recent years the standard breakdown has been approximately:
- 1st place: around AUD 4.4–4.5 million
- 2nd place: around AUD 1.1 million
- 3rd place: around AUD 550,000
- 4th place: around AUD 350,000
- 5th place: around AUD 230,000
- 6th–12th places: around AUD 160,000 each
- 13th–24th places: typically around AUD 100,000 each
Notes:
- The exact figures can vary slightly year to year due to prize pool changes, sponsorship arrangements, and adjustments announced by the Victoria Racing Club and race organizers.
- For the 2025 race, several outlets report a winner prize near AUD 4.5 million with the overall pool around AUD 8.66–10 million depending on the source.
If you’d like, I can pull the latest official breakdown for the current year or summarize how prize money is allocated to owners, trainers, and jockeys.
