Do you get paid if you get a Medal of Honor?

Yes, the Medal of Honor comes with significant financial benefits, primarily a special, tax-free monthly pension from the VA that was recently increased by law in late 2025 to about $5,625 (around $67,500 annually), plus other perks like military benefits and potential uniform/travel allowances, replacing a much smaller stipend that was previously given.

How much money does a Medal of Honor recipient get?

Medal of Honor (MOH) pay is a special monthly pension for recipients, recently increased by the MEDAL Act (signed December 2025) from about $1,400/month to $5,625 monthly (around $67,500 annually) to cover expenses, supplement other benefits, and show national gratitude, with recipients also getting other perks like space-A travel and base access.
 

Do Medal of Honor winners pay taxes?

Medal of Honor Recipient Benefits

A special tax-free Medal of Honor pension of $1,619.34 per month above and beyond any military pensions or other benefits for which they may be eligible.

Is it illegal to sell a Medal of Honor?

Due to the prestige of the Medal of Honor, it is a federal crime to manufacture, sell, or trade these awards without authorization of the federal government. It is also illegal to use unauthorized Medals of Honors to receive benefits, such as money or property.

Has anyone received the Medal of Honor twice?

Yes, 19 U.S. service members have received the Medal of Honor twice, with some receiving two medals for the same action (five Marines for Army/Navy versions during WWI) and others for separate acts of valor in different conflicts or periods, including Smedley Butler and Daniel Daly, two Marines honored for two separate combat actions.
 

How much money does a Medal of Honor recipient receive?

Do Medal of Honor recipients fly for free?

Lifelong air travel privileges covered under DoD regulation 4515.13-R allow MoH recipients to travel on Space-A flights free of charge, including both domestic and international travel. Family members are eligible for these benefits as well, provided the MoH recipient accompanies them on their trip.

Who was the 17 year old Medal of Honor recipient?

Jacklyn Harold "Jack" Lucas (February 14, 1928 – June 5, 2008) was an American Marine in World War II who was awarded the Medal of Honor at the age of 17 as a private first class in the Marine Corps during the Battle of Iwo Jima.

What is the cost of a Medal of Honor?

An inquiry by The Washington Times showed that the Congressional Medal of Honor, awarded for exceptional wartime combat gallantry, costs $29.98 to produce and is made mostly of brass alloy.

Is the Olympic gold medal 100% gold?

No, Olympic gold medals are not made of 100% gold; they are primarily sterling silver (at least 92.5%) and are plated with about 6 grams of pure gold, a standard set by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) since the 1912 Games, with host cities determining the specific design and materials.
 

Do generals salute Medal of Honor winners?

Medal of Honor Recipients are the only individuals saluted by all ranks of the military—including the President. As the only military decoration worn around the neck, the Medal of Honor has evolved since its founding in 1861. Today there are three variants, one for each military branch.

What state has the most Medal of Honor recipients?

These are the states with the most recipients accredited to them as of March 24, 2025:

• New York (677)
• Pennsylvania (380)
• Massachusetts (265)
• Ohio (255)
• Illinois (210)

What military pay isn't taxed?

Tax-Free Benefits for Deployed Military

Hostile fire pay, received when subjected to hostile fire or imminent danger, is entirely exempt from federal income tax. Imminent danger pay, granted for service in locations posing significant risks, is also tax-free.

How much will the Medal of Honor pay in 2025?

Introduced in House (01/23/2025) This bill increases the monthly special pension for living Medal of Honor recipients from $1,406.73 to $8,333.33 and establishes a rate of $1,406.73 for the monthly special pension for surviving spouses of Medal of Honor recipients.

Does the military really give you a pension when you hit 20 years?

You must serve for at least 20 years to qualify for Army pension benefits. After retiring from at least 20 years of service, active-duty Soldiers can start pension pay at any age they choose. Army Reserve and Army National Guard Soldiers can start pension pay after turning 60 years old.

What are the perks of getting a Medal of Honor?

A monthly $1,406.73 pension from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). A 10-percent increase in retired pay, not to exceed the 75 percent maximum, for enlisted recipients who retire with 20 or more years of Military Service. A special Medal of Honor travel and identification card signed by the Secretary of the Army.

What is the most expensive military medal ever sold?

The most expensive military medal ever sold at auction is the Victoria Cross (VC), a prestigious British military decoration awarded for acts of valour and courage in the face of the enemy.

Are gold medals taxed?

Olympic and Paralympic Games medals and prize money are typically not federally taxed unless you have very high income. See IRS 1040 instructions for detailed instructions. State taxes on Olympic and Paralympic Games medals will vary by state.

Has an Olympic gold medal ever been sold?

In 2013, a gold medal won by American runner Jesse Owens at the 1936 Games in Berlin sold for nearly $1.5 million. And, in 2012, Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko sold his 1996 Atlanta gold medal for $1 million to raise money for his charitable foundation.

How much is a 1936 Olympic gold medal worth?

Tokyo Olympic Gold Medal Has a Melt Value of $832, But This One From 1936 Fetched $1.46 MM. If the gold medals awarded at this summer's Olympic Games in Tokyo were made of pure gold, each would carry a precious metal value of $35,556.

How much does Simone Biles get paid for a gold medal?

Simone Biles gets paid $37,500 by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) for each gold medal won at the Olympics, with silver medals paying $22,500 and bronze $15,000, but her major income comes from endorsements, not just these modest medal bonuses. For her Paris 2024 medals (three gold, one silver), she earned $137,000 from the USOPC, though her total earnings are in the millions, largely from lucrative sponsorship deals with brands like Nike, Visa, and Athleta.
 

Why is it illegal to sell a Medal of Honor?

The 2013 Law enhanced fraud protections for the Medal while essentially reaffirming the 2005 prohibition on the sale or purchase of the Medal. The 2013 Law clarified that it was illegal to fraudulently claim that one had received the Medal of Honor in order to obtain “money, property, or other tangible benefit.”

Is Private Doss still alive?

No, Desmond Doss is not still alive; the Medal of Honor recipient died on March 23, 2006, at the age of 87 from respiratory complications, and is buried in the Chattanooga National Cemetery in Tennessee. 

Who was the first black person to get a Medal of Honor?

William Carney becomes first Black American to earn the Medal of Honor | May 23, 1900 | HISTORY.

Why is 1.9 Marines called the Walking Dead?

The 1st Battalion, 9th Marines (1/9) were called "The Walking Dead" due to their extraordinarily high casualty rates and sustained combat in Vietnam, earning the highest Killed in Action (KIA) rate in Marine Corps history, with the name sometimes attributed to enemies promising to destroy them and later adopted by the unit itself as a badge of honor. 

Who won the Medal of Honor in 2025?

Biden awarded the Medal of Honor to seven veterans from the Korean and Vietnam Wars, representing the most recent Medal of Honor Recipients in 2025: Richard E. Cavazos, Charles R. Johnson, Fred B. McGee, Wataru Nakamura, Bruno R.