The gold exempt list is the 20 most marketable players on the tour. The WTA takes the 16 highest ranked players, plus four other marketable players, and rearranges them with popularity with fans.
These players have to commit to 13 events a year in order to recieve a cash bonus, of about 20 grand. The higher you are the more you recieve
GOLD EXEMPTWC means regardless of your ranking you get MDO if you so wish.