Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams have spent years entertaining us on the court, but who comes out on top when it comes to the financial battle?
Sports stars make their millions in different ways, from prize money, sponsorships and supports or even hospitality.
Wealthygorilla.com compiled a list of the 25 richest tennis players in the world, including former and current professionals. The usual suspects all play a role, but the first one may come as a bit of a surprise.
The 25 richest tennis players in the world
25. Justine Henin $ 14 million
24. Victoria Azarenka $ 15 million
23. Martina Navratilova $ 15 million
22. Marat Safin $ 15 million
21. David Ferrer $ 16 million
20. Ana Ivanovic $ 16 million
19. Chris Evert $ 16 million
18. Jim Courier $ 18 million
17. Billie Jean King $ 20 million
16. Agnieszka Radwanska $ 25 million
15. Andy Roddick $ 30 million
14. Bjon Borg $ 40 million
13. He Na $ 50 million
12. Anna Kournikova $ 50 million
11. Venus Williams $ 95 million
10. John McEnroe $ 100 million
You can’t be serious! Tennis Hall of Fame John McEnroe tops the top 10 on this list. Its accumulated net worth reaches the mark of $ 100 million.
The seven-time Grand Slam winner will often be featured as part of the BBC commentary team and was famous for his great hair and headband, along with his runs with referees!
9. Andy Murray $ 100 million
The greatest British tennis player ended a 77-year drought for a home winner at Wimbledon in 2013doubling his tally three years later in 2016. He also has a U.S. Open crown in 2012 to complete his Grand Slam hat-trick.
Murray continues to compete, but the 35-year stint at the top of the game seems to have been shortened after he was plagued by injury problems.
8. Maria Sharapova $ 135 million
Maria Sharapova burst onto the tennis scene as a 17-year-old when she won her first Grand Slam title against the glorious Serena Williams, dropping the American in honest sets.
It was not the career she would have hoped for as a successful teenager, in 2016 she was banned after fail a drug test which saw her banned for 15 months, tarnishing her reputation.
She later retired from the sport in 2020 as one of the game’s most famous stars.
7. Pete Sampras $ 150 million
Pete Sampras is already considered one of the greats of the game, he was ATP Player of the Year for an amazing six consecutive years between 1993 and 1998.
The American was very marketable, earning more than double his prize money from his support deals and guest appearances.
6. Andre Agassi $ 175 million
Another American is in the top 10. Andre Agassi, the former world number one, managed to earn more than $ 2 million in prize money after just two years as a professional.
He reached the Golden Slam career, cementing his place as the all-time great of the courts. Unfortunately for Agassi, he had to retire in 2006 due to back problems.
5. Serena Williams $ 180 million
Undoubtedly the greatest female tennis player of all time, Serena Williams has 23 Grand Slam titles add to her abundance of other triumphs and Olympic medals along with her double successes with her sister, Venus.
She is the highest female on this list, which is not surprising when she earns up to $ 20 million annually from her sponsorships and supports.
4. Rafael Nadal $ 180 million
The Clay King must settle for a place just outside the top three. He has 21 Grand Slam wins, with 13 of those coming at Roland Garros, showing their dominance on the clay surface.
Nadal has earned over $ 100 million in prize money, showing how dominant he has been in the sport over such a long period of time.
3. Novak Djokovic $ 200 million
It will not be surprising to see this man in the top three. He is in common with Roger Federer 20 Grand Slam victories secondly behind the 21st of Nadal. He will certainly go as always great.
The current world number one has aroused controversy recently after missing tournaments due to his attitude towards the Vaccine against COVID-19.
2. Roger Federer $ 450 million
Roger Federer is probably the greatest tennis player of all time, however, the Swiss man has to settle for second place on this list.
As one of the most successful players in history, it is no surprise to see him so high.
He has his own clothing brand besides being one of the best-selling athletes in the world, so to see him so far ahead of Djokovic’s likes, in the third, is no surprise.
1. Ion Tiriac $ 2 billion
Who foresaw this ?! Ion Tiriac takes the top spot on this list by quite a margin.
His tennis career is probably the most uninspiring of all 25 players mentioned, but he has earned his billions after hanging up his racket.
The Romanian founded the private bank, Banca Tiriac in 1990, earning his fortune as such. In 2007, he became the first Romanian to make the billionaire list in Forbes magazine.
