The Premier 10 Wealthiest Tennis Competitors in History
Professional tennis players are known to earn a significant amount of money, with some even reaching hundreds of thousands or even millions in a single tournament. This doesn't even include the money they make from endorsement deals, business ventures, and other partnerships. Here are ten of the wealthiest tennis players in history:
1. John McEnroe - $100 Million
John McEnroe is one of the most controversial figures in tennis history. Known for both his excellent tennis skills and hot temper, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles in the 1980s, all of which were at Wimbledon and the US Open. He also took home seven Tour Finals titles and five Davis Cup titles playing for the US team. During his career, McEnroe earned $12.5 million in prize money. With his likable personality, he was able to secure several lucrative sponsorships, like Sergio Tacchini, a massive company in 80s tennis.
2. Andre Agassi - $145 Million
Andre Agassi was a successful player in the 1990s, acquiring eight Grand Slam singles titles and an Olympic gold medal among his many achievements. He retired in 2006. Along with his wife, Steffi Graf, they are the only players in tennis history to have a Career Golden Slam. Agassi earned $31.1 million in prize money. After retiring, he founded Agassi Graf Holdings with his wife, who have made numerous investments and given back to the world through the Andre Agassi Foundation for Education.
3. Pete Sampras - $150 Million
Pete Sampras ruled the men's tennis scene in the 1990s, boasting 14 Grand Slam titles. He was best known for his serve-and-volley style, which helped him win seven Wimbledon titles. He ranks fifth in ATP Tour history in terms of earnings, securing over $43.2 million during his career. Sampras earned $5.7 million in 1997, his most successful year. Wilson supplied him with clothing and footwear while he was active, and he's also been sponsored by Nike, Dannon, and Pizza Hut.
4. Andy Murray - $165 Million
Andy Murray is an icon in the UK, winning two Wimbledon titles. He's also taken home a US Open title, finished as runner-up at the Australian Open five times, and won the French Open once. He's the fourth-highest earner on the ATP tour, making nearly $62.7 million in prize money. He's been sponsored by brands like Adidas, Royal Bank of Scotland, Head, and Under Armour. This year, he partnered with celebrity nail artist Michelle Humphrey for a Wimbledon-inspired nail collection.
5. Maria Sharapova - $180 Million
Maria Sharapova was one of the most feared competitors on the women's tennis tour, becoming the winner of all four Grand Slams. She first won a Grand Slam at Wimbledon in 2004 at just 17 years old. The former world number one retired in 2020 at the age of 32. Sharapova has earned the fourth-highest amount of prize money in WTA Tour history, making nearly $39 million. She was a very marketable player, landing sponsorships with Motorola, Tiffany, and Porsche, among others.
6. Rafael Nadal - $200 Million
Rafael Nadal, the greatest male clay court player in the world, currently has 22 Grand Slam men's singles titles to his name and is the only male player to have completed the career Grand Slam twice. He also won two Olympic gold medals. Nadal has earned an impressive $130.6 million in prize money. He's been sponsored by Nike since 2008, who provide his clothing and footwear. He's also collaborated with Emporio Armani and PokerStars, and has been a global ambassador for Kia Motors since 2004.
7. Novak Djokovic - $220 Million
Novak Djokovic has dominated both the men's tennis world and the ATP Tour for years alongside Federer and Nadal. He's the highest-earning tennis player in terms of prize money, with $156.5 million in his pocket. However, this list is ranked according to total wealth, which would place Djokovic in third place. He has a long-standing deal with Nike and has also worked with Emporio Armani, PokerStars, and Kia Motors.
Djokovic is a 20-time Grand Slam winner and the only player to have won all 9 ATP Masters 1000 events multiple times, with a total of 38 titles.
He has also collaborated with various companies and has several business ventures through his family's investment company. Djokovic owns several restaurants in Serbia called Novak Cafe & Restaurant.
3. Serena Williams - $250 Million
Serena Williams is regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time. She holds the second-highest Grand Slam singles title count, at 23, just behind Margaret Court in the Open Era, and has won a total of 73 career singles titles.
With her sister Venus, she's been successful in doubles, winning 22 titles, including 14 Grand Slams and three Olympic gold medals.
No female tennis player has earned more than Serena Williams, who has amassed more than $94.5 million in career prize money. Her marketability is also a significant factor in her wealth.
She currently has deals with Nike, Aston Martin, Beats by Dre, Bumble, Pepsi, and many more companies.
2. Roger Federer - $550 Million
In second place, we have Roger Federer, often described as the greatest male tennis player of all time. He shares second place with Djokovic in Grand Slam wins (20) after Nadal, who has won one more.
Federer holds the record for the most Wimbledon championships, with a total of 8.
His earnings from prize money reach $130.5 million, but endorsements contribute significantly to his wealth. He works with companies like Mercedes-Benz and Nike. Federer also has a $300 million 10-year deal with Uniqlo that started in 2028, three times as much as his Nike earnings.
1. Ion Tiriac - $1.2 Billion
The final name on this list is probably unfamiliar to many. Ion Tiriac was a tennis player who managed to win just one Grand Slam title - the men's doubles at the 1970 French Open. Before this, he played ice hockey for Romania at the 1964 Winter Olympics.
Tiriac's immense fortune comes from his investments. He founded the first private bank in post-communist Romania and also started several businesses in different industries.
In 2007, he became the first Romanian to be included on the Forbes billionaires list.
If you liked this, go check out our list of the wealthiest racing drivers and the most affluent MMA fighters.
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