The popularity of tennis as a sport has grown significantly over the years, mostly due to the improvement in the level of competitiveness that the players have shown with each passing day. There is no runaway leader in this sport and every now and then, a new rivalry has popped up to enthral fans around the world. Just the fact that this sport does not have an undisputed king or queen and that the legacies of the greatest players are challenged every day, speaks volumes about the Herculean efforts that the players put in to keep themselves in good shape. Their toils also reap great dividends, for standing in 2023, a sizeable number of tennis players rank among the richest personalities in the world of sports.
For decades, it has been observed that the best tennis players of an era have all amassed immense wealth and lead a life of luxury which, perhaps, is unimaginable for most athletes. Brands chase these players with endorsement deals worth millions of dollars, and they continue to remain the faces of these companies long after they have retired from the sport. Legends such as Roger Federer and Serena Williams continue to make headlines, even though both of them have drawn curtains on their respective professional tennis careers. Such is the privilege that tennis players enjoy.
While it makes sense to make a list of the richest tennis players who are still playing professionally, like Novak Djokovic, based on their respective net worth, the exclusion of someone of Federer or Williams’ stature from the list might fail to underline the magnanimity of the sport in terms of what it gives back to the players who dedicate their lives to it. Given that both these legends, and a lot more like them, have been great ambassadors of the game, it is only fitting that their names remain etched with tennis for eternity.
So on that note, let’s take a closer look at the richest tennis players in the world in 2023. The list features both men’s and women’s tennis players who are simply the best of the best. Check it out.
Net worth in 2023: USD 6.7 billion
Referred to as the “epitome of a late bloomer”, Jessica Pegula showed a remarkable turnaround in her form as she took giant strides in the world of professional tennis. Currently ranked third in the WTA singles rankings and sixth in the WTA doubles rankings, the 29-year-old American tennis player is one of the busiest players to play the sport at present. However, it is her staggering net worth that has turned the heads of many netizens. According to various reports, Jessica Pegula, as of 2023, has an estimated net worth of USD 6.7 billion. That’s right, billion not million!
The billionaire earns over USD 10 million per year, according to Forbes, and enjoys a rich endorsement portfolio that includes brands like Adidas, Yonex and Ready Nutrition. However, her massive net worth is largely courtesy of her parents, Terry and Kim Pegula, who are billionaires themselves.
Net worth in 2023: USD 2 billion
A former tennis and ice hockey player, Ion Tiriac is popularly known as the Brasov Bulldozer. At the age of 84, the Romanian has seen it all― he has won the 1970 French Open men’s doubles title, was part of the Romanian national ice hockey team at the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria, has acted as the President of the Romanian Tennis Federation, has been an advisor and coach to several tennis players including a young Boris Becker, and has been a successful entrepreneur as well.
Ion Tiriac currently heads the Tiriac Group which has interests in real estate, automobiles and financial services. He is the proud owner of an enviable car and motorcycle collection that boasts more than 400 vehicles, including cars previously owned by famous personalities such as Al Capone and Elton John. According to Forbes, Ion Tiriac, in 2023, has a net worth of around USD 2 billion, making him one of the richest former athletes of all time across all disciplines of sports.
Net worth in 2023: USD 550 million
One of the greatest legends in the history of tennis, Roger Federer has been an inspiration for several sportspersons across the globe. The Swiss maestro bid a teary-eyed farewell to tennis in September 2022 amidst all of his contemporary tennis players, including famous rivals Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. A record eight-time winner of the Wimbledon Open, Roger Federer is often referred to as the “King of Grass” by fans and experts alike. With 20 Grand Slam titles under his belt, the 42-year-old former tennis player will forever be remembered for his eloquent backhand shot and polite demeanour.
Given his massive accomplishments, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that Roger Federer was ranked as the world’s highest-paid athlete in 2020 by Forbes. According to a report by Celebrity Net Worth, Federer has a massive net worth of around USD 550 million in 2023. Forbes also mentioned that the Swiss legend has earned over USD 1 billion throughout his career and that his annual earnings in 2023 stand close to USD 95.1 million, making him one of the richest tennis players and athletes today, even after a year of his retirement.
Net worth in 2023: USD 290 million
For 27 years, Serena Williams has ruled over women’s tennis in both the singles and doubles disciplines, the latter alongside her sister and partner-in-crime Venus Williams. Like Roger Federer, Williams drew the curtains on her professional tennis career in September 2022. Now a mother of two daughters, Serena Williams is the most successful woman in the history of tennis and one of the most successful players in the history of the sport regardless of gender. She has won 23 Grand Slam titles in her career and remains the only tennis player to date to win a career Golden Slam (winning all four Grand Slam events in a single calendar year) in both singles and doubles events.
According to Forbes, Serena Williams, in 2023, has a net worth of around USD 290 million. She was featured in Forbes’ list of The World’s Highest-Paid Athletes in 2023 with an annual income of USD 45.3 million even after retiring from professional tennis. Williams is undoubtedly one of the richest female tennis players (and athletes) in 2023.
Net worth in 2023: USD 240 million
The current world number two in the ATP men’s singles rankings and winner of a record-tying 23 Grand Slam titles, including a record 10 Australian Open titles, Novak Djokovic is a modern-day legend and one of the greatest players in the history of tennis. The former world number one Serbian superstar has already won two Grand Slam titles in 2023 (the 2023 Australia Open and the 2023 French Open), has reached the final of the 2023 Wimbledon Open and will be looking to sign off the ongoing calendar year in style with a win at the 2023 US Open. In the past, Forbes has featured him in its list of The World’s Highest Paid Athletes (in 2021). Even in 2023, Djokovic remains one of the wealthiest tennis players in the world with an impressive net worth of USD 240 million, according to a report by Celebrity Net Worth. The 36-year-old Serbian has been ageing like fine wine and one might argue that, when his time comes to hang his boots, he will bid the sport farewell as the greatest legend to have ever held a racket.
Net worth in 2023: USD 220 million
Even though he has been missing from action for most of 2023, Rafael Nadal still ranks among the best tennis players in the world in 2023. A true icon, Nadal has won a total of 22 Grand Slam titles in his career so far, including a record 14 French Open crowns. The 37-year-old Spanish player has shared fabled rivalries with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, and even if he were to retire today, Nadal would leave behind one of the richest legacies in the world of tennis.
According to a report by Celebrity Net Worth, Rafael Nadal has a net worth of around USD 220 million. He has amassed a whopping USD 125 million-plus from his time on the ATP tour since 2001. The ace tennis player also enjoys endorsement deals with Nike, Santander, Heliocare, Telefonica, Tommy Hilfiger and a number of other popular brands. Rafael Nadal, though absent from the top 100 of the ATP men’s singles rankings due to his limited time on the tennis court this year, remains one of the richest players of the sport in 2023.
Net worth in 2023: USD 180 million
One of the best tennis players of all time, Maria Sharapova has always exuded class and incredible match-winning skills on the tennis court. She remains the only Russian to date to have achieved the feat of winning a career Grand Slam. Her other accomplishments include reaching the summit of the WTA singles rankings at the tender age of 18 and winning five major titles― two at the French Open and one each at the Australian Open, the Wimbledon Open and the US Open.
Maria Sharapova bid farewell to professional tennis in 2020, but that did not impact her wealth by any means. According to a report, Maria Sharapova’s net worth in 2023 stands at approximately USD 180 million. The former tennis star continues to endorse brands such as Nike and Evian, making her one of the richest tennis players in 2023.
Net worth in 2023: USD 150 million
Regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, Pete Sampras is the owner of 14 Grand Slam titles, including seven Wimbledon titles (which was a record back when Sampras retired) and a joint record five US Open tiles. Sampras also holds the Open Era record for holding the number one rank in the ATP men’s singles rankings at the end of the year for six consecutive years (from 1993 to 1998). The former American ace tennis player retired from professional tennis after winning the final match of his career against long-time rival Andre Agassi at the 2002 US Open title match. Even after two decades of retirement, Pete Sampras remains one of the richest tennis players in the world with a net worth of USD 150 million, according to a report by Celebrity Net Worth. Nicknamed ‘Pistol Pete’ owing to his precise and powerful one-handed backhand, Sampras was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2007.
Net worth in 2023: USD 145 million
An Olympic gold medallist and winner of eight Grand Slam titles, Andre Agassi is widely considered to be one of the greatest tennis players of all time. To date, Agassi remains the only player to have won the career Super Slam (winning the career Grand Slam, the Olympic gold medal and the year-end championships). Andre Agassi was also the first man to win all four Grand Slams (singles events) on three different surfaces (hard, clay and grass). He is also the most recent American man to have won the French Open (in 1999) and the Australian Open (in 2003). The American had his professional tennis career cut short due to several injuries and health concerns that forced him to retire in 2006.
Andre Agassi, despite being retired from tennis for nearly 17 years, is still one of the wealthiest players in the sport. According to reports, Agassi’s net worth, in 2023, stands at an impressive USD 145 million (approximately). He has been married to former German tennis player Steffi Graff since 2001 and the duo remains the most glamorous tennis couple to date.
Net worth in 2023: USD 105 million
Completing the hallowed quartet of the tennis world alongside Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray is widely regarded as one of the greatest British players to have ever played the sport. While he might have lost some steam in the past few years, Murray remains a force to be reckoned with. At the age of 36, Andy Murray might not be an outright favourite to win any major title, but one can never rule out an upset.
Apart from posing a serious threat to the likes of Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, Murray also possesses a hefty net worth. According to a report by CAknowledge, Andy Murray’s net worth, in 2023, is estimated to be USD 105 million, making him one of the richest tennis players in 2023. The British player was also featured by Forbes in its list of The World’s Highest-Paid Athletes in 2017. A winner of three Grand Slam titles (the US Open in 2012, and the Wimbledon Open in 2013 and in 2016), the world is not ready for Andy Murray to hang up his boots yet.
– Who is the richest tennis player of all time?
Jessica Pegula is the richest tennis player of all time with a mind-numbing net worth of USD 6.7 billion.
– Which tennis player has the highest net worth?
Jessica Pegula has the highest net worth among all the tennis players in the world. Her net worth, in 2023, stands at around USD 6.7 billion.
– Which female tennis player is the richest of all time?
Jessica Pegula is the richest female tennis player of all time.
(Main Image Credits: Courtesy Instagram/@Roger Federer and Instagram/@Maria Sharapova)
(Featured Image Credits: Courtesy Instagram/@Roger Federer)
This article first featured on Augustman.
Uddipta writes about sports and watches besides occasionally venturing into the world of automobiles and technology. He was associated with the Indian Express in the capacity of a sub-editor at their Lifestyle ..Read More
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