One of the most popular sports that is played by millions worldwide, tennis has some of the biggest tournaments in the sporting world. With the likes of Wimbledon, US Open, Australian Open and French Open watched by millions around the world, tennis is also a wealthy sport.
Here, we look at the top ten richest tennis players of all time.
| Rank | Riches Tennis Players | Net Worth | Career Span | Grand Slam Wins | Brand Endorsements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ion ?iriac | US $1.6 Billion | 1968 – 1979 | Nil | Nil |
| 2 | Roger Federer | US $900 Million | 1998 – present* | 20 | Uniqlo, Nationale Suisse, Credit Suisse, On, Rolex, Lindt, Sunrise, Jura Elektroapparate, Gillette, Wilson, Barilla, Moët & Chandon, Mercedes-Benz |
| 3 | Novak Djokovic | US $220 Million | 2003 – present* | 20 | Telekom Srbija, FitLine, Adidas, Sergio Tacchini, Audemars Piguet, Uniqlo, Mercedes-Benz, Seiko, ANZ, Jacob's Creek, Orlando Wines, Lacoste, Raiffeisen Bank International, Ultimate Kronos Group |
| 4 | Serena Williams | US$ 200 Million | 1995 – present* | 23 | Puma, Nike, Wilson, Gatorade, Delta Air Lines, Aston Martin, Pepsi, Audemars Piguet, Beats by Dre, IBM, Intel, Chase Bank, Tempur, Mini, OPI Products |
| 5 | Rafael Nadal | US $190 Million | 2001 – present* | 20 | Kia Motors, Nike, Lanvin, Quely, Richard Mille, Emporio Armani, PokerStars, Babolat, Tommy Hilfiger |
| 6 | Andre Agassi | US $175 Million | 1986 – 2006 | 8 | Prince Graphite, Donnay, Adidas, Nike, Head, DuPont, Jacobs Creek, Kia Motors, Deutsche Bank, Canon, American Express, Mazda, Longines, Nintendo Wii, LVMH |
| 7 | Sir Andy Murray | US $165 Million | 2005 – present* | 3 | Adidas, Shiatzy Chen Royal Bank of Scotland, Highland Spring, Castore, Head, Rado, Under Armour |
| 8 | Pete Sampras | US $150 Million | 1988 – 2002 | 14 | Nike, Wilson, Pizza Hut, Dannon |
| 9 | Maria Sharapova | US $135 Million | 2003 – 2020 | 5 | Motorola, Land Rover, Canon, Tag Heuer, Tiffany, Gatorade, Tropicana, Nike, Fred Perry, René Lacoste, Head, Porsche, Cole Haan |
| 10 | John McEnroe | US $100 Million | 1979 – 1992 | 7 | Dunlop, Sergio Tacchini, Nike, Bic Razor, American Express, Tesco, Mercedes, Heineken, Seat Altea |
Career Span: 1968 – 1979
You might have thought it would be Federer at the top of this list, and you wouldn’t be the only one. Federer on this occasion has to take the second place, as the richest tennis player of all time is former Romanian professional and businessman Ion ?iriac.
Hailing from Transylvania, ?iriac started his professional sports career as an ice hockey player with Romania’s national team before switching to tennis in 1968. He won the 1970 French Open men’s doubles with compatriot Ilie N?stase and even reached the Davis Cup finals multiple times during his career. Although he never won a singles’ Grand Slam title, ?iriac’s career-best rank was No. 8 and he managed to amass 22 career trophies during his career.
Following his tennis career, ?iriac entered the world of business, in which he has thrived and become one of the wealthiest athletes ever. Involved in numerous businesses across the retail, insurance, auto leasing and airlines industries, ?iriac tops the list as the wealthiest tennis player of all time.
Career Span: 1998 – present*
Sponsors: Uniqlo, Nationale Suisse, Credit Suisse, On, Rolex, Lindt, Sunrise, Jura Elektroapparate, Gillette, Wilson, Barilla, Moët & Chandon, Mercedes-Benz
The greatest of all time. Without a question, the finest player to have ever played the sport. Roger Federer has not only been successful on the court but off it as well.
The richest active tennis player, Federer has a whopping net worth of US$900 million, which he has amassed over his 23-year career. Holding the joint most titles for male players with 20 Grand Slams, Federer has been the undisputed king of the sport.
With his dominance on the court, Federer has attracted multiple world-renowned brands over the years that have partnered with the Swiss legend to help him grow his own brand value. Over his illustrious two-decade career, brands such as Rolex, Gillette, Wilson, Mercedes-Benz, Nike and many others have seen Federer cement his place as not only the greatest player of all time but one of the wealthiest players ever as well.
Career: 2003 – present*
Sponsors: Telekom Srbija, FitLine, Adidas, Sergio Tacchini, Audemars Piguet, Uniqlo, Mercedes-Benz, Seiko, ANZ, Jacob’s Creek, Orlando Wines, Lacoste, Raiffeisen Bank International, Ultimate Kronos Group
A modern-day great in the era of Federer and Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic has cemented himself as a force to be reckoned with. With 20 Grand Slam titles and multiple illustrious records such as the Double Career Grand Slam and Non-Calendar Year Grand Slam, and with the record of being World No.1 for the most number of weeks with a record 354, the Serbian star will go down in history as one of the greats of the game.
Along with his on-court success, Novak Djokovic has endorsed a host of brands over his career as well. After almost two decades in the sport, Djokovic is one of the most recognisable faces, and with a net worth of over US$200 million, he ranks high in the richest tennis players list as well.
Also Read: Novak Djokovic’s Rivalries and Legacy
Career: 1995 – present*
Sponsors: Puma, Nike, Wilson, Gatorade, Delta Air Lines, Aston Martin, Pepsi, Audemars Piguet, Beats by Dre, IBM, Intel, Chase Bank, Tempur, Mini, OPI Products
Regarded as the greatest female tennis player of all time, Williams’ record speaks for itself. With 23 Grand Slam titles only one behind the all-time record of Margaret Court, Williams has been one of the most dominant forces in women’s tennis in the modern era.
Serena Williams holds the record for most major titles in singles, doubles and mixed doubles categories among the active players and is joint-third on the list of total major titles won. Having built one of the strongest on-court partnerships with her sister Venus, both players have cemented their names in the sport’s history books.
The younger Williams, with endorsement deals with Nike, Gatorade, Wislon, Aston Martin, IBM, and Beats by Dre among others, has also built a brand by herself. With a net worth of US$200 million, Williams is the richest female tennis player of all time.
Also Read: Serena Williams – The Journey So Far
Career: 2001 – present*
Sponsors: Kia Motors, Nike, Lanvin, Quely, Richard Mille, Emporio Armani, PokerStars, Babolat, Tommy Hilfiger
The King of Clay. The boy who challenged the king. Rafael Nadal has a special place in the history of tennis. His 20 Grand Slam titles make him one of the sport’s all-time greats.
Apart from his rivalry with Federer and Djokovic, Nadal holds the record for the most number of titles at a single tournament (French Open – 13), and his 81 consecutive wins on clay is the longest single surface win streak.
A youth icon, Nadal has partnered with the likes of Kia Motors, Nike, Emporio Armani, Tommy Hilfiger among others, which has seen his net worth rise to a staggering US$190 million.
Also Read: Rafael Nadal: A wobble or a greater concern?
Career: 1986 – 2006
Sponsors: Prince Graphite, Donnay, Adidas, Nike, Head, DuPont, Jacobs Creek, Kia Motors, Deutsche Bank, Canon, American Express, Mazda, Longines, Nintendo Wii, LVMH
The Punisher himself, the former World No. 1 and eight-time major champion: Agassi is an American great.
Having started his career in 1986 at the age of 16, Agassi took his first major title in 1987. He took his first Grand Slam title in 1992, winning the Wimbledon, and is a four-time Australian Open winner. He is also the only person to do the career Super Slam (career Grand Slam and Olympic gold medal) and is the second person to achieve the career Grand Slam.
Having dominated the sport for two decades, Agassi remains one of the richest tennis players of all time, having endorsed brands such as Adidas, Nike, DuPont, Ebel, Mountain Dew, Kia Motors, American Express, Deutsche Bank and Jacob’s Creek among others over his decorated two-decade career.
Career: 2005 – present*
Sponsors: Adidas, Shiatzy Chen Royal Bank of Scotland, Highland Spring, Castore, Head, Rado, Under Armour
One of Britain’s finest tennis players, Sir Andy Murray completed the Big Four (alongside Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic) in the mid 2000s. Besides three Grand Slams, Sir Andy also holds the record for being the only male tennis player till date to have won two Olympic gold medals.
Over the course of his career, Murray has partnered with the likes of Adidas, Head, Under Armour, Castore, Rado and Highland Spring among others, which see him get a place on the list of the all-time richest tennis players.
Career: 1988 – 2002
Sponsors: Nike, Wilson, Pizza Hut, Dannon
Known for his precise and powerful serves, Pistol Pete is a 14-time Grand Slam winner. With 64 singles titles and having spent a total of 286 weeks at the No. 1 ranking, Sampras was and remains one of the greats. His rivalry with Andre Agassi was one of the finest, and Sampras till date is considered the finest server-and-volley player in the game’s history.
As one of the most successful players of his generation, Sampras unquestionably holds a spot on the list of the richest tennis players of all time.
Career: 2003 – 2020
Sponsors: Motorola, Land Rover, Canon, Tag Heuer, Tiffany, Gatorade, Tropicana, Nike, Fred Perry, René Lacoste, Head, Porsche, Cole Haan
One of the most recognisable faces in the sport’s history, Maria Sharapova needs no introduction.
After making her debut in 2003, Sharapova rose to international stardom, becoming World No.1 in 2005 at the age of 18. A five-time Grand Slam winner and with 36 major titles, Sharapova was one of the most successful female players of her generation. Outside tennis, she was a brand magnet, and with endorsement deals with the likes of Nike, Cole Haan, Motorola, Gatorade, Tropicana, Fred Perry, Tag Heuer and Tiffany among others, Sharapova sits pretty on the list of the richest tennis players of all time.
Career: 1979 – 1992
Sponsors: Dunlop, Sergio Tacchini, Nike, Bic Razor, American Express, Tesco, Mercedes, Heineken, Seat Altea
Although he was known for his confrontational on-court behaviour, McEnroe was one of the finest players to his generation. With 77 singles titles and 78 major titles, he ended his career with seven Grand Slams, and his 1984 season record of 82-3 remains the best single season win rate.
While McEnroe’s on-court behaviour landed him in trouble with match officials, it also made him a brand magnet. Having endorsed the likes of Nike, Mercedes, American Express, Bic, Dunlop and Sergio Tacchini among others, McEnroe earns a place on the list of the all-time richest tennis players.
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