10 Richest Female Tennis Players in the World: (A 2025 Net‑Worth Break Down)
Updated on
Published on
Discover the richest female tennis players by definition and by the numbers. You will see the official WTA all‑time prize money leaderboard, the latest 12‑month earnings for women from Forbes, and reliable net worth snapshots where reputable publications publish figures. The result is a clean answer to who is the richest female tennis player, who is the highest‑paid woman this year, and who dominates over a career.
Your Next Reads on Tennis:
At a glance
- Serena Williams is number one by all‑time career prize money with $94,816,730. (WTA).
- Coco Gauff is the highest‑paid woman in tennis over the last 12 months with an estimated $37.2 million in total earnings. (Forbes).
- By credible net worth reporting, Serena Williams leads with about $350 million. (Forbes).
- Other top current earners include Aryna Sabalenka ($27.4M), Qinwen Zheng ($26.1M), and Iga Świątek ($24M). (Forbes).
What “richest” means here
- All‑time prize money is the most objective lifetime tally, published by the WTA. It measures only on‑court winnings. WTA Tennis
- Annual earnings combine on‑court prize money with off‑court income such as endorsements and appearance fees, showing who is top this year. Forbes publishes the best known list on a rolling 12‑month basis. Forbes Africa
- Net worth is an estimate of overall wealth. Only a few athletes have current, well‑sourced figures from reputable outlets, so we cite those sparingly. Forbes
Who is number one
- Richest by net worth: Serena Williams, with an estimated $350 million in 2025, reflecting on‑court earnings, two decades of premium endorsements, and significant investments. Forbes
- Richest by all‑time prize money: Serena Williams with $94.8 million officially recorded by the WTA. WTA Tennis
- Highest‑paid woman in the last 12 months: Coco Gauff at $37.2 million total earnings before taxes and fees. ForbesForbes Africa
All‑time prize money leaders
The WTA’s official ledger shows the career totals through August 25, 2025.
- Serena Williams — $94,816,730
- Venus Williams — $42,684,864
- Iga Świątek — $41,349,048
- Simona Halep — $40,236,618
- Maria Sharapova — $38,777,962
- Victoria Azarenka — $38,637,495
- Petra Kvitová — $37,543,615
- Aryna Sabalenka — $37,240,242
- Caroline Wozniacki — $36,441,868
- Angelique Kerber — $32,519,180.
Why this matters: prize money is comparable across eras, but it does not include endorsements, exhibitions, equity deals, or business income. That is why annual earnings and net worth often tell a different story. WTA Tennis
Highest‑paid female tennis players over the last 12 months
Forbes tracks total earnings before taxes and fees, combining on‑court and off‑court income for the 12 months ending August 2025. Four women make the list this year.
- Coco Gauff — $37.2M total ($12.2M on‑court, $25M off‑court). Forbes
- Aryna Sabalenka — $27.4M total; Forbes notes about $15M from endorsements. Forbes
- Qinwen Zheng — $26.1M total; fast‑rising off‑court income linked to major global sponsors. Forbes
- Iga Świątek — $24M total ($9M salary and winnings, $15M endorsements). Forbes
These are the right figures to answer who is the highest‑paid female tennis player in 2025. They will shift next season as results and sponsorship cycles change. Forbes Africa
Net worth snapshot
Only a handful of players have credible, current net worth estimates published by major outlets.
- Serena Williams — about $350M in 2025. Forbes
- Maria Sharapova — about $220M as last reported by Forbes when she appeared on its America’s Self‑Made Women list. Date‑stamped context is important here. Forbes
Caution on net worth: many websites guess. Where reliable publications do not publish numbers, we avoid listing them. Forbes
What drives wealth for the richest female tennis players
Three engines create outsized fortunes. First, longevity at the top builds large prize money totals that compound across majors and WTA 1000s. Second, global endorsements in categories like footwear, apparel, watches, banking, tech and personal care often eclipse on‑court earnings for marketable stars. Third, equity and founder roles turn sponsor relationships into ownership, a major reason why Serena Williams tops net worth lists even after stepping away from the tour. Forbes Africa
Methodology
- All‑time prize money: WTA’s official “Career Prize Money Leaders” PDF, printed August 25, 2025. Amounts are exact to that publication date. WTA Tennis
- Annual earnings: Forbes “World’s Highest‑Paid Tennis Players 2025,” a 12‑month window ending August 2025 that combines on‑court and off‑court income. Where accessible, individual Forbes profile pages provide athlete‑level breakdowns. Forbes
- Net worth: only reputable publications with explicit figures and timestamps are cited. Serena Williams’ 2025 number comes from Forbes’ rich‑list coverage; Maria Sharapova’s last Forbes net worth is noted with its original year. Forbes+1
FAQ
Who is the richest female tennis player right now?
Serena Williams by net worth, at roughly $350 million in 2025.
Who is the richest woman in tennis by prize money?
Serena Williams again, with $94.8 million in official WTA career earnings.
Who is the highest‑paid active female tennis player this year?
Coco Gauff with $37.2 million in the last 12 months, combining $12.2M on‑court and $25M off‑court.
Which other women are close on annual earnings?
Aryna Sabalenka ($27.4M), Qinwen Zheng ($26.1M), and Iga Świątek ($24M).
Sources
- WTA Media Information. Career Prize Money Leaders. PDF printed August 25, 2025.
- WTA. Serena Williams player page. Prize money total and career summary.
- Forbes. The World’s Highest‑Paid Tennis Players 2025. August 22–25, 2025 coverage and reprints.
- Forbes. America’s Richest Women Celebrities 2025. Serena Williams net worth.
- Forbes. Maria Sharapova net worth, America’s Self‑Made Women list archive.
