Highest Paid Tennis Players 2025: Carlos Alcaraz tops tennis earnings with 48.3 million USD
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Carlos Alcaraz is the highest paid tennis player in 2025 with total earnings of about 48.3 million USD over the last 12 months, before taxes and fees. That includes about 13.3 million USD from prize money and about 35 million USD from off‑court income such as endorsements, licensing, exhibitions and appearance fees. Time window: 12 months ending August 2025, dating to the 2024 US Open through August 2025 (Forbes).
At a Glance
- Leader: Carlos Alcaraz — 48.3 million USD in total earnings, not net worth (Forbes).
- Runner‑up: Jannik Sinner — about 47.3 million USD total (Forbes).
- Top female: Coco Gauff — around 37.2 million USD total, highest among women in 2025 (Forbes).
- On‑court vs off‑court: Prize money is the smaller slice for most stars; endorsements, licensing, exhibitions and appearances drive the majority of tennis earnings 2025 at the very top (Forbes).
- Timeframe: 12 months ending August 2025, measured from the 2024 US Open through August 2025 (Forbes).
- Scope: Total earnings before taxes and fees, combining ATP and WTA players for context. Rankings reflect earnings, not net worth (Forbes).
Methodology
- Definition: “Highest paid” equals total earnings before taxes and fees, combining on‑court prize money with off‑court income from endorsements, licensing, exhibitions and appearance fees (Forbes).
- Primary sources and timeframe: Baseline is Forbes The World’s Highest‑Paid Tennis Players 2025 covering 12 months ending August 2025. On‑court figures are cross‑checked against official ATP and WTA prize money leaderboards; off‑court estimates align to Forbes’ reporting and reputable business media (Forbes) (ATP) (WTA).
- Not included and why: Retired players or primarily non‑tennis personalities are excluded unless Forbes included them in the 2025 tennis list to avoid confusing net worth with yearly earnings (Forbes).
Why Carlos Alcaraz leads commercially in 2025
Statement. Alcaraz wins 2025 on total earnings because his endorsement portfolio and paid appearances outpace competitors, even those with higher prize money, and his brand is resonating in North America and Europe at the same time (Forbes).
Context. While Jannik Sinner posted the year’s leading on‑court total at about 20.3 million USD, Alcaraz’s off‑court income of about 35 million USD, anchored by deals with BMW, Louis Vuitton, Rolex, Nike and Babolat, plus seven‑figure appearance fees, ensures a higher combined number. The US Open’s 2025 purse climbed to a record 90 million USD, lifting on‑court earnings generally, yet the earnings gap at the top still hinges on sponsorship strength and exhibition guarantees in key markets across Canada, the United States and Europe. Alcaraz’s media profile and premium fashion and automotive partners have positioned him as the sport’s top pitchman among active players, which explains the commercial edge over rivals with similar or even superior prize money tallies in the window (Forbes) (ATP).
Comparison. Sinner’s Wimbledon and Australian Open momentum made him the year’s prize money leader, and Novak Djokovic remains a sponsor‑safe global name with an estimated 25 million USD off the court despite a lighter tournament slate. On the women’s side, Coco Gauff’s brand has accelerated quickly with New Balance, Bose and Carol’s Daughter, lifting her to the top of the WTA’s earnings and to third overall in tennis. The pattern is clear for marketers: trophies drive short‑term spikes, but sustained endorsement value and exhibition demand determine who finishes first in total tennis earnings 2025 (Forbes) (WTA).
Key rivals to watch
Jannik Sinner
Sinner’s surge to about 47.3 million USD underscores how a breakout season with multiple majors and a large exhibition payout can rival Alcaraz on totals. He led the prize money table at about 20.3 million USD for the window, then added roughly 27 million USD in off‑court earnings from sponsors including Gucci, Lavazza, Nike, Head and Rolex. That blend shows how on‑court dominance can accelerate endorsement rates in both Europe and North America, though Alcaraz’s appearance‑fee market still provides a small overall edge in 2025 (Forbes) (ATP).
Coco Gauff
Gauff is the highest paid female tennis player 2025 at about 37.2 million USD, combining roughly 12.2 million USD in prize money with about 25 million USD off the court. Her WTA title run and record crowds have expanded her partnership slate in the United States and beyond, and her move to launch a management venture with a major agency signals long‑term intent to scale brand equity. For marketers in Canada, the United States and Europe, Gauff represents the leading case study in WTA athlete ROI in 2025 (Forbes) (WTA).
Novak Djokovic
Djokovic remains a marketing constant with an estimated 25 million USD in endorsements and appearances, supported by partners such as Lacoste, Head, Asics, Hublot and others. Even with a lighter tournament schedule and fewer titles in this period, his global recognition and sponsor stability keep him within the top five of tennis earnings 2025, which highlights the durability of premium athlete brands after peak trophy years (Forbes).
FAQ
Who is the highest paid tennis player in 2025?
Carlos Alcaraz, with total earnings of about 48.3 million USD over the 12 months ending August 2025 (Forbes).
How much did the highest paid tennis player earn in 2025?
About 48.3 million USD in total, split roughly 13.3 million USD on‑court and 35 million USD off‑court before taxes and fees (Forbes).
Who is the highest paid female tennis player in 2025?
Coco Gauff at about 37.2 million USD in total earnings for the same period (Forbes).
Do these totals include endorsements and appearance fees?
Yes. Totals combine prize money with off‑court income from endorsements, licensing, exhibitions and appearance fees, reported before taxes and fees (Forbes).
What time period does 2025 cover for earnings?
The 12 months dating to the 2024 US Open through August 2025, aligned to Forbes’ tennis earnings methodology (Forbes).
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Sources
- The World’s Highest‑Paid Tennis Players 2025. Forbes. August 22, 2025. Forbes
- The World’s Highest‑Paid Tennis Players 2025. Forbes Australia. August 24, 2025. Forbes Australia
- US Open 2025 prize money tops 90 million USD. ATP Tour. August 7, 2025. ATP Tour
- WTA Prize Money Leaders. WTA Media Information PDF. Printed August 25, 2025. wtafiles.wtatennis.com
- Carlos Alcaraz player overview. ATP Tour. Accessed August 26, 2025. ATP Tour
- Coco Gauff profile. Forbes. Accessed August 26, 2025. Forbes
- Novak Djokovic profile. Forbes. Accessed August 26, 2025. Forbes
- Jannik Sinner player overview. ATP Tour. Accessed August 26, 2025. ATP Tour
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