Serena Williams needs no introduction to the sporting world. She’s the #1 ranked tennis player and her net worth is conservatively estimated at a cool $145 million. Born in Saginaw Michigan on 26 September 1981, Serena Jameka Williams is the quintessential female tennis player with a drive and determination that is virtually unmatched in the sporting world. She has amassed her fortune through sponsorships, salary and other endorsements for her tennis prowess. Her meteoric rise to fame and fortune began in 2002 and has continued to the present day. Banc De Binary financial analysts have conducted an extensive examination of the astonishing success of Serena Williams and this is what has been conjured up.
Serena Williams’ annual earnings figures are the following:
Earnings in 2002 – $12 million
Earnings in 2003 – $10 million
Earnings in 2004 – $12.7 million + Nike fashion sponsorship $40 million
Earnings in 2005 – $10 million
Earnings in 2006 – $14 million
Earnings in 2007 – $14 million with salary career prize money of $1.28 million
Earnings in 2008 – $17 million with salary career prize money of $3.85 million
Earnings in 2009 – $20 million (career prize-money of $6.55 million)
Earnings in 2010 – $12 million
Earnings in 2011 – $13 million
Earnings in 2013 – not applicable + sponsorship $12 million + salary $8.5 million plus sponsorship (Nike + Kraft Foods) $15 million
Earnings in 2014 – $22 million (salary $11 million + sponsorship endorsement $11 million)
Earnings in 2015 – $24.6 million (sponsorship $13 million + salary $11.6 million)
An Amazing Pedigree: Unparalleled in the World of Female Sports
Serena Williams is the most bankable female athlete, having won the #1 ranking 5 times with $36 million in prize money. She’s also a gold Olympic medalist with top accolades being achieved at the Beijing Olympics and the Sydney Olympics. She has a total of 21 Grand Slam titles to her credit and is the youngest of 5 daughters to Oracene and Richard Williams. She routinely competes alongside her sister Venus Williams – another superstar in the tennis world. Nowadays, Serena Williams resides in Palm Beach Gardens Florida. On the Forbes money list of the world’s highest-paid athletes, Serena Williams weighs in at #47 with $24.6 million in 2015 to date. She is regularly featured on the Forbes lists, rising as high as #55 in Power Women in 2010, #69 in the Celebrity 100 in 2014, and #55 in the World’s Highest-Paid Athletes in 2014. Serena Williams has been in the limelight for two decades and her star is shining as brightly today as it did when she first burst onto the tennis scene.
Serena Williams’ Star Power Shines Bright
One of the most acclaimed calendars of all time – the Pirelli calendar - will be featuring Serena Williams in 2016. While this is rather risqué, it has a massive following and it typically showcases the world’s most glamorous and sexy supermodels. The Williams sisters are also part owners of the Miami Dolphins. Other superstars that are also part owners of the team include Jennifer Lopez and Marc Antony. Serena Williams has number 89 and Venus Williams has number 11 on the team. Their stake in the NFL’s Miami Dolphins team was solidified in 2009, making them the first female African-American athletes to become part owners of an NFL franchise. The owner of The Dolphins – Stephen Ross – was delighted at the inclusion of the Williams sisters as part of his team’s ownership. This deal not only helps to expand the fan base, but it also gives the Williams sisters much greater fanfare.
What Financial Assets Does Serena Williams Have?
Serena Williams is not only about ownership and possession – philanthropy is a big part of her life too. Her charitable trust is geared towards helping underprivileged children. Her name is widely associated with multiple global charities, such as World Education, Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital in London and Build African Schools. Serena Williams has moved away from standard commercial endorsements and is now taking stock positions in many of the brands that she is helping to promote. Among others, she has partial ownership in HSN, Mission, and Sleep Sheets. She is the owner of an apartment in the middle of Paris, a $3 million mansion located in Palm Beach Florida and another mansion in the Bear’s Club development owned by Jack Nicklaus. She also owns a $50,000 Audemars Piguet diamond watch and a Rolls Royce Bentley.
How Do the Williams Sisters Measure Up?
Many people regularly question which of the two sisters has won more prize-money. There is no doubt that both Williams’ sisters are a force to be reckoned with on the international tennis circuit. Together they have 13 Grand Slam Doubles Tournaments. While Serena Williams’ net worth is estimated at $145 million, her sister Venus has a net worth of approximately $75 million. The two sisters have played against one another innumerable times on the court, and in the US Open, they have a record of 16 going Serena’s way and 11 going Venus’ way. On the career prize-money leaders of the World Tennis Association (WTA), both Serena Williams and Venus Williams are in the top 3 as at 26 October 2015. In #1 position is Serena Williams (from the USA) with total career earnings of $74,083,421, in position #2 is Maria Sharapova (from Russia) with total career earnings of $35,834,486 and in position #3 is Venus Williams (from the USA) with total career earnings of $31,905,015.
Despite the stats, Maria Sharapova actually earned more in endorsements than Serena Williams and she is ranked at #26 on the world’s highest-paid athletes on the Forbes money list. Money aside, Serena Williams outranks and out-muscles everyone on the tennis court with a 6:1 win/loss ratio throughout her impressive career. She even won all 4 Majors one after the other – a feat rarely achieved by any athlete in tennis. And if she continues with her stellar run of form, she will tie with Steffi Graf as the all-time record holder with singles Grand Slams at 22. Sadly, one of the reasons why she’s not earned more endorsement deals could very much be linked to her musculature and big frame. Some analysts have pointed to the fact that she is African-American and not tall, demure and blonde like Maria Sharapova. Regardless, there is no denying her incredible ability on the tennis court and the fact that she is a money magnet for any brand that she is associated with. Perhaps it’s the fact that women’s tennis simply doesn’t have the appeal of men’s tennis and bigger endorsement deals are still a ways off!
