Highest Paid Tennis Players 2010-2011
Tennis players are some of the highest paid athletes in the world because the most successful players are seen up close on worldwide television throughout the year. Unlike certain team sports, there are no helmets or teammates to distract the fan’s attention. We
all know what Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams look like because we’ve seen their faces so often up close on TV. As a result, there are many tennis players who have earned A LOT of money over the past year (through July, 2011). The top ten on the list is split evenly between men and women and includes tennis players from eight different countries. Last year the top ten earned $171 million in total and for this year that figure increased to $193 million with $10.5 million being the cut-off to crack the top ten.
• Roger Federer: He may have only one title so far in 2011, but he’s averaged eight a year since 2003. As a result, Federer is the highest paid tennis player with over $47 million in earnings from prize money, endorsements, exhibitions (he can earn $1 million per exhibition outside the US) and appearances fees. Federer has negotiated deals with sponsors Nike (a ten year deal worth more than $10 million per year), Wilson, Credit Suisse, Jura, Lindt, National Suisse, Gillette, Mercedes-Benz, Rolex and NetJets.
• Rafael Nadal: Rafa earned $10 million in prize money and $31 million in total earnings including endorsements and exhibitions. Nadal’s sponsors include Nike, Babolat, Kia Motors, Richard Mille. Nadal also modeled for Giorgio Armani and was a spokesperson for the Bacardi “Champions Drink Responsibly” campaign.
• Maria Sharapova: With over $25 million in total earnings, Sharapova, a three-time Grand Slam champion, is the highest-paid female athlete in the world. Maria’s sponsors include Nike, HEAD, Evian, Clear Shampoo, Sony Ericsson, Tiffany and Tag Heuer. Sharapova inked a ten year Nike deal in 2010 and earns royalties on sales of her Nike apparel, sales of which rose 26% in 2010. Sharapova has also designed shoes and bags for Cole Haan and her ballet flat was the best-selling shoe at Cole Haan.
• Novak Djokovic: Novak earned nearly $11 million in prize money and a total of $18 million including endorsements and exhibitions through July of this year. Current sponsors include Sergio Tacchini, HEAD, FitLIne and Telekom Srbija. That list is sure to expand given his success in 2011.
• Andy Murray: He has yet to win a Grand Slam, but Murray still collected $13.5 million in prize money and endorsements. Adidas pays him $4 million a year and he is also sponsored by HEAD and Royal Bank of Scotland.
• Andy Roddick: He won the U.S. Open in 2003 and was the top-ranked American for years until Mardy Fish dethroned him in 2011, but Roddick still took home $13 million in prize money and endorsements. Sponsors include Lacoste, Babolat, SAP and Lagardere.
• Caroline Wozniacki: At the age of twenty-one, Caroline is still seeking her first Grand Slam title, but she has been ranked Number One for more than a year and collected $12.5 million in prize money and endorsements. Wozniacki wears Stella McCartney for adidas and is also sponsored by Yonex, Compeed and Oriflame.
• Venus Williams: Venus has her own clothing line, EleVen, which is distributed through the Gilt Groupe, as well as sponsor deals with Wilson, Electronic Arts, Kraft, Ralph Lauren and Tide. In total, Venus earned $11.5 million.
• Kim Clijsters: A three-time U.S. Open champion, Australian Open champion Clijsters earned $11 million.
• Serena Williams: Serena’s endorsements include Nike, Wilson, Hewlett-Packard, Kraft, Electronic Arts and Gatorade. Despite her injuries and absences, Serena’s earnings were still $10.5 million.
• Roger Federer: He may have only one title so far in 2011, but he’s averaged eight a year since 2003. As a result, Federer is the highest paid tennis player with over $47 million in earnings from prize money, endorsements, exhibitions (he can earn $1 million per exhibition outside the US) and appearances fees. Federer has negotiated deals with sponsors Nike (a ten year deal worth more than $10 million per year), Wilson, Credit Suisse, Jura, Lindt, National Suisse, Gillette, Mercedes-Benz, Rolex and NetJets.
• Rafael Nadal: Rafa earned $10 million in prize money and $31 million in total earnings including endorsements and exhibitions. Nadal’s sponsors include Nike, Babolat, Kia Motors, Richard Mille. Nadal also modeled for Giorgio Armani and was a spokesperson for the Bacardi “Champions Drink Responsibly” campaign.
• Maria Sharapova: With over $25 million in total earnings, Sharapova, a three-time Grand Slam champion, is the highest-paid female athlete in the world. Maria’s sponsors include Nike, HEAD, Evian, Clear Shampoo, Sony Ericsson, Tiffany and Tag Heuer. Sharapova inked a ten year Nike deal in 2010 and earns royalties on sales of her Nike apparel, sales of which rose 26% in 2010. Sharapova has also designed shoes and bags for Cole Haan and her ballet flat was the best-selling shoe at Cole Haan.
• Novak Djokovic: Novak earned nearly $11 million in prize money and a total of $18 million including endorsements and exhibitions through July of this year. Current sponsors include Sergio Tacchini, HEAD, FitLIne and Telekom Srbija. That list is sure to expand given his success in 2011.
• Andy Murray: He has yet to win a Grand Slam, but Murray still collected $13.5 million in prize money and endorsements. Adidas pays him $4 million a year and he is also sponsored by HEAD and Royal Bank of Scotland.
• Andy Roddick: He won the U.S. Open in 2003 and was the top-ranked American for years until Mardy Fish dethroned him in 2011, but Roddick still took home $13 million in prize money and endorsements. Sponsors include Lacoste, Babolat, SAP and Lagardere.
• Caroline Wozniacki: At the age of twenty-one, Caroline is still seeking her first Grand Slam title, but she has been ranked Number One for more than a year and collected $12.5 million in prize money and endorsements. Wozniacki wears Stella McCartney for adidas and is also sponsored by Yonex, Compeed and Oriflame.
• Venus Williams: Venus has her own clothing line, EleVen, which is distributed through the Gilt Groupe, as well as sponsor deals with Wilson, Electronic Arts, Kraft, Ralph Lauren and Tide. In total, Venus earned $11.5 million.
• Kim Clijsters: A three-time U.S. Open champion, Australian Open champion Clijsters earned $11 million.
• Serena Williams: Serena’s endorsements include Nike, Wilson, Hewlett-Packard, Kraft, Electronic Arts and Gatorade. Despite her injuries and absences, Serena’s earnings were still $10.5 million.
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