In the competitive professional sports arena, the world’s highest-paid female athletes 2024 are more than just champions of their disciplines. They are trailblazers who have broken barriers and set new standards, not only in skill and perseverance but also in achieving recognition and equal compensation. This select group, led by tennis players renowned for their court successes and bolstered by stars from other sports, exemplifies the blend of athletic excellence with commercial appeal.
Their earnings reflect personal triumphs and a broader impact on the sports world and society. Athletes like Iga Świątek and Eileen Gu exemplify how dedication and talent can pave the way for future generations, challenging stereotypes and advocating for gender equality. Their stories highlight the journey towards a more inclusive and equitable sporting landscape, showcasing the role of female athletes as role models and agents of change.
This introduction celebrates these athletes not only for their financial success but also for their contributions to advancing women’s sports and inspiring the next wave of talent.
This data shows the female athletes with the highest estimated incomes in 2023 (in million U.S. dollars), according to Forbes. None of the highest-paid female athletes made the top 50 in Forbes’ most current edition of the highest-paid athletes list, which looked at earnings between May 2022 and April 2023.
Iga Świątek: $23.9 million
23-year-old Iga Świątek is a Polish professional tennis player, currently ranked world No. 1 by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA). She has held the position for a total of 95 weeks. The highest earner on the list, Świątek, has won millions on the court, in prize money, and off it, in the form of endorsements, which have only increased as of 2024. She won the French Open in 2023 and nabbed the trophy in 2022 and 2020. She is a 2022 US Open winner, which makes her a four-time major singles champion. Świątek has a total of 19 singles titles to her name.
On the endorsements front, Swiatek has deals with Visa, On apparel and shoes, Oshee sports drink, technology services giant Infosys, and Porsche. It is a publicly known fact that her tennis idol is Rafael Nadal, and her fans have compared her huge topspin groundstrokes to her idol’s. Swiatek is also lauded for her impressive forehand, with a heavy emphasis on spin, excellent returns, and a consistent backhand. Her athleticism allows her to slide a lot on hard courts, and her grit has helped her sail through matches.
The young sports star has credited her father for encouraging her to be a tennis professional. A self-confessed introvert, Świątek, as a child, didn’t harbor dreams of becoming a famous tennis player. Her defining moment came at her first Junior Grand Slam at Roland Garros when mesmerized by the venue of perfect red clay courts and the sporty spirit of Parisian tennis, Świątek determined to work harder and get better. Today, she is living her aspirations.
Eileen Gu: $22.1 million
21-year-old Gu is a freestyle skier who was born in San Francisco but represented China, her mother’s home country, in competitions. She has competed for China in halfpipe, slopestyle, and big air events since 2019. At age 18, she became the youngest Olympic champion in freestyle skiing after winning gold and silver medals at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. With this, she became the first freestyle skier to win three medals at a single Winter Olympics.
Global endorsements account for a large chunk of Gu’s earnings. She represents Chinese sports brand Anta and Mengniu Dairy, and models for some of the world’s biggest fashion, jewelry, and makeup brands, including Louis Vuitton, Victoria’s Secret, Estée Lauder, and Tiffany & Co.
Gu’ss decision to compete for China has stirred controversy in her home country. She decided to ski for China as it would give millions of girls in the country a chance to see what they can achieve on the snow. Skiing is a nascent sport in China and Gu hopes to spotlight the sport while serving as a role model for females in the country.
Gu enjoys considerable popularity in China and uses a nickname that translates to””Frog Princess” on her Chinese social media accounts. “Gu’s decision to compete for China has stirred controversy in her home country. She decided to ski for China as it would give millions of girls in the country a chance to see what they can achieve on the snow. Skiing is a nascent sport in China and Gu hopes to spotlight the sport while serving as a role model for females in the country. Gu enjoys considerable popularity in China and uses a nickname that translates to “Frog Princess” on her Chinese social media accounts.
Gu was raised by her mother and maternal mother. She is a Buddhist and plays the piano as a hobby. She has credited piano playing for her success on snow, as reported in this Classic FM article.
Coco Gauff: $21.7 million
Cori Dionno “Coco” Gauff came to worldwide attention when she won the 2023 US Open at just age 19. Gauff, who turned pro at age 14 in 2018, had a dream debut in the following year, winning over Venus Williams in the first round of Wimbledon and reaching the fourth round. She won her first WTA tournament in the same year, reached her first major final in women’s doubles at the 2021 US Open, and her first major singles final at the 2022 French Open. She has reached a career-high of world No. 3 in singles and world No. 1 in doubles.
Gauff’s achievements have brought in sponsorship deals, including with Bose, Baker Tilly, and USP. A Marvel superhero fan, she has appeared in an ad for 2023 movie, The Marvels, and featured on a limited-edition cover of an Invincible Iron Man comic book.
Gauff’s US Open win drew cheers from the Obamas, who were in the Arthur Ashe stadium stands to watch the tennis star’s first-round victory. Zina Garrison, who at Wimbledon in 1990 became the first Black woman to play a major final since Althea Gibson, has credited Gauff with bringing personality and identity to women’s tennis, which she believed, had been lacking for the past few years.
Emma Raducanu: $15.2 million
22-year old Emma Raducanu is a British professional tennis player and a former British No. 1. She holds the distinction of being the first British woman to win a Grand Slam singles title since Virginia Wade at the 1977 Wimbledon.
Raducanu made her debut in 2021 and as a wildcard entry at Wimbledon, reached the fourth round. She won the 2021 US Open, instantly becoming tennis’s darling and attracting numerous endorsement offers. Her sponsorship portfolio includes Nike, Wilson racquets, Tiffany & Co, Dior, British Airways, Evian, Vodafone, Porsche, HSBC, and AirWayz. The bulk of her earnings comes from her sponsorship deals.
Since her historic US Open win, Raducanu has struggled to maintain her form due to a spate of injuries and illnesses, which saw her world ranking tank to No. 299 in 2022. She has also caused a stir after going through five coaches in two years.
Naomi Osaka: $15 million
27-year-old Naomi Osaka is a former world No. 1 in singles holder and the first Asian player to hold the top rankings in singles. She has won two Australian Open and two US Open titles, as well as seven WTA Tour titles. She is the first woman to win successive major singles titles since Serena Williams in 2015.
Osaka was born to a Japanese mother and Haitian father in Osaka, Japan, and moved to New York when she was three years old. She turned professional in 2013, shortly before her 16th birthday and came to prominence in the same year after defeating former US Open champion Samantha Stosur in her WTA Tour debut at the 2014 Stanford Classic. She went on to defeat Serena Williams in the US Open final, becoming the first Japanese player to win a major singles title.
Between mid-2021 and 2022, Osaka struggled to maintain her winning streak due to depression and other issues. In 2023, she became a mum, and at the time of writing, was playing at the Miami Open 2024.
Osaka has lent her visibility to raise awareness of social justice causes. During the US Open, she drew attention to Black victims of police violence. A marketable athlete, Osaka endorses Bobbie baby formula and Care & Kids. She owns the media company Hana Kuma and is an investor in and team owner of the North Carolina Courage, the Division I professional women’s soccer team that plays in the National Women’s Soccer League.
Aryna Sabalenka: $14.7 million
The 26-year-old Belarusian professional tennis player is a former world No. 1 in both singles and doubles by the WTA. She is a winner of the 2023 and 2024 Australian Opens, the 2019 US Open, and the 2021 Australian Open, along with partner Elise Mertens.
Sabalenka is known for her powerful serve, which can reach 124 mph, and has converted a large number of serves into aces. However, she also has a high double fault count.
Sabalenka became a tennis player by chance. Her father, an ice hockey player, saw tennis courts during a drive one day and took her to the courts. She began training at the National Tennis Academy in Minsk in 2014 and a year later, the Belarusian Tennis Federation persuaded her to focus on playing low-level professional events instead of junior tournaments.
Despite the lack of interest by companies, following the Ukraine War, in endorsing Russian and Belarusian players, Sabalenka has attracted sponsorship from Maestro Dobel Tequila and Leaf Trading Cards. She has been endorsed by Nike for apparel and footwear since the beginning of her professional career. She is an investor in Beekeeper’s Naturals and Olipop soda.
Jessica Pegula: $12.5 million
30-year old Jessica Pegula has won four singles titles and seven doubles titles on the WTA Tour. She has career-high WTA rankings of world No. 3 in singles and world No. 1 in doubles. She has reached the quarter final stage in singles at all four Grand Slam tournaments, and the doubles final of the 2022 French Open with Coco Gauff, and the mixed doubles final of the 2023 US Open with Austin Krajicek.
Pegula’s achievements have led to multiple endorsement deals. Her sponsors include Dyson, De Bethune watches, and Gorjana jewelry. Last year, Pegula received the Jerry Diamond ACES Award for her valuable contribution to promoting women’s tennis. The award is given to a player who demonstrates consistent professional conduct and willingness to promote women’s tennis to fans, media, and local communities by participating in off-court promotional and charitable activities.
Venus Williams: $12.2 million
The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion has become a rarity on the competitive circuits. She exited Wimbledon early and played a total of 10 matches at seven tournaments. But her marketability remains as strong as ever, with brand partnerships netting her a cool $12.2 million in the past year.
Williams has signed deals with Dove and Nestlé’s Purina PetCare. Along with sister Serena and brother-in-law Alexis Ohanian, Williams is bringing a golf team to Los Angeles as the first ownership group in TGL, a new golf league from Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s TMRW Sports.