Federer Joins the Billionaire’s Club

In a monumental testament to his business acumen, Roger Federer has joined the elite club of billionaire athletes. The tennis legend, who retired last year, now has a net worth of $1.1 billion, according to Forbes.

Federer’s wealth comes primarily from his minority stake in the Swiss sportswear brand On, which he co-founded and invested in during its early stages. The company is valued at over $10 billion, making Federer’s stake worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Off-Court Moves Pay Off

Federer’s off-court earnings have been significant throughout his career. He earned around $1 billion from activities outside the court, making him the highest-paid tennis player for 16 consecutive years despite earning less in prize money than his rivals, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.

In 2020, Federer’s total earnings reached $106.3 million before taxes, more than any other athlete worldwide.

From Tennis to Business Success

Federer is now the second billionaire in tennis, after Romania’s Ion Țiriac, who won the French Open male doubles title in 1970 and began investing after the fall of communism. Basketball stars Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, LeBron James, and Junior Bridgeman, along with Tiger Woods, also belong to this exclusive club.

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner Lead Active Players

In other tennis news, Carlos Alcaraz was named the world’s highest-paid tennis player for the second consecutive year by Forbes, with earnings of $48.3 million. Jannik Sinner, the current world number one, came in second with $47.3 million, nearly double his earnings from the previous 12 months.

Sinner’s $20.3 million in direct tennis earnings this year is the third-highest figure since Forbes started tracking records, and significantly more than Alcaraz’s. Only Djokovic has earned more directly from the sport in a single year.

Youth Takes the Lead

Coco Gauff occupied the third spot in this year’s list, earning $37.2 million, more than any other female athlete in the last 12 months. Gauff’s position, along with Alcaraz and Sinner’s, marks the first time since 2010 that the top three highest-paid tennis players are under 30 years old.

The Business of Tennis Booms

The top 10 highest-paid tennis players added a combined $285 million to their earnings, a 16% increase from last year, though still below the record $343 million set in 2020.