Let’s talk about Serena Williams. She’s not just a famous tennis player; she’s also very rich. In this article, we’ll explore her incredible career, her wealth, and how she’s made her money.
Serena’s Tennis Beginnings
Serena Williams started playing tennis when she was just a little kid, only 4 years old. Her dad, Richard, introduced her and her sister Venus to the sport. They both became very good at it. In fact, they’re considered two of the best tennis players in history.
Serena’s journey in tennis became so famous that it was turned into a movie. This movie, called “King Richard,” even won an Oscar. Serena says that her father, Richard, played a big role in their success. He had unique and special ways of teaching them to play tennis.
Serena Williams Net Worth in 2023
Now, let’s talk about Serena’s money. In 2023, she’s worth a lot. Her estimated net worth is around $250 million. That’s a huge amount of money, and we’ll explore how she made all of it.
Serena’s Earnings
In 2021, Serena earned a whopping $45.3 million. That’s a lot of money, right? She was the 31st highest-paid athlete in the world. But here’s something interesting: most of her earnings in 2021 didn’t come from playing tennis. Instead, she made most of her money from endorsements. These are deals where companies pay her to promote their products or services.
Now that Serena has retired from tennis, her income comes mainly from activities that are not related to sports. These include her various business ventures and endorsements.
Serena’s Tennis Success
During her tennis career, Serena won a lot of prize money. In fact, she won more prize money than any other female tennis player in history. The Women’s Tennis Association says her total earnings from tennis are about $94.8 million. That’s a huge amount of money to win just from playing tennis matches!
Serena’s Business Ventures
Serena is not just a tennis player. She’s also a businesswoman. She owns a company called Serena Ventures. This company raised an impressive $111 million during its first round of funding. But what does Serena Ventures do?
Serena started this company to support other businesses, especially those run by women and people of color. She wants to help them succeed. Serena has invested in more than 60 different startups through Serena Ventures. This means she’s given money to these new and innovative businesses to help them grow.
Serena is not just an investor; she’s also an advisor for an NFT (Non-Fungible Token) company called Sorare. NFTs are a new and exciting digital way of buying and selling unique items. Serena is helping this company navigate the world of NFTs.
She also sits on the board of a company called Momentive, which is the parent company of SurveyMonkey. This means she has an important role in making decisions for this company.
Serena vs. Venus
Serena’s sister, Venus, is also a famous tennis player. They have both had very successful careers. However, Serena is wealthier than Venus. Serena’s net worth is $155 million higher. To be clear, Venus is also a great tennis player and has earned a lot of money. But Serena’s earnings are even higher.
Venus also ranks second in terms of prize money earned by female tennis players. According to the Women’s Tennis Association, she has won a total of $43,280,540. That’s an impressive amount, but Serena’s prize money is still much more.
Involvement in “King Richard”
“King Richard” is a movie about the story of Serena and Venus Williams. The movie shows how their dad, Richard, played a huge role in their success as tennis players. Serena and Venus supported this movie and gave their input to make it more authentic. They wanted to make sure the movie told their story accurately.
Serena’s Entertainment Ventures
But Serena’s involvement in the entertainment industry doesn’t stop at “King Richard.” In 2021, she signed a deal with Amazon Studios. This deal includes creating a docuseries, which is like a documentary but in a series format. So, Serena is also making her mark in the world of TV and entertainment.
Serena’s Deal with Nike
Serena has had a long and successful partnership with Nike, the famous sportswear company. She signed a deal with them in 2003, and it was worth $55 million. That’s a lot of money for simply wearing and promoting Nike’s products.
But her connection with Nike goes beyond just wearing their clothes and shoes. In 2022, Nike even named a building after her at its world headquarters in Oregon. This is a huge honor. Serena was very impressed by the building, calling it breathtaking. She said that every part of the building is inspiring and encourages people to dream big.
But Nike isn’t the only way Serena has made her mark in the fashion world. She’s known for her stylish moments, from the iconic catsuit she wore to her matching outfits with her 5-year-old daughter, Olympia. Serena even co-chaired the Met Gala in 2018, an event known for its glamorous and fashionable attendees. It’s likely her friendship with Anna Wintour, the Vogue Editor-in-Chief, played a role in this opportunity. Serena has great respect for Anna Wintour and values her advice on many things.
Serena has also ventured into the world of fashion with her “S by Serena” clothing line. In 2020, she debuted a spring collection at New York Fashion Week, a major event in the fashion industry. Serena continues to make waves in both sports and fashion.
Earnings from Commercials
In 2021, Serena appeared in a commercial for DirecTV. This ad had a Matrix theme and was quite famous. Serena wore a Wonder Woman costume and was seen hitting tennis balls in a mall. It was a unique and exciting ad, but the exact amount she was paid for it is not publicly known.
The Chief Marketing Officer of DirecTV, Vince Torres, said that the company spent a lot of money on this advertising campaign. It was their most expensive advertising push since 2015. So, it’s safe to say that Serena was well compensated for her role in the ad.
Serena also did a campaign for Subway, the popular sub sandwich chain. She appeared alongside other famous athletes like Tom Brady, Stephen Curry, and Megan Rapinoe. While we don’t know the exact amount Serena earned for this ad, it’s likely that Subway paid a significant sum for the ad featuring these famous athletes.
In conclusion, Serena Williams is not only a tennis legend but also a successful businesswoman and fashion icon. Her net worth is impressive, and she continues to make a significant impact in various fields, even after retiring from tennis. Her story is a testament to hard work, talent, and determination, and she remains an inspiration to many.