Top 10 highest paid female athletes

Between player contracts, endorsement deals, brand connections, and signature apparel, athletes have plenty of opportunities to bank on their popularity, but not all players reach their potential when it comes to career earnings.



It takes hard work, natural athletic skill, a length playing career, smart management, and sometimes a little bit of luck to become a brand all yourself.



Even more impressive? How some athletes manage to parlay relatively short careers into monumental fortunes over their lifetimes, so they’re still getting paydays long after they’ve stepped away from the spotlight of competition. Sports might be a young man’s game, but building empires favors the wizened pros.









10. Venus Williams



Total Earnings: $5.9 million



Prize Money: $900,000



Endorsements: $5 million



The 39-year-old Williams invested in wellness brand Astura and was appointed chief brand officer of the company in May. A 23-time Grand Slam champion, including doubles, she launched her own YouTube channel last month focused on “fitness, tennis, wellness, design and more.” Williams can bank six figures a pop on the speaking circuit.



9. Elina Svitolina



Total Earnings: $6.1 million



Prize Money: $4.6 million



Endorsements: $1.5 million



Svitolina scored the biggest win of her career when she captured the WTA Finals title in Singapore to end the 2018 season. The Ukrainian-born pro pocketed $2.4 million for the win and finished the year with a No. 4 world ranking, triggering bonuses from sponsors Nike and Wilson.



8. Karolina Pliskova









Total Earnings: $6.3 million



Prize Money: $4.6 million



Endorsements: $1.7 million



The Czech-born Pliskova has won four events over the past 12 months but has not reached a Slam final since losing the 2016 U.S. Open. Pliskova bumped her off-court earnings with a new contract with FILA that kicked in this year.



7. Maria Sharapova



Total Earnings: $7 million



Prize Money: $1 million



Endorsements: $6 million



Injuries limited Sharapova to only 18 matches over the past year, but she maintains a lucrative endorsement with Nike, in addition to her Porsche, Head, Evian and Tag Heuer partnerships. Sharapova invested in the UFC and skincare brand Supergoop, yet her main off-court focus is building her candy brand Sugarpova.









6. Caroline Wozniacki



Total Earnings: $7.5 million



Prize Money: $3.5 million



Endorsements: $4 million



Wozniacki won a trio of events in 2018 and ranked among the top three players during the entire year. She married former NBA player David Lee in June. The wedding brought together stars from their respective sports, with Serena Williams a bridesmaid and other attendees including Angelique Kerber, Pau Gasol and Harrison Barnes.



5. Sloane Stephens



Total Earnings: $9.6 million



Prize Money: $4.1 million



Endorsements: $5.5 million



Stephens reached the finals of four events last year and finished the year ranked No. 6 overall. Her Nike pact, which began last year, is one of the biggest in the sport. She showcased a tennis shoe based on the “Aqua” colorway of Nike’s retro Air Jordan VIII this summer.









4. Simona HalepTotal



Total Earnings: $10.2 million



Prize Money: $6.2 million



Endorsements: $4 million



Halep led the sport in prize money in 2018 and ranks fifth on the all-time list with $33 million. She won Grand Slam titles each of the past two years, triggering lucrative bonuses. The Romanian pro counts Nike, Wilson, Mercedes-Benz and Hublot among her sponsors.



3. Angelique Kerber



Total Earnings: $11.8 million



Prize Money: $5.3 million



Endorsements: $6.5 million



Kerber won Wimbledon in 2018 and finished the year ranked second in the world, triggering bonuses from her partners. She renewed deals with Adidas, SAP, Generali and NetJets and recently inked a new pact with Procter & Gamble’s Head & Shoulders brand. Other endorsements include Yonex, Porsche, Rolex and Lavazza.



2. Naomi Osaka



Total Earnings: $24.3 million



Prize Money: $8.3 million



Endorsements: $16 million



Nike shocked the tennis world when it announced in April it had secured Osaka to an endorsement deal. Most observers thought she would return to Adidas, which had Osaka under contract until her deal expired at the end of 2018.









1. Serena Williams



Total Earnings: $29.2 million



Prize Money: $4.2 million



Endorsements: $25 million



Williams, 37, wants to play through at least next year but is already planning her next act with a clothing line, S by Serena, and aims to launch jewelry and beauty products lines by the end of 2020. She has also built a venture portfolio worth more than $10 million.

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