The number of women who play different sports globally has steadily increased since 2000. A report by Forbes indicates that Serena Williams was the best-paid female athlete in 2019. But, things have changed this year as Naomi Osaka has overtaken Serena. In this article, we present to you the 10 highest-paid female athletes in 2020.
1. Naomi Osaka
Naomi is a Japanese tennis player who was born in Japan in October 1997. She won the last Australian Open women’s singles and plays for Japan. The 23-year-old athlete is the first Asian female player to top the women’s singles ranking. Naomi won five titles during the WTA tour including two titles at the Premier Mandatory and Grand Slam levels.
The Japanese athlete has lucrative contracts with popular companies such as Nike. Reports state that she received endorsements worth $16 million in 2019. Although Naomi has dual citizenship, she decided to represent Japan in the 2020 Summer Olympics next year. Her decision caught the attention of several Olympic sponsors including Procter & Gamble, Nissin, and All Nippon Airways. Roger Federer is the only tennis athlete who has received more endorsements than Naomi this year.
Naomi has earned $37.4 million in total. This includes $3.4 million prize money and endorsements worth $34 million. As Naomi Osaka becomes the highest-paid female-athlete of the year, more companies will be interested in signing lucrative endorsement deals with her.
2. Serena Williams
Serena is a legend in women’s tennis. She started winning major tennis games in 1998. The 39-year-old athlete won a Grand Slam game in 1998. Since then, she has won 23 major singles titles. No other male or female athlete has broken this record in the tennis Open era. She was the top female tennis player in eight events from 2002 to 2017, according to the WTA’s ranking. The tennis association ranked Serena as the No. 1 in for the first time in July 2002.
Serena is among the most famous tennis players worldwide. A 2019 Forbes report shows that she received endorsements worth $25 million last year from partners like Beats, Gatorade, Nike, and Procter & Gamble. The athlete’s huge following on social media has broadened the companies’ client base.
Alexis Ohanian, Serena’s husband, and Serena are members of an investment group which received the National Women’s Soccer League expansion team this summer in Los Angeles. Olympia, the couple’s daughter became the youngest owner of a professional sports team at the age of 2.
Serena has a few Olympic gold medals under her belt. She won most of them in doubles tournaments alongside Venus Williams, her sister. The athlete’s total earnings are $36 million. They include $32 million endorsements and $4 million prize money.
3. Ashleigh Barty
Ashleigh won a Grand Slam in last year’s French Open. It earned her huge bonuses from Fila and Head. The female athlete gets lucrative endorsements from Banana Boat, Esmi, Jaguar, Rado, and Vegemite. In June last year, Ashleigh was the first Australian female athlete to get a No. 1 WTA ranking since 1979. Her total earnings are $13.1 million. They include $3 million endorsements and $10.1 million prize money.
4. Simona Halep
Simona has risen to be one of the top female tennis of late. The WTA ranked her first in 2017 and 2018. The tennis player is in the fourth position this year after Naomi. She won her first Grand Slam in 2018 after defeating Sloane Stephens in the French Open. Simona endorses Nike. Her total earnings are $10.9 million. This comprises $4 million endorsements and $6.9 prize money.
5. Bianca Andreescu
Bianca made Canada proud last year when she became the first Canadian tennis player to win a Slam event. She played in the 2019 U.S. Open. WTA gave her a No. 5 rank and the end of the year and she received many bonuses from Nike, Gatorade, Royale and Sleep Country mattresses, and Rolex. Bianca’s total earnings are $8.9 million. They comprise $4 million endorsements and $4.9 prize money.
6. Garbine Muguruza
Garbine is a Spanish-Venezuelan tennis player. She was the runners-up in the 2020 Australian Open. She has advanced past the Grand Slam’s fourth round twice since she won the 2017 Wimbledon title. Garbine endorses Adidas, Babolat, Beats, Cesar insurance, Maui Jim sunglasses, and Rolex. Her total earnings are $6.6 million including $4.5 million endorsements and $2.1 prize money.
7. Elina Svitolina
Elina is a talented tennis player. She shocked tennis fans when she won the 2018 WTA Finals after she defeated Sloane Stephens. The WTA gave her a No.5 this year. Elina has also participated in the Grand Slams in the past. She won the 2019 Wimbledon semifinal and the Australian Open quarterfinal. Last year, Elina reached the U.S. Open and Wimbledon semifinals. Her total earnings are $6.4 million. They include $1 million endorsements and $5.4 million prize money.
8. Sofia Kenin
The Women’s Tennis Association recognized Sofia as the most improved player last year. She won a Grand Slam at the age of 21. The athlete won this year’s Australian Open. Babolat and Fila are her sponsors. Sofia’s total earnings are $5.8 million including $1 million in endorsements and $4.8 million prize money.
9. Angelique Kerber
Angelique has won three Grand Slams including the 2016 US Open and Australian Open. She became a professional tennis player in 2003 and has been playing in Grand Slam events since 2007. The WTA ranked her No. 1 in the circuit in 2016. The female athlete participated in the 2018 Wimbledon. She has a No. 14 WTA ranking now. Angelique’s total earnings are $5.3 million. They include $4 million endorsements and $1.3 prize money.
10. Alex Morgan
Morgan is a talented footballer who endorses Nike. She played in the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup and scored a goal against England in the semifinals. Alex represents the U.S women’s national team and plays for Olympique Lyonnais. Her total earnings are $4.6 million including $4.2 million endorsements and a $400,000 salary.
Many female athletes earn less than their male counterparts. Tennis players have been dominating the annual list of highest-paid female athletes that Forbes releases each year. Alex Morgan is the only highest paid non-tennis player this year.
