Forbes 50 highest paid athletes in the world earned approximately $ 2.8 billion in 12 months, with over 35% of total revenue coming from advertising contracts and off-field activities.
The tennis phenomena Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams topped the list of the world’s highest paid female athletes for the second year running.
Forbes has reported income data collected between May 1, 2020 and May 1, 2021. The data is divided into on-field and off-field income. On-site income includes salaries, bonuses, and prize money. Forbes includes performance fees, royalties, advertising contracts, and equity investments that athletes have sold off-field.
Osaka, 23, earned a total of $ 60 million. Forbes estimates the 39-year-old Williams grossed $ 41.5 million. Less than 10% of her total income is earned on the pitch.
Osaka made headlines as the highest paid female athlete of 2021. The four-time Grand Slam winner ranks 12th on Forbes’ Top 50 Sports Star List.
Forbes estimates that Osaka made $ 5 million on the field. In September 2020, Osaka brought home their third Grand Slam championship at the US Open. The Associated Press named Osaka Sportswoman of the Year 2020. A few weeks later, Osaka won her fourth Grand Slam title at the Australian Open. She is the reigning champion of the US Open and the Australian Open.
More than 90% of Osaka’s revenue comes from lucrative branded businesses. She has written advertising contracts and partnerships with over 20 brands, including Louis Vuitton, Levi’s, Tag Heuer, Nissan, Beats by Dre and Mastercard. Nike could be their biggest deal to date, generating over $ 10 million a year in corporate sponsorship.
In 2020, Osaka made $ 37.4 million. She was ranked the highest paid female athlete of the year ahead of Serena Williams. No athlete has earned more in the past two years than Osaka.
At 39, Serena Williams is still in command of the top dollars on and off the field.
According to Forbes, Williams earned $ 41.5 million. She has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles and is one of the most popular female athletes in the world. Serena also serves on the boards of Poshmark and Survey Monkey.
More than 95% of her revenue comes from businesses outside of the field. Williams has contracts with Intel, Chase, Lincoln, and other top brands. Nike has been a sponsor since 2003. Puma, Gatorade, and Pepsi have all sought out Williams as advertising partners in the past.
To expand their list of sources of income, Williams landed a TV deal with Amazon Studies this spring. The deal includes a documentary about her.
In 2020, Williams made $ 36 million, with $ 32 million from endorsements and the remainder from prize money. She was the highest paid female athlete in the world in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
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