8 of the richest female athletes of 2024 – net worths, ranked: from tennis legends Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova, to racing driver champ Danica Patrick – but who’s also a billionaire’s daughter?
- Female tennis players fought for prize money equal to their male counterparts in the 1970s, hence they dominate this list – but racing drivers Danica Patrick and Alexis DeJoria made it too
- Former world No 1 Sharapova ranked as the highest-paid female athlete for 11 straight years before Serena Williams dethroned her in 2016 – but both of their off-court earnings remain impressive
Being a front runner in women’s sports takes a lot of talent, dedication, hard work – and the ability to withstand blatant sexism. Nine female tennis players decided to create their own tournament in 1970 in protest of the major difference in prize money, at a time when male players often got paid up to 12 times more than women. This fight for equal prize money led to the foundation of the Women’s Tennis Association in 1973, with Grand Slam tournaments like the US Open and later Wimbledon awarding equal prize money to female and male players as a result.
It’s no surprise, then, that tennis players lead the pack when comparing the world’s richest female athletes. Having said that, there are also contenders from the racing world featured on this list.
Here’s how the top eight female athletes’ fortunes stack up in 2024, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
8. Anna Kournikova, 42
Estimated net worth: US$60 million
She may never have won a Women’s Tennis Association title, but the Russian-American former professional tennis player swiftly became one of the most famous faces on the court thanks to her impressive skills and good looks.