A Spanish woman enters the ranking of the athletes who generated the most income last year.
With some exceptions, in the ranking of the highest-paid athletes in the world in 2022, the contract with the sponsors has a great impact, which considerably raises those earnings achieved off the field or track.
There are special cases, such as that of the Williams sisters, who have made their leap to the cinema as executive producers of the film "King Richard (The Williams Method)", focused on the life of their father and starring Will Smith. Serena, number two in this ranking, only won $900,000 (795,000 euros) in tournaments. Outside the tennis courts, it had a turnover of 45.9 million dollars (40.6 million euros), only surpassed by Naomi Osaka, who earned 55 million dollars (48.6 million euros) away from the competition and holds the first list position. Venus, the other Williams sister, is in third place, despite the fact that she only played nine tournaments and only won three matches in 2021, with $300,000 (265,000 euros). However, away from the tennis courts, she generated an income of 11 million dollars (9.7 million euros) last year.
The ten highest-paid female athletes in the world earned a total of 167 million dollars (148 million euros) before taxes in 2021, according to Forbes estimates. This represents an increase of 23% compared to the previous year and a growth of 16% compared to the previous record of 143.3 million dollars (127 million euros) set in 2013.
Women's sports face many differences in salary, media coverage, or working conditions, although little by little organizations are working to reduce this disparity and numerous sponsors jump on the scene to offer million-dollar image contracts.
But the picture is still not entirely rosy. Osaka and Serena Williams are the only ones who can be among the highest-paid athletes in the world of either sex. On Forbes' 2022 lists, Osaka was ranked No. 12 and Serena Williams was No. 28. Venus Williams, the third highest-paid woman, missed out on the Top 50 Athletes in the World with Earnings Above 20 million dollars (17.7 million euros).
8. Ashleigh Barty
She was the tennis player on the women's circuit who earned the most money on the court in 2021, with an income of 3.9 million dollars (3.45 million euros), while from sponsorships she earned 3 million dollars (2.65 million euros).
7. P.V. Sindhu
Virtually unknown outside of India, this badminton player became the country's first woman to win two Olympic medals (silver in Rio de Janeiro and bronze in Tokyo). While on her track her income totaled 200,000 dollars (175,000 euros), outside of that she generated 7 million dollars (6.2 million euros).
6. Jin Young Ko
After losing number 1 in the women's golf ranking to Nelly Jorda, the South Korean golfer won the CME Group Tour at the end of the year, accumulating a total of 3.5 million dollars (3.1 million euros) won in tournaments. Thanks to sponsors such as LG Electronics or Korean Air, she added 4 million dollars (3.55 million euros) outside the field in 2021.
5. Garbiñe Muguruza
With sponsors such as Jaguar, Nivea, or Adidas, among others, the Spanish-Venezuelan tennis player obtained 6 million dollars (5.3 million euros) in 2021 off the courts, while in competitions she accumulated 2.8 million dollars (2, 5 million euros).
4. Simone Biles
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After his five-event retirement from the Olympic Games and his bronze medal on the balance beam, he only won $100,000 (€88,000) in gymnastics tournaments in 2021. However, thanks to his many sponsors, he earned $10 million. additional dollars (8.8 million euros).
3. Venus Williams
She only played nine tournaments and only won three matches in 2021, bringing her $300,000 (265,000 euros). But outside the tennis courts, she has generated an income of 11 million dollars (9.7 million euros) and is, along with her sister Serena, executive producer of the film "King Richard (The Williams Method)", focused on the life of his father and starring Will Smith.
2. Serena Williams
There is a lot of difference between the income of Serena Williams outside and inside the tennis courts. While she won $900,000 (795,000 euros) in tournaments in 2021, as a result of sponsorships she earned $45.9 million (40.6 million euros). She only played six WTA Tour tournaments and fell to 41st in the women's ranking, her worst mark since she returned to tennis in 2018 after the birth of her daughter. Even so, she continues to be a great attraction for advertisers, associating herself with brands such as Nike, Gatorade, or DirecTV.
1. Naomi Osaka
During the last year and a half, it has added ten sponsorship partners, such as Luis Vuitton and Tag Heuer, adding 55 million dollars (48.6 million euros) for this concept. Within the tennis courts, she earned 2.3 million dollars (2 million euros) in 2021.
