Iga Swiatek tops the list of highest paid female athletes 2023

WTA Tour athletes from Hologic continue to dominate Forbes’ yearly list; nine of the top ten highest paid female athletes are Hologic athletes. Along with Iga  Swiatek ($23.9M), the US Open champion Coco Gauff ($21.7M) ranks No. 3 on the list. Emma Raducanu ($15.2M) from Great Britain, Naomi Osaka ($15M), Aryna Sabalenka ($14.7M) from the Australian Open, Jessica Pegula ($12.5M), Venus Williams ($12.2M), Elena Rybakina ($9.5M), and Leylah Fernandez ($8.8M) round out the list.

Estimates of both on-court and off-court earnings are included in Forbes’ yearly list. Chats with industry insiders determine off-court earnings, which include cash returns from any businesses in which the athlete has a significant interest, as well as annual revenue from endorsements, licencing, appearances, and memorabilia.

Given that nine out of the top ten earners among highest paid female athletes are from the sport of tennis, it is clear that this sport dominates the list. Tennis offers significant prize money, but it also gives female players a wide range of marketing options, which helps them succeed financially and gain notoriety throughout the world.Accounting for nine out of the top ten and twelve of the world’s 20 highest paid female athletes.

List of highest paid female athletes 2023

This list is obtained  from Forbes’ compilation of the world’s highest paid female athletes 2023. Here is a complete list of the 10 highest paid female athletes of 2023:

1. Iga Swiatek tops highest paid female athletes

Earnings: $23.9 Million

Iga Swiatek tops the fobres list of highest paid female athletes 2023.Swiatek’s 2023 accomplishments culminated in her winning a title at the WTA Finals and earning the coveted No. 1 singles position at the conclusion of the year, which led to her winning the WTA Player of the Year Award for a second time in a row. She is only 22 years old, but she has already dominated the rankings for an incredible 82 weeks—the 10th longest streak in WTA history. In addition, Swiatek has amassed approximately $25 million and is presently ranked 14th on the tour’s all-time career prize money list.

In the last year, Swiatek has carefully broadened her endorsement portfolio outside of the tennis court, forming alliances with renowned companies like Visa,On shoes and clothing, Oshee sports beverages, and the IT firm Infosys. These agreements round out her current quartet and highlight her expanding impact off the court as well .

2. Eileen Gu

Earnings: $22.1 Million

Eileen Gu comes in at No. 2 in the fobres list of highest paid female athletes 2023.Gu, an Olympic athlete from San Francisco who competes with pride on behalf of China, is notable for his successful business endeavours outside of the Games. The successful model and freestyle skier has long-standing international endorsement deals with luxury companies like Victoria’s Secret and Louis Vuitton in the West and Mengniu Dairy and Anta in China. Notably, Gu has broken with tradition by continuing to have a successful commercial career even when she is not in the spotlight during the Olympics.

Gu triumphantly returned to the slopes in December, showing off her skills by winning halfpipe competitions in China and Colorado, despite having recently recovered from a knee injury. After an amazing 11-month break, she made a spectacular return to World Cup play with this, demonstrating her tenacity and talent on the global scene.

3. Coco Gauff

Earnings: $21.7 Million

Coco Gauff comes in at No. 3 in the fobres list of highest paid female athletes 2023.At the U.S. Open in September, Gauff’s career will reach a turning point. A Grand Slam victory there might propel her to new heights as a brand ambassador. But her skills as a pitchwoman were already apparent; this year, she signed big marketing contracts with companies including Baker Tilly, Bose, and UPS.

In addition to her tennis achievements, 19-year-old Gauff—who is well-known for her intense fascination with Marvel superheroes—was highlighted in a commercial for the 2023 movie “The Marvels.” She was prominently featured on a limited-edition cover of an Invincible Iron Man comic book, demonstrating her popularity outside of the athletics world. With victories in four WTA events, Gauff’s incredible year has catapulted her to a career-high No. 3 singles position on the tennis court. Combining her athletic skill with her marketability, Gauff is making major progress in the tennis scene as well as being a fascinating figure in marketing and commercial collaborations.

4. Emma Raducanu

Earnings: $15.2 Million

Emma Raducanu comes in at No. 4 in the fobres list of highest paid female athletes 2023.Raducanu, then eighteen, won the 2021 U.S. Open, and she quickly became the tennis player with the most wanted endorsement portfolio. Acknowledging her potential as a sustained celebrity, businesses were keen to align themselves with up-and-coming talent. Raducanu’s global ranking fell to No. 299 from a peak of No. 10 in 2022 due to a string of ailments and illnesses she faced after her remarkable triumph.

Raducanu has drawn attention in particular because she decided to break up with five instructors in around two years. “On certain occasions, they haven’t been able to keep up with the questions I’ve asked, and maybe that’s why it ended,” she said in response to criticism in a recent interview with the BBC. Her open comments illuminated the nuances of her path, highlighting the decisions and difficulties that accompany quick achievement and changing goals.

5. Naomi Osaka

Earnings: $15 Million

Naomi Osaka comes in at No. 5 in the fobres list of highest paid female athletes 2023.Since September 2022, Osaka has not played competitive tennis. She welcomed a daughter in July 2023. She is preparing for the Brisbane event as a vital warm-up for the Australian Open next month, though, and is ready to make a strong return. Osaka has carefully increased her profile in new marketing areas during her court-mandated sabbatical, landing sponsorship deals with Crate & Kids and Bobbie Baby Formula. Furthermore, in April, Hana Kuma’s media firm raised $5 million to become an independent organisation and break away from SpringHill Co. These initiatives highlight Osaka’s diverse pursuits both inside and outside of the professional tennis circuit.

6. Aryna Sabalenka

Earnings: $14.7 Million

Aryna Sabalenka comes in at No. 6 in the fobres list of highest paid female athletes 2023.At the end of her career, Sabalenka achieved her highest point when she won the Australian Open, held the number one ranking in women’s singles for two months, and was awarded the World Champion Award by the International Tennis Federation. Notably, in the midst of the crisis in Ukraine, athletes from Belarus and Russia have had difficulty finding sponsors; nevertheless, Sabalenka has lately formed alliances with Maestro Dobel Tequila and Leaf Trading Cards, demonstrating her marketability and appeal on a worldwide scale.

Apart from her accomplishments in tennis, Sabalenka has expanded her investments by investing in health companies like Olipop Soda and Beekeeper’s Naturals. Her business endeavours also include an appearance in the tennis docuseries “Break Point” on Netflix, which serves to further establish her reputation off the court. Sabalenka’s calculated actions demonstrate her success as a shrewd and well-rounded entrepreneur in addition to her prowess as a powerful tennis player.

7. Jessica Pegula

Earnings: $12.5 Million

Jessica Pegula comes in at No. 7 in the fobres list of highest paid female athletes 2023.Pegula, who was listed on Forbes’ 2024 30 Under 30 list, reached a professional turning point this year when she won the biggest singles championship of her career in Montreal. Her accomplishments at the WTA Finals in November, including her run to the final match and her brief reign as the top doubles player with partner Coco Gauff, further demonstrated her brilliance in the game. In addition to her accomplishments on the court, Pegula has been making notable progress in her off-court pursuits.

She recently expanded her portfolio of sponsorships to include Gorjana jewellery, De Bethune watches, and Dyson headphones in a calculated move. Pegula’s marketability and popularity in the world of endorsements are highlighted by this versatility. She also won the prestigious Jerry Diamond ACES Award from the WTA for her outstanding efforts in advancing women’s tennis, enhancing her influence as a player and a supporter of the game.“We’re the highest paid female athletes, and it’s a huge global sport, but at the same time, the pay gap is still very big,” Jessica Pegula, a member of the WTA Players’

8. Venus Williams

Earnings: $12.2 Million

Venus Williams comes in at No. 8 in the fobres list of highest paid female athletes 2023.Williams has played in just 10 matches this year and has only participated in seven tournaments this year, but her impact as a marketing force is still strong. The seven-time Grand Slam singles winner has partnered with Purina PetCare from Nestlé and Dove to strategically extend her brand portfolio. In addition to launching a jewellery line with Reinstein Ross, she also made a strategic investment in the Los Angeles Golf Club, which is slated to play in the TGL league that Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s TMRW Sports are developing.

Williams is expanding her influence as an executive producer on “Behind the Racquet,” a documentary series that highlights the mental health issues encountered by tennis players, in addition to her endeavours in sports and lifestyle. This comprehensive strategy highlights Williams’ importance as a creative entrepreneur, mental health champion in the world of professional sports, and sports legend.

9. Elena Rybakina

Earnings: $9.5 Million

Elena Rybakina comes in at No. 9 in the fobres list of highest paid female athletes 2023.Russian-born Rybakina, who has been Kazakhstan’s representative since 2018, accomplished a noteworthy accomplishment by winning Wimbledon in 2022. Building on her achievement, she had a fantastic 2023 season, winning two WTA 1000 events and finishing at a noteworthy No. 4 in the singles rankings. The 24-year-old rising star has carefully increased the brands she is associated with during her rise to fame by partnering with well-known companies like Red Bull and Yonex.

10. Leylah Fernandez

Earnings: $8.8 Million

Leylah Fernandez comes in at No. 10 in the fobres list of highest paid female athletes 2023.Like Emma Raducanu, Fernandez is still benefiting from her remarkable run to the U.S. Open final in 2021. She has remained in collaboration with major businesses like Morgan Stanley, Lululemon, and Google Pixel phones. Like Raducanu, Fernandez has struggled to live up to the hype surrounding her early success on the court. She gave her season a lowly 4 out of 10 and openly stated that she was having trouble staying true to her tennis personality in a recent interview with RDS.

Despite these difficulties, Fernandez managed to have a few moments of success. In October, he won a tournament in Hong Kong, and in November, he helped Canada win the Billie Jean King Cup. These successes ought to give her hope as she tackles the chances and problems that 2024 can present.