TRACKING >>Former world best tennis star and Grand Slam winner, Serena Williams has again emerged as Forbes’ highest-paid female athlete for the fourth in a row after she earned $29.2 million, including $4.2 million in prize money.
Williams made the money after returning to the WTA Tour following the birth of her daughter, Olympia, in September 2017.
Williams continues to expand one of the most robust endorsement portfolios in sports, adding Pampers, Axa Financial and General Mills to her roster. They join more than a dozen other brands like Nike, Beats, Gatorade and JPMorgan Chase.
The 23-time Grand Slam champ scores highly across all demographics, and only Tiger Woods and Tom Brady have higher levels of awareness among athletes with U.S. consumers.
Williams’ $225 million estimated net worth makes her the only athlete on Forbes’ list of America’s Richest Self-Made Women.
Young Japanese tennis star, Naomi Osaka, 21, came in second position this year with $24.3 million.
Next on the list is Germany’s Angelique Kerber who made £9.7m ($11.8m)
The highest-placed athlete from another sport was United States footballer Alex Morgan in 12th. She earned £4.75m ($5.8m) US dollars and all of the money was made through endorsements.
SEE THE FORBES TOP 15 EARNERS
1. Serena Williams (tennis)
Total Earnings: £24m ($29.2m)
Prize Money: £3.4m
Endorsements: £20.5m
Naomi Osaka PHOTO: MORGAN HARLOW/GETTY IMAGES
2. Naomi Osaka (tennis)
Total Earnings: $24.3 million
Prize Money: $8.3 million
Endorsements: $16 million
Angelique Kerber PHOTO BY MATTHIAS HANGST/GETTY IMAGES
3. Angelique Kerber (tennis)
Total Earnings: £9.7m ($11.8m)
Prize Money: £4.3m
Endorsements: £5.4m
Simona Halep PHOTO: TIM CLAYTON/CORBIS VIA GETTY IMAGES
4. Simona Halep (tennis)
Total Earnings: £8.4m ($10.2m)
Prize Money: £5.1m
Endorsements: £3.3m
Sloane Stephens PHOTO: MIKE HEWITT/GETTY IMAGES
5. Sloane Stephens (tennis)
Total Earnings: £7.9m ($9.6m)
Prize Money: £3.3m
Endorsements: £4.5m
Caroline Wozniacki PHOTO: SHAUN BOTTERILL/GETTY IMAGES
6. Caroline Wozniacki (tennis)
Total Earnings: £6.2m ($7.5m)
Prize Money: £3.3m
Endorsements: £2.9m
Maria Sharapova PHOTO: QUALITY SPORT IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES
7. Maria Sharapova (tennis)
Total Earnings: £5.8m ($7m)
Prize Money: £825K
Endorsements: £4.9m
PHOTO: CLIVE BRUNSKILL/GETTY IMAGES
8. Karolina Pliskova (tennis)
Total Earnings: £5.1m ($6.3m)
Prize Money: £3.8m
Endorsements: £1.4m
Elina Svitolina PHOTO: TIM CLAYTON/CORBIS VIA GETTY IMAGES
9. Elina Svitolina (tennis)
Total Earnings: £5m ($6.1m)
Prize Money: £3.8m
Endorsements: £1.2m
Venus Williams PHOTO: VISIONHAUS/GETTY IMAGES
10 (tie). Venus Williams (tennis)
Total Earnings: £4.8m ($5.9m)
Prize Money: £740K
Endorsements: £4.1m
Garbine Muguruza PHOTO: ADAM PRETTY/GETTY IMAGES
10 (tie). Garbine Muguruza (tennis)
Total Earnings: £4.8m ($5.9m)
Prize Money: £1.9m
Endorsements: £2.8m
Alex Morgan PHOTO: QUALITY SPORT IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES
12. Alex Morgan (football)
Total Earnings: £4.7 ($5.8m)
Salary: £205K
Endorsements: £4.5m
P.V. Sindhu PHOTO: VCG VIA GETTY IMAGES
13 (tie). P.V. Sindhu (badminton)
Total Earnings: £4.5m ($5.5m)
Prize Money: £500K
Endorsements: £4.1m
Madison Keys PHOTO: MIKE HEWITT/GETTY IMAGES
13 (tie). Madison Keys (tennis)
Total Earnings: £4.5m ($5.5m)
Prize Money: £2.5m
Endorsements: £2m
Ariya Jutanugarn PHOTO: DONALD MIRALLE/GETTY IMAGES
15. Ariya Jutanugarn (golf)
Total Earnings: £4.4m ($5.3m)
Prize Money: £3.3m
Endorsements: £2 million
