Who are the 5 richest female athletes in the world?

1. Serena Williams – Tennis

Serena Williams of the U.S. embraces her trophy after defeating Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in their women's singles final match at the U.S. Open tennis championships in New York September 8, 2013. Photo by Reuters/Mike Segar

Serena Williams, 42, began her professional tennis career at the age of 14 by winning the US Open in 1999, a victory that made her the first African-American woman of the Open Era to claim the title.

Her career has since flourished, earning her millions along the way.

In 2022, she retired from professional tennis, concluding a remarkable career during which she amassed nearly $95 million in prize money.

Afterward, Serena remained active in various businesses through her firm, Serena Ventures, while maintaining endorsement deals with more than a dozen brands, as reported by Forbes.

Further diversifying her portfolio, Serena co-founded Will Perform in 2022, a startup focused on creating topical pain relief, muscle care, and skincare products.

She also holds a minority ownership stake in the American football team, the Miami Dolphins.

As of April 17, Williams' estimated net worth was at $300 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.

2. Maria Sharapova – Tennis

Former professional tennis player Maria Sharapova. Photo from Maria Sharapova's Instagram

Maria Sharapova, 36, began her professional tennis career in 2001 and achieved success by winning five Grand Slam titles.

The former German professional tennis player previously held the title of the highest-paid female athlete on Forbes' lists for 11 consecutive years until she was surpassed by Serena Williams in 2016.

Despite having retired from the sport in 2020, Sharapova continued to amass wealth through lucrative brand endorsements by Nike and Evian.

She also ventured into fashion with her own tennis apparel line Nike Maria Sharapova Collection and several shoe and handbag collections.

Sharapova's estimated net worth stood at $180 million as of Jan. 17.

3. Steffi Graf – Tennis

Steffi Graf with her husband and fellow tennis champion Andre Agassi. Photo from Steffi Graf's Instagram

Steffi Graf, 54, once ranked as the world's No. 1 tennis player, boasts an illustrious career marked by an impressive 22 Grand Slam singles titles, according to SCMP.

She retired from tennis in 1999.

In her post-tennis endeavors, Graf has shifted her focus to philanthropy, serving as the founder and chairperson of the non-profit foundation Children for Tomorrow, which provides support to children traumatized by violence, war, and persecution.

Her marriage to fellow tennis champion Andre Agassi helped her secure a spot in this list, as the couple’s estimated net worth was at US$145 million as of March 24.

4. Alexis DeJoria – Drag racing

American drag racer Alexis DeJoria. Photo from Alexis DeJoria's Instagram

Alexis DeJoria, 46, is the daughter of American billionaire John Paul DeJoria, founder of the tequila company Patron and Paul Mitchell hair care products.

However, her fortune was independently earned through her successful career as a drag racer, which she started in 2005.

As of May 4, her estimated net worth stands at $100 million.

5. Venus Williams – Tennis

African-American professional tennis player Venus Williams. Photo from Venus Williams' Instagram

Similar to her younger sister Serena, African-American professional tennis player Venus Williams, 43, embarked on her professional career at the age of 14.

She achieved the prestigious title of world No.1 in singles on three separate occasions.

While she has not retired from the sport, she has diversified her income streams in recent years, earning millions through brand endorsements, as well as book writing and managing her own fashion line, Eleven by Venus Williams.

Her estimated net worth was at US$95 million as of April 5.