Bold claim: Coco Gauff dominates Forbes’ 2025 list of the world’s highest-paid female athletes, proving that tennis continues to be a powerhouse for both on-court success and off-court earnings. Here’s a clear, beginner-friendly rewrite that preserves all key details while expanding a bit for context.
Forbes confirms that, for the second straight year, Coco Gauff remains the top-earning female athlete globally. The 21-year-old raked in $33 million in total compensation this year, with $8 million earned from playing on the court—largely attributed to her French Open triumph in June. The remaining $25 million came from off-court endorsements, including partnerships with New Balance, Bose, and Baker Tully.
The combined earnings of Forbes’ top 20 earners reached $293 million, marking a 13% increase from the previous year. Notably, 14 athletes in the top 20 surpassed the $10 million-per-year threshold, setting a new record.
Aryna Sabalenka, reigning U.S. Open champion and a finalist at the Australian Open, French Open, and WTA Finals, sits at No. 2 with $30 million. She also climbed to the second spot on the WTA career prize money list, with $45.2 million in career earnings, still behind Serena Williams’ $94.8 million record.
Iga Świątek, a six-time major champion, is third with $25.1 million in earnings.
Rounding out the top five are freestyle skier Eileen Gu at $23.1 million and tennis player Qinwen Zheng at $22.6 million.
Further down the list, Madison Keys sits at No. 6 with $13.4 million. Naomi Osaka and Elena Rybakina are tied at No. 8 with $12.5 million, while Jessica Pegula is No. 10 with $12.3 million. The highest-finishing non-tennis athlete in the top 10 is golfer Nelly Korda, at No. 7 with $13 million.
Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever appears at No. 11, contributing $12 million of her $12.1 million 2025 earnings from basketball, a sign of how the WNBA’s visibility and popularity have surged in recent seasons.
Why this matters: the sports sponsorship landscape continues to tilt toward branding opportunities that align athletes with consumer brands, amplification via social media, and cross-sport exposure. The strategy of diversifying earnings—combining prize money with lucrative endorsements—consistently fuels these top earners’ positions. Do you think endorsements will become even more decisive in determining who makes Forbes’ list in the coming years, or will prize money catch up in other sports?Share your thoughts below.
