Iga Swiatek not only secures the year-end No. 1 ranking in the WTA but also claims the top spot on Forbes’ 2023 list of highest-earning female athletes, accumulating an estimated $23.9 million this year. Since 2008, Forbes has annually published this list, and Swiatek now joins tennis legends Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, and Naomi Osaka as the exclusive players to achieve this distinction.
The Top 10 is predominantly filled with tennis players, with the sole exception being Chinese-American skier Eileen Gu. Coco Gauff takes the third position with $21.7 million, followed by Great Britain’s Emma Raducanu ($15.2M), and Naomi Osaka ($15M), who secures a place in the Top 5 despite facing absences due to injuries and pregnancy throughout the year.
🤑 @iga_swiatek tops @Forbes' list of highest-paid female athletes for 2023. 💰
— TENNIS (@Tennis) December 26, 2023
Her estimated haul was $23.9 million this year. 👀
Nine of the Top 10 are tennis players, and three more feature in the Top 20. ⤵️https://t.co/OqHEtOpXoP
The compilation encompasses earnings from both on-court activities and estimates of off-court earnings. According to the publication, off-court earnings are determined through “conversations with industry insiders and reflect annual cash from endorsements, licensing, appearances, and memorabilia, as well as cash returns from any businesses in which the athlete has a significant interest.”
Earlier this month, the American sports media company Sportico released its list of the highest-paid female athletes, placing Gauff at the top using a different standard for off-court income. Notably, differences persist: Venus Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, claimed the No. 8 spot on Forbes’ list, despite being entirely absent from Sportico’s rankings. Similarly, Canada’s Leylah Fernandez secured the No. 10 position in Forbes but found herself at No. 13 on Sportico’s list.
Forbes’ 2023 List of Highest-Paid Female Athletes:
- Iga Swiatek – $23.9 million
- Eileen Gu – $22.1 million
- Coco Gauff – $21.7 million
- Emma Raducanu – $15.2 million
- Naomi Osaka – $15 million
- Aryna Sabalenka – $14.7 million
- Jessica Pegula – $12.5 million
- Venus Williams – $12.2 million
- Elena Rybakina – $9.5 million
- Leylah Fernandez – $8.8 million
Additionally, Zheng Qinwen ($7.9M), Ons Jabeur ($5.7M), and Marketa Vondrousova ($5.2M) are also included in Forbes’ Top 20.
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