Roger Federer: Highest-Paid Tennis Player 10 Years Running
By Harry Floyd
Roger Federer remains the highest-paid tennis player in the world. The Swiss men’s tennis star has held the top earner position in the sport since 2006.
Roger Federer brings in upwards of $67 million annually. The highest-paid tennis player is a fan favorite, having one of the greatest careers in the history of the sport.
Federer holds numerous records in the sport during the Open Era. These include the most Grand Slam titles with 17 and counting along with the most career titles at 88 and counting. The Swiss professional tennis player makes the majority of his earnings through endorsement deals. Among his top endorsers are Nike, Rolex, Mercedes-Benz, Wilson, and Gillette.
More from Lob and Smash
- Caroline Wozniacki gets her wild card for the Australian Open
- Tennis News: Rafael Nadal, Emma Raducanu and protected rankings
- Martina Navratilova: Money lost by coming out was in the ‘millions’
- Tennis News: Novak Djokovic, Nick Kyrgios and Matteo Berrettini
- Boris Becker and Rick Macci bicker over Carlos Alcaraz
2016 is a low year in terms of prize money for Federer. He earned just over $1.5 million in a shortened season, dropping out in July due to a knee injury. 2016 is his first year not winning a title since 2000. Despite a low earning season, Federer continues to rake in money through his endorsement deals.
Men’s tennis star Novak Djokovic is a close second to Federer on the highest-paid list. Djokovic still, however, comes up shy of Federer even after earning far more than the Swiss player on the court over the last several seasons. Djokovic’s endorsement earnings are roughly half that of Federer on an average annual basis.
Federer has amassed upwards of $560 million throughout his groundbreaking career via prize money, endorsements, and appearance fees. The records he holds, coupled with his charismatic personality, have helped the Swiss player remain atop the list as the highest-paid in tennis.
The highest-paid players in women’s tennis are Serena Williams followed by Maria Sharapova. Williams earned almost $30 million between 2015 and 2016 to unseat Sharapova for the top position for the first time in over a decade. Williams did have to cut her 2016 season short due to a shoulder injury and Sharapova is serving a suspension until mid 2017.
NBA star LeBron James and soccer stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are the only athletes in the world ahead of Federer in terms of annual earnings. The 35 year-old Swiss tennis player will continue to draw endorsements deals and win big prize money on the court when he returns for the 2017 season.
Next: Wozniacki: Calm, Cool, Cerebral
Check back for more updates on Roger Federer and other tennis news from Lob and Smash.