Nine out of the Top 15 highest

Advantage goes to Coco Gauff. The champion of the 2024 WTA Finals has concluded her season successfully, being recognized as the world’s highest-paid female athlete—once again.

For the consecutive second year, the American athlete has led Sportico’s list of the highest earners in women’s athletics, as tennis players occupy nine of the Top 15 positions in the annual report released this week.

In 2024, Gauff earned an impressive $30.4 million, with $9.4 million attributed to prize money, while the remaining amount came from endorsement deals. This achievement makes her only the third woman to earn over $30 million in a year, following Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams.

Read More: Coco Gauff outshines Novak Djokovic as the most marketable tennis athlete globally

The largest on-court earnings for the American this year occurred at the WTA Finals, where she secured a remarkable $4.8 million for winning the championship title. However, it is her endorsement portfolio that, as noted by Sportico, distinguishes her from her competitors. Through partnerships with New Balance, Head, UPS, Bose, Rolex, L’Oreal, and others, Gauff has approximately earned $21 million in endorsements—more than any other athlete in the Top 15, except Chinese ski sensation Gu Ailing ($22 million, $22.1 million total).

In comparison, Gauff’s endorsement revenue alone has reportedly nearly matched the combined earnings of the next two tennis participants on the list, Iga Swiatek ($21.4 million) and Zheng Qinwen ($20.6 million).

However, the American is not alone in benefiting, as 2024 has proven to be a stellar year for Zheng both personally and professionally. Her victory at the Olympic Games in Paris elevated her status as a star in China, and the 22-year-old has quickly amassed a strong roster including Nike, Lancome, Gatorade, Wilson, Rolex, Chagee, Audi, and more.

Read More: No rest for the weary! Zheng Qinwen’s off-season kicks off with new Audi sponsorship

The Top 15 rankings also included world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka ($17.7 million) and Elena Rybakina ($7.9 million), while Jasmine Paolini ($10 million) and Jessica Pegula ($8.2 million) are noted as the only two out of nine tennis players on the list who made more from prize money than endorsements.

Tennis Players Highlighted in Sportico’s Top 15 Highest-Paid Female Athletes:

1. Coco Gauff — $30.4M ($9.4M in winnings, $21M from endorsements)
3. Iga Swiatek — $21.4M ($8.4M in winnings, $13M from endorsements)
4. Zheng Qinwen — $20.6M ($5.6M in winnings, $15M from endorsements)
5. Aryna Sabalenka — $17.7M ($9.7M in winnings, $8M from endorsements)
6. Naomi Osaka — $15.9M ($870K in winnings, $15M from endorsements)
7. Emma Raducanu — $14.7M ($671K in winnings, $14M from endorsements)
11. Jasmine Paolini — $10M ($6.5M in winnings, $3.5M from endorsements)
13. Jessica Pegula — $8.2M ($4.2M in winnings, $4M from endorsements)
14. Elena Rybakina — $7.9M ($3.9M in winnings, $4M from endorsements)

As per Sportico, the figures related to endorsement revenue are approximations accumulated through “conversations with individuals knowledgeable about marketing agreements” and also comprise royalties, memorabilia, appearance fees, media, and ventures linked to their fame.

Read More: Jannik Sinner exceeds $30 million in career prize money after triumphing at ATP Finals

Last year, Sportico recognized soccer player Cristiano Rolando as the highest-paid athlete globally with a projected $275 million in earnings—$215 million of which was derived from his salary. Novak Djokovic held the title of the highest-paid tennis player in 2023, earning $29 million of his $44.9 million total from endorsements.