Tennis legend Roger Federer has joined the billionaire club, thanks to his successful career both on and off the court. The 44-year-old retired in 2022 after a stellar career that saw him clinch an impressive 20 Grand Slam titles. Meanwhile, Coco Gauff has been revealed as the highest-earning female tennis star heading into the US Open.
Federer emerged as a powerhouse in men’s tennis in the early 2000s, bagging his first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 2003. The superstar scooped up 16 of the 27 Major titles available between 2003 and the start of 2010, before adding another four Grand Slams to his tally later in his career, despite stiff competition from Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.
His on-court exploits earned him nearly $131 million before he hung up his racket, reports Forbes. That’s in addition to about $150M he received from Nike during during their two-decade partnership.
After parting ways with Nike, the Swiss maestro signed a reported 10-year deal, $300M deal with Uniqlo. He also profited from endorsement deals with Lindt, Mercedes-Benz, Rolex, and Moet & Chandon.
However, the most significant boost to his net worth came when he invested in Swiss sports apparel company On in 2019.
Federer was introduced to On after his wife Mirka started wearing the brand’s shoes. The tennis icon now owns a 3 percent stake in the company, which is reportedly worth a staggering $375M. He has also made investments in private plane operator NetJets, eyewear brand Oliver Peoples, and UBS bank.
The outlet has reported that Federer is now worth a staggering $1.1 billion. That places him seventh on the list of sporting billionaires (pretax income), topped by basketball legend Michael Jordan with a net worth of $3.8B. Former tennis star Ion Tiriac, who competed in the 1960s and 1970s, is valued at $2.3B, while Magic Johnson boasts a net worth of £1.5B.
Meanwhile, Johnson’s fellow basketball icon Junior Bridgeman was valued at $1.4B at the time of his death in March. Further down the rankings, Tiger Woods is valued at $1.3B while LeBron James’ personal fortune is estimated to be $1.2B.
Federer battled injuries during the final stages of his playing career. Announcing his retirement ahead of the 2022 Laver Cup, the eight-time Wimbledon champion said, “I’ve worked hard to return to full competitive form.
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“But I also know my body’s capacities and limits, and its message to me lately has been clear. I am 41 years old. I have played more than 1500 matches over 24 years.
“Tennis has treated me more generously than I ever would have dreamt, and now I must recognise when it is time to end my competitive career.”
