Top 10 World’s Highest-Paid Female Athletes 2015 Rankings
Who made it to the top 10 World’s Highest-Paid Female Athletes 2015? Forbes has the list of the richest female athletes for 2015. Most of them are tennis players!
1. Maria Sharapova
Total earnings: $29.7 million
Winnings: $6.7 million
Endorsements: $23 million
Sharapova was injured and played only one match in the second half of 2013, but bounced back in 2014 to win her second French Open title and fifth Grand Slam overall. Her $6.7 million in prize money is almost triple what it was in the previous 12 months. The Roland Garros title kicked in valuable bonuses from sponsors Nike and Head. Other major endorsement partners include Avon Products, Porsche, Tag Heuer and Evian.
2. Serena Williams
Total earnings: $24.6 million
Winnings: $11.6 million
Endorsements: $13 million
Williams is on a historic run with four straight Grand Slam titles. Her $73 million in career prize money is double No. 2 on the list, Maria Sharapova. Williams added deals with Chase and Audemars Piguet. She also expanded her Gatorade relationship to include the sports drink’s parent PepsiCo.
3. Caroline Wozniacki
Total earnings: $14.6 million
Winnings: $3.6 million
Endorsements: $11 million
The Danish pro picked up new deals with Godiva chocolates and Lavazza coffee this year. She is the first athlete sponsor ever for Godiva. Wozniacki checked off two bucket list events over the last 12 months when she appeared in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issued and ran the NYC marathon, where she raised more than $80,000 for charity.
4. Danica Patrick
Total earnings: $13.9 million
Salary/Winnings: $7.9 million
Endorsements: $6 million
Patrick’s main sponsor, GoDaddy, announced in April that it is was leaving Nascar at the end of 2015. Despite struggling on the track, Patrick is still a hot commodity in the sport and is expected to return to Stewart-Haas Racing with new car sponsors. She has been featured in more Super Bowl commercials than other celebrity thanks to GoDaddy.
5. Ana Ivanovic
Total earnings: $8.3 million
Winnings: $1.8 million
Endorsements: $6.5 million
Ivanovic finished 2014 ranked No. 5 in the world, her best showing since 2008. The strong play triggered boosted her payout from chief sponsor Adidas. Ivanovic renewed her deal with Dubai Duty Free in 2015 and picked up a new sponsor in Shiseido.
6. Petra Kvitova
Total earnings: $7.7 million
Winnings: $5.9 million
Endorsements: $1.8 million
Kvitova banked $3 million for her 2014 Wimbledon victory. Her second Wimbledon crown (she also won in 2011) triggered valuable bonuses from sponsors Nike and Wilson. She signed a multi-year deal with watchmaker Ritmo Mundo in the spring.
7. Simona Halep
Total earnings: $6.8 million
Winnings: $5.3 million
Endorsements: $1.5 million
Last year was a career breakthrough for the Romanian pro, who reached her first Grand Slam final (Roland Garros) and rose to the No. 2 ranking in the world. She added 3 tournament wins in the first half of 2015. Halep has sponsorship deals with Adidas, Wilson and several Romanian firms.
8. Ronda Rousey
Total earnings: $6.5 million
Salary/Winnings: $3 million
Endorsements: $3.5 million
The mixed martial arts champion is the breakout star of the UFC with roles in three big budget movies over the past 12 months, a best-selling book and an appearance on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Her endorsement portfolio includes Reebok, Metro PCS, Monster headphones, Buffalo David Bitton and Carl’s Jr.
9. Stacy Lewis
Total earnings: $6.4 million
Winnings: $2.4 million
Endorsements: $4 million
Lewis won her second LPGA Player of the Year award in three years in 2014. She is only the second American to top the golf working rankings since they began in 2006. She has a deep bench of sponsors including Mizuno, KPMG, Marathon Petroleum, PureSilk, Antigua apparel, Omega, Manulife, Bridgestone and Footjoy.
10. Agnieszka Radwanska
Total earnings: $6 million
Winnings: $2 million
Endorsements: $4 million
The 2012 Wimbledon champ finished No. 6 in the WTA year-end rankings. She renewed endorsement deals with Lotto, Babolat and Lexus at healthy increases. She also added a new sponsor in Workday.
To see the complete list, visit Forbes.