Business publication Forbes has calculated that Serena Williams is once again the highest-paid sportswoman on the planet. This is her fourth consecutive year at number one.
The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion earned US$29.2 million in the last 12-months. Only US$4.2 million of that came from tennis prize money (the rest from investments and sponsorship deals).
Japan’s Naomi Osaka – who beat Williams in the 2018 US Open, then went on to win the Australian Open in January – became the fourth woman to earn upwards of US$20 in a year (after Williams, Maria Sharapova and Li Na).
Forbes put Osaka’s earnings at US$24.3 million, putting her in second place on a list dominated by tennis players.
Former Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber was third, followed by this year’s Wimbledon champion Simona Halep.
Forbes includes everything from prize money to salaries, bonus, endorsements and appearance fees in its calculations.
There were only three non-Tennis players in the list; US Footballer Alex Moran (12th), Indian badminton player PV Singdu and Thai golfer Ariya Jutanugarn.
