But the American isn’t the only one cashing in, as 2024 has also been a banner year for Zheng—on and off the court. Her gold medal triumph at the Olympic Games in Paris catapulted her into stardom in China, and the 22-year-old boasts a growing roster that includes Nike, Lancome, Gatorade, Wilson, Rolex, Chagee, Audi and more.
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The Top 15 list also featured 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) stand out as the only two out of nine tennis players who earned more in prize money than endorsements.
Tennis Players in Sportico’s Top 15 Highest-Paid Female Athletes:
1. Coco Gauff — $30.4M ($9.4M winnings, $21M endorsements)
3. Iga Swiatek — $21.4M ($8.4M winnings, $13M endorsements)
4. Zheng Qinwen — $20.6M ($5.6M winnings, $15M endorsements)
5. Aryna Sabalenka — $17.7M ($9.7M winnings, $8M endorsements)
6. Naomi Osaka — $15.9M ($870K winnings, $15M endorsements)
7. Emma Raducanu — $14.7M ($671K winnings, $14M endorsements)
11. Jasmine Paolini — $10M ($6.5M winnings, $3.5M endorsements)
13. Jessica Pegula — $8.2M ($4.2M winnings, $4M endorsements)
14. Elena Rybakina — $7.9M ($3.9M winnings, $4M endorsements)
According to Sportico, the endorsement earnings are estimated figures that have been compiled through “conversations with those familiar with marketing agreements” and also include royalties, memorabilia, appearance fees, media and businesses tied to their celebrity.
Read More: Jannik Sinner surpasses 30 million dollars in career prize money after winning ATP Finals
Last year, Sportico named soccer player Cristiano Rolando as the world’s highest-paid athlete with an estimated $275 million in earnings—$215 million coming from his salary. Novak Djokovic was the highest-paid tennis player of 2023, with $29 million of his $44.9 million coming via endorsements.
