Who are the highest-earning female athletes?

With growing viewership in women's sports, increasing television rights values, and heightened interest from advertisers, female athletes are seeing significant rises in their earnings.

In 2024, the combined earnings of the top 15 highest-paid female athletes reached $221 million, marking a 27% increase from the previous year. The number of female athletes earning at least $10 million rose from six in 2023 to 11 in 2024.

The majority of these top earners come from tennis. According to US-based sports business platform Sportico, five of the top seven highest-paid female athletes last year were tennis players. American athletes also feature prominently among the highest earners.

Sportico's list of 2024's highest-earning female athletes takes into account salaries, prize money, all types of bonuses (signing, playoff, Olympic, and others), and endorsements (advertisements, brand ambassador roles, and more).

Coco Gauff

American tennis star Coco Gauff earned $30.4 million in 2024. Of this, $9.4 million came from salary and prize money, with $20 million from endorsements. The 20-year-old's endorsement deals include a significant partnership with Boston-based brand Ready. At just 14, Gauff signed with New Balance, which recently launched a signature shoe under her name. She also has deals with UPS, Head, Barilla, Baker Tilly, Bose, and Rolex.

Eileen Gu

Freestyle skier Eileen Gu, born in the US but competing for China since 2019, earned $22.1 million in 2024. The 21-year-old made $22 million from endorsements and $62,000 from prize money. Gu has sponsorship agreements with over 20 brands and has graced the covers of the Chinese editions of InStyle, Marie Claire, and Vogue.

Iga Świątek

Polish tennis player Iga Świątek earned $21.4 million in 2024. She made $8.4 million in prize money and $13 million from endorsements. Świątek, who won the French Open, ended the year ranked second in the WTA rankings. However, she faced a one-month suspension in november after testing positive in a doping test.

Zheng Qinwen

Chinese tennis player Zheng Qinwen earned $20.6 million in 2024, with $5.6 million from prize money and $15 million from endorsements. Zheng, who reached the final of the Australian Open this year, is ranked fifth. She has sponsorship deals with major brands such as Nike, Lancôme, Gatorade, Wilson, and Rolex.

Aryna Sabalenka

Belarusian tennis star Aryna Sabalenka earned $17.7 million in 2024. The three-time Grand Slam champion received $8 million from endorsements and $9.7 million in prize money. Sabalenka won both the Australian Open and the US Open last year.

Naomi Osaka

Japan's Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam winner, earned $15.9 million in 2024. She made $870,000 in prize money, with $15 million coming from endorsements. The 27-year-old holds sponsorship deals with Nike, Louis Vuitton, Panasonic, and Beats.

Emma Raducanu

British tennis player Emma Raducanu returned to the WTA Tour in 2024 after recovering from injury, earning $14.7 million. Of this, $14 million came from endorsements and $671,000 from prize money. Despite a drop in earnings from Nike due to her lower ranking, Raducanu remains sponsored by HSBC, Tiffany, British Airways, Dior, and Porsche.

Nelly Korda

American golfer Nelly Korda earned $14.4 million in 2024. She made $10 million from endorsements and $4.4 million in prize money. Korda has a notable sponsorship deal with T-Mobile.

Simone Biles

Renowned as the most successful gymnast in history, Simone Biles earned $11.1 million in 2024. She made $11 million from endorsements and $135,000 in prize money. Biles' sponsorship portfolio includes deals with Athleta, Eli Lilly, Visa, and Nulo.

Caitlin Clark

US basketball player Caitlin Clark earned $11.1 million in 2024. Of her total earnings, $11 million came from endorsements, with $100,000 from salary and bonuses.