In a standout year both on and off the court, tennis sensation Coco Gauff has claimed the top spot on Sportico’s annual list of highest-paid female athletes.
The 19-year-old Grand Slam winner, who secured her first US Open title, earned a staggering $22.7 million in 2023. Notably, Gauff’s off-court ventures brought in a substantial $16 million, catapulting her to the pinnacle of the list, according to Tennis.com.
Gauff’s meteoric rise in endorsements is underscored by partnerships with major brands such as Ray Ban, Bose, UPS, Barilla, and Baker Tilly.
Having secured endorsement deals since the age of 14, including a notable collaboration with New Balance, Gauff’s marketability continues to soar.
Last year, she held the eighth spot on Sportico’s list, with $6 million from endorsements out of a total of $7.7 million. Tennis maintains its dominance in women’s sports marketing, occupying seven of the top ten spots on Sportico’s list.
Former leader Naomi Osaka, absent from the 2023 season due to maternity leave, still clinched the fifth position with an estimated $15 million, driven solely by endorsements from renowned brands like Nike, Mastercard, Louis Vuitton, and TAG Heuer.
Emma Raducanu, who curtailed her season early due to injury, follows closely behind Osaka in the rankings.
The 21-year-old Brit earned $16 million, with $238,000 in winnings and endorsements from sponsors including Nike, Porsche, Dior, Evian, and Vodafone.
Other athletes who made significant earnings through endorsements include Eileen Gu (skiing) with $20 million and Simone Biles (gymnastics) with $8.5 million.
The Top 10 list of Sportico’s highest-paid female athletes for 2023 reflects the continued influence of tennis in the world of women’s sports marketing.
Checkout the full list below:
- Coco Gauff (tennis) — $22.7 million ($16 million)
- Iga Swiatek (tennis) — $21.9 million ($12 million)
- Eileen Gu (skiing) — $20 million ($20 million)
- Emma Raducanu (tennis) — $16,238,000 ($16 million)
- Naomi Osaka (tennis) — $15 million ($15 million)
- Aryna Sabalenka (tennis) — $12.2 million ($6.5 million)
- Elena Rybakina (tennis) — $9.5 million ($4 million)
- Jessica Pegula (tennis) — $9 million ($3 million)
- Simone Biles (gymnastics) — $8.5 million ($8.5 million)
- Nelly Korda (golf) — $7.9 million ($6.5 million)
