Jelena Ostapenko leaves fans startled with unusual attempt to make money

Jelena Ostapenko has enjoyed a financially lucrative career, which made her recent attempt to generate income surprising.

The Latvian has earned over $18 million in prize money during her successful career. Ostapenko's most notable success was winning the 2017 French Open, an entirely unexpected achievement.

Players often make even more money in off-court endorsements. Although she has not consistently been at the top, Ostapenko's French Open title enabled her to secure lucrative deals with major brands.

Although Ostapenko has failed to reach a Grand Slam final since that success at Roland Garros, she won the 2025 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart with an exceptional period of form, which included triumphs against Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka.

The 28-year-old's form dipped severely after that triumph, and she finished 2025 ranked outside the Top 20. Nonetheless, her efforts earlier in the season were enough to ensure a sizeable prize money haul.

That meant many fans were surprised when Ostapenko posted on her Instagram page, dedicated to clothes and other items, about perfume samples she was attempting to sell.

The account is private, but a fan who follows it posted a screenshot of the half-used perfume products, including brands like Louis Vuitton, Ariana Grande, and Chanel. They were being sold at prices from 5 to 15 euros.

Most would expect a wealthy individual like Ostapenko to just throw out used perfume products that she no longer wants. Going to the trouble of selling them for such low amounts seems like a lot of effort for someone of her caliber.

Some fans questioned whether Ostapenko is financially struggling in a way people do not realize, while one account humorously said she would be better off selling the car she received for winning the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have dominated the ATP Tour since the start of 2024, splitting the Grand Slams during that time. Other players will try to get near their level in the coming years.

By contrast, the WTA Tour has been much more open. Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek finished as the year-end No. 1 and No. 2 for a second consecutive season, but they do not dominate like Alcaraz and Sinner.

Madison Keys won her first Grand Slam at the 2025 Australian Open, beating Sabalenka in an epic battle. Coco Gauff then beat Sabalenka to secure her maiden French Open title and second Major crown overall.

Swiatek and Sabalenka claimed the Wimbledon and US Open titles before Elena Rybakina won her most significant title since the 2022 Wimbledon Championships. Once again, Sabalenka finished as the runner-up.

Amanda Anisimova and Mirra Andreeva also enjoyed breakthrough seasons, each winning two WTA 1000 titles. Victoria Mboko's Canadian Open title was another incredible story, and she undoubtedly has the talent to be a Grand Slam champion in the future.