How Carlos Alcaraz could become highest prize money earner in tennis history

At just 22, Carlos Alcaraz is already No. 5 on the all-time prize money list for ATP players, and there is good reason to believe he can finish his career at No. 1.

Alcaraz's current total stands at $57,480,695, behind Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Andy Murray. The first three of that quartet are far ahead of the others, but the Spaniard could overtake Murray's $64,687,542 in 2026.

Djokovic's massive total of $191,252,375 will become more significant since he has not retired yet. Nonetheless, a few factors give Alcaraz a great opportunity to surpass the Serbian when he hangs up his racket.

Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer's achievements and domination for so long are a considerable reason they occupy the Top three spots on the all-time prize money list, but the higher financial rewards they competed for compared to past players also helped.

Legends who emerged in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, like Bjorn Borg, whose drug issues were not known until recently, John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Ivan Lendl, Pete Sampras, and Andre Agassi, did not win as much money at the biggest tournaments.

Rather than the prize money reducing since Federer and Nadal's retirements, the inflation has continued. The 2025 US Open awarded Alcaraz and Sabalenka $5,000,000 for winning the singles titles at Flushing Meadows, a Grand Slam effort.

That trend has also been true of the other Grand Slams and most other significant tournaments, like the Masters 1000s, providing opportunities all year round on the ATP Tour for players to make a lot of money.

Therefore, Alcaraz could overtake Djokovic without being as statistically successful as him. For example, if the Spaniard wins 20 Grand Slams and 35 Masters 1000s, both lower numbers than Djokovic, it would probably be enough to better his final prize money haul.

That provides Alcaraz with a built-in advantage that he will try to benefit from in the coming years. The sport's continued popularity, driven by his rivalry with Sinner and by the competitive nature of the WTA Tour, could further fuel future inflation.

Saudi Arabia's growing influence in sports has sparked a mix of excitement and concern. The Gulf state's human rights record and blatant attempt to use involvement in sport to put less focus on that angers many.

However, the country's Public Investment Fund (PIF) provides athletes with earning opportunities that were previously unavailable. Its capital city, Riyadh, has hosted the WTA Finals since 2024, and Elena Rybakina won an astonishing $5.235 million, a WTA record, for winning this year's iteration.

Earlier this year, the ATP announced that a Masters 1000 tournament will be held in Saudi Arabia. That was not surprising after much speculation and two editions of the Six Kings Slam were played.

Alcaraz, Djokovic, Nadal, and Jannik Sinner are among the top players who have played at the Six Kings Slam. Sinner beat his young rival in the 2024 and 2025 finals, winning $6,000,000, a men's tennis record, on both occasions.

Saudi Arabia's involvement and prize money offerings will only increase in the future, and other, similar opportunities might arise. That gives Alcaraz and Sinner another route for earning high prize money that was not available to Djokovic to the same extent during most of his career.

If Alcaraz can take the next step and triumph at a few iterations of the Six Kings Slam, that alone would put a decent dent in Djokovic's final prize money haul, no matter how much the 38-year-old ends with before retirement.

Alcaraz and Sinner's rivalry is epic, and some think it has the potential to become the best rivalry in tennis history. They contested the last three Grand Slam finals and the showpiece 2025 ATP Finals battle, splitting those contests 2-2.

Although Sinner is a superb player who will undoubtedly win many more Grand Slams, Alcaraz will likely finish his career as the more successful. Injuries are the most likely reason if that does not occur.

The six-time Grand Slam champion has beaten Sinner in seven of their last eight outdoor ATP matches, showing he is superior at his best. Sinner has a better indoor record, but none of the Grand Slams are played with a roof, unless it is raining.

Alcaraz being a couple of years younger and having two more Grand Slam titles than Sinner is another reason he will probably finish his career as the more statistically successful player. That increases his chances of earning more prize money than the Italian.

No other active player has a chance of being more successful than Alcaraz, meaning the world No. 1 can battle the most realistically to earn more prize money than Djokovic.