Iga Swiatek has been named this year's highest-paid female athlete by Forbes and is the fourth WTA player to top the podium since this category was incepted in 2008.
Contrary to an earlier report published by Sportico, which placed American teenager star Coco Gauff at the top and Swiatek in second place, their positions have now changed based on Forbes' computation.
As per the latest numbers, Swiatek earned an estimated $23.9 million, which put her comfortably at the top ahead of 20-year-old freestyle skier Eileen Gu, who made $22.1 million. Gauff ranked in third place, amassing $21.7 million.
Swiatek was the WTA's top-performing player last season after winning six titles, including a third Roland Garros crown. The Polish star was the highest prize money earner on the women's tour, earning $9,857,686. Swiatek made just as much away from the court.
Swiatek added to her four existing brand partnerships to boost her endorsement income into eight figures, signing to become a global brand ambassador for payment card services company VISA and multinational IT company Infosys.
The 22-year-old also bolstered her portfolio by partnering with clothing sponsor On and Oshee sports drink. Swiatek joins Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, and Naomi Osaka as the only WTA players who have topped Forbes' list of highest-paid female athletes.
Tennis players dominate the entire list. Gauff, who finished in third place, made about $6.7 million on the court but over twice as much from endorsements. Nine of the Top 10 on the list are female tennis players.
British tennis star Emma Raducanu played until April 2023, when she decided to undergo three surgeries. But she has built a brand as one of the most marketable athletes in the world since winning the 2021 US Open as a qualifier. This is reflected in her total earnings, the bulk of which was made from endorsement deals - a whopping $15 million.
Naomi Osaka, who didn't play a single tennis match last season after going on maternity leave, made the same amount of off-court income as Raducanu and ranked in fifth place. Aryna Sabalenka, Venus Williams, Jessica Pegula, Elena Rybakina, and Leylah Fernandez are the other players who complete the Top 10 lineup.
Highest-paid Female Athletes Of 2023 According To Forbes:
| Rank | Athlete | Sport | Salary/Winnings | Endorsements | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Iga Swiatek | Tennis | $9.9M | $14M | $23.9M |
| 2. | Eileen Gu | Freestyle Skiing | $0.1M | $22M | $22.1M |
| 3. | Coco Gauff | Tennis | $6.7M | $15M | $21.7M |
| 4. | Emma Raducanu | Tennis | $0.2M | $15M | $15.2M |
| 5. | Naomi Osaka | Tennis | $0 | $15M | $15M |
| 6. | Aryna Sabalenka | Tennis | $8.2M | $6.5M | $14.7M |
| 7. | Jessica Pegula | Tennis | $6M | $6.5M | $12.5M |
| 8. | Venus Williams | Tennis | $0.2M | $12M | $12.2M |
| 9. | Elena Rybakina | Tennis | $5.5M | $4M | $9.5M |
| 10. | Leylah Fernandez | Tennis | $1.8M | $7M | $8.8M |
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