Coco Gauff’s backhand still pays the bills—but her brand is doing the heavy lifting now. For the second year running, the 21-year-old has been named Forbes’ highest-earning female athlete, underlining a financial ascent that has become as reliable as her presence near the top of the WTA rankings.
With estimated earnings of $33M in 2025, Gauff also recently topped Sportico’s list, placing her in rare company. Only Naomi Osaka (2021) and Serena Williams (2021 and 2024) have recorded higher single-year totals. At this point, Gauff isn’t just winning matches—she’s shaping the commercial ceiling of women’s sport.
On-Court Peaks, Off-Court Power
Gauff’s season on the court was productive rather than flawless. Her clay swing was outstanding, reaching back-to-back WTA 1000 finals before lifting her second Grand Slam trophy at Roland Garros. Technical issues with her serve then stalled momentum, leading to a quiet mid-season stretch before she steadied the ship late on, winning Wuhan and bowing out early at the WTA Finals.
Prize money accounted for roughly $8M of her annual total. Significant, yes—but dwarfed by what came next.
Endorsements Do the Talking
The remaining $25M came away from the baseline. Gauff’s endorsement portfolio reads like a corporate power index: New Balance, Bose, Rolex, Mercedes-Benz, Baker Tilly. Few athletes—tennis or otherwise—straddle credibility, youth appeal and global reach quite like she does.
“As I’ve gotten older, I don’t want to just be a face of brands, but also be the brand,” Gauff told Forbes. “When I became 18, I knew this was something I wanted to work for.”
It shows. Gauff is no longer just endorsable—she’s bankable.
Tennis Dominates the Money Conversation
Tennis players make up 10 of the top 20 on Forbes’ list, reinforcing the sport’s unique ability to convert individual success into commercial muscle.
Aryna Sabalenka follows Gauff in second with $30M, fuelled by a Grand Slam title, two additional finals and year-end No.1 status—though her earnings were split evenly between on-court and off-court income. Iga Swiatek sits third at $25.1M, again mirroring Sabalenka’s pattern: dominant results, steady endorsements.
Zheng Qinwen’s presence at No.5 is particularly striking. Despite earning just $1.6M on court due to an elbow injury, her off-court income surged to $21M, evidence of her explosive marketability in China. Madison Keys, Naomi Osaka, Elena Rybakina and Jessica Pegula round out a tennis-heavy top 10, while Amanda Anisimova’s breakout year pushed her to $11.3M overall.
The Numbers at a Glance (Shortened)
World’s Highest-Paid Female Athletes 2025 (Top 10)
| Rank | Athlete | Sport | On-Court | Off-Court | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coco Gauff | Tennis | $8M | $25M | $33M |
| 2 | Aryna Sabalenka | Tennis | $15M | $15M | $30M |
| 3 | Iga Swiatek | Tennis | $10.1M | $15M | $25.1M |
| 4 | Eileen Gu | Skiing | $0.1M | $23M | $23.1M |
| 5 | Zheng Qinwen | Tennis | $1.6M | $21M | $22.6M |
| 6 | Madison Keys | Tennis | $4.4M | $9M | $13.4M |
| T-7 | Naomi Osaka | Tennis | $2.5M | $10M | $12.5M |
| T-7 | Elena Rybakina | Tennis | $8.5M | $4M | $12.5M |
| 10 | Jessica Pegula | Tennis | $5.3M | $7M | $12.3M |
What It All Means
Gauff’s earnings are not a byproduct of hype—they’re the result of sustained relevance, Grand Slam credibility and a rare crossover appeal. At 21, she already owns two straight years atop the financial leaderboard.
In women’s tennis, results still matter. But in 2025, no one converted presence into profit quite like Coco Gauff.
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