In the past few years, women in sports have garnered a large fanbase. And that has happened primarily due to several women-centric tournaments cropping up in a myriad of sporting disciplines. Naturally, there exists a heightened interest in the top female athletes in the world and their salaries.
Despite team sports like football, cricket and basketball gaining followers for the women’s category, a majority of the highest-paid female athletes in 2024 partake in individual sports.
Tennis, as always, enjoys a stronghold in this particular list. From Serena Williams to Maria Sharapova, over the years ace tennis players have emerged as the highest-paid female athletes. A few of them have also ranked among the highest-earning athletes (both male and female). Therefore, it is safe to say that tennis is the highest-paying sport for female players.
Yes, in general, there is a huge gap in the wages that male and female athletes draw. In fact, the highest-paid female athlete in 2024 earns just over half of what the 50th highest-paid athlete (male) takes home per year. And this stems from a big gap in viewership numbers between the men’s and women’s sporting events.
In simple terms, the popularity of a particular tournament reflects in its viewership and prompts the broadcasters to invest in rights accordingly. For the unversed, the telecasting rights are the primary source of revenue for any federation or governing body of a sport.
Everything said and done, we still need to answer the burning question — who are the highest-paid female athletes in 2024? Well, read more to find out.
A look at the salaries of the top female athletes in 2024
Iga Świątek
Sport: Tennis
Age: 22 years
Debut: 2016
Total earnings: USD 23.9 million
Sitting atop the WTA singles rankings as of May 2024, Iga Świątek is considered by many to be a modern-day great. She is the first player representing Poland to win a major singles title. In total, she has four Grand Slam titles to her name.
With 21 career titles to date, Świątek has achieved what is a dream for most professional tennis players. The fact that she is still in her early 20s excites the tennis fraternity about all that she will possibly achieve in the coming years.
In 2023, she was named by Time in its list of the 100 most influential people in the world. According to Forbes, Świątek’s annual income makes her not just the highest-paid female tennis player, but the highest-paid female athlete in 2024.
Eileen Gu
Sport: Freestyle skiing
Age: 20 years
Debut: 2018 (USA), 2019 (China)
Total earnings: USD 22.1 million
Salary: USD 100,000
There is a myth that athletes from unconventional and unpopular sports disciplines remain limited in their earning potential. With earnings in excess of USD 20 million annually, Eileen Gu has broken such stereotypes.
Born in San Francisco, California, Gu represents China in the international sphere. At the age of 18, she became the youngest Olympic champion in freestyle skiing when she won three medals (two gold and a silver) at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
In addition to her Olympic gold medals, Gu has won two gold medals and a bronze medal at the 2021 World Championships in Aspen. She was named by Time in its list of the 100 most influential people in the world under the ‘Pioneers’ category in 2022.
Coco Gauff
Sport: Tennis
Age: 20 years
Debut: 2018
Total earnings: USD 21.7 million
One of the best female tennis players in the world at present, the name of Coco Gauff commands great respect among the followers of the sport. And with good reason, too, for she has an impeccable record of 194 wins against a mere 88 losses, and has won seven career titles.
But here’s the fun part: at just 20 years (as of May 2024), she is one of the youngest players in the WTA singles top 100. The American has enjoyed considerable success in both the singles and the doubles categories, including reaching the summit of the rankings in the latter alongside compatriot Jessica Pegula.
Gauff, as of 2024, has earned in excess of USD 13 million in prize money on the WTA Tour. Her immense talent and hunger to achieve success make her worthy of being named among the highest-paid athletes in 2024.
Emma Raducanu
Sport: Tennis
Age: 21 years
Debut: 2018
Total earnings: USD 15.2 million
One of the finest British female tennis players of all time, Emma Raducanu made headlines when she won the prestigious US Open in 2021. In the process, she became the first qualifier in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam singles title (among both men and women).
Additionally, she also holds the record for playing the fewest major tournaments before winning a Grand Slam in the Open Era. Moreover, she is the first British woman to win a Grand Slam title since Virginia Wade’s Wimbledon Open victory in 1977. Still in her early 20s, Raducanu ranks among the highest-earning female athletes in 2024 and has the potential to do well in the future (both in her career and financially).
Naomi Osaka
Sport: Tennis
Age: 26 years
Debut: 2013
Total earnings: USD 15 million
Naomi Osaka is not just a tennis player — she is an icon. She has been deemed as one of the most influential women athletes of the modern era by several people. Therefore, it is not surprising to see Osaka add a significant fortune to her name.
The ace Japanese player had her breakthrough moment in 2018 when she won the US Open at Flushing Meadows, defeating Serena Williams in the final. Since then, Osaka has won three more Grand Slam titles. She also became the first Asian player to reach the summit of the singles rankings (in both men’s and women’s disciplines).
With over USD 21 million winnings in prize money, Osaka is one of the finest female tennis players at present. Her off-field earnings contribute greatly to making her one of the highest-paid athletes in 2024.
Aryna Sabalenka
Sport: Tennis
Age: 26 years
Debut: 2015
Total earnings: USD 14.7 million
Aryna Sabalenka is the living embodiment of versatility ― she has been ranked the top player in both WTA singles and doubles rankings in her career. The Belarusian has two Grand Slam singles titles (the 2023 and 2024 Australian Open) and two Grand Slam doubles titles (the 2019 US Open and the 2021 Australian Open) under her belt.
Known for her aggressive style of play, Sabalenka has enjoyed widespread success in her tennis career so far. If she can continue on her upward growth trajectory, the future looks promising for the ace tennis star. With over USD 23 million winnings in prize money, the Belarusian ranks among the highest-paid female athletes in the world.
Jessica Pegula
Sport: Tennis
Age: 30 years
Debut: 2009
Total earnings: USD 12.5 million
Even though it took her nearly a decade to find ground under her feet in the world of professional tennis, Jessica Pegula has lived up to her tag of a late bloomer. At present, she is one of the most consistent female tennis players in the world.
Pegula features regularly in both singles and doubles events. Her partnership with Coco Gauff is one of the best in modern times. The duo even made it to the finals of the 2022 French Open.
An heir to a massive business empire, Pegula’s net worth is in the billions, making her the richest tennis player in the world. But that does not mean that the American is living off her parents’ wealth. Earning well over USD 10 million from her exploits on the tennis court and sponsorship deals, Pegula is among the highest-paid female athletes in 2024.
Venus Williams
Sport: Tennis
Age: 43 years
Debut: 1994
Total earnings: USD 12.2 million
You need to spend your entire life under a rock to be introduced to Venus Williams. Widely regarded as one of the sport’s all-time greats, her partnership with her younger sister, Serena Williams, in women’s doubles tennis is legendary.
But she has been a successful singles player as well — the former world number one has won seven Grand Slam singles titles (five Wimbledon Open crowns and two US Open titles).
While she has not been too hot on the court in recent years, the veteran tennis player earns a great deal from her sponsors. At present, she enjoys several endorsement deals with brands like Tide, Wilson, Kraft, Electronic Arts and Ralph Lauren, among others. Such off-field earnings help Williams power her way into the list of the highest-paid female athletes in 2024.
Elena Rybakina
Sport: Tennis
Age: 24 years
Debut: 2014
Total earnings: USD 9.5 million
With eight career titles, Elena Rybakina is among the finest female tennis players of all time. She reached a career-high WTA singles ranking of number 3 in 2023, in the process becoming the first Kazakhstani player to be ranked in the top 10.
Although she has an impressive career record of 315 wins as opposed to 136 losses, Rybakina has won just one Grand Slam title (the Wimbledon Open in 2022). Talented as she is, the Kazakhstani will hope to add more Grand Slam crowns to her cabinet in the coming years.
Leylah Fernandez
Sport: Tennis
Age: 21 years
Debut: 2019
Total earnings: USD 8.8 million
Yet another tennis player in the mix, Leylah Fernandez has enjoyed decent success in both the singles and doubles categories. She played a pivotal role in Canada winning the first Billie Jean King Cup in the nation’s history in 2023.
Even though she has won a staggering 174 matches in just five years, the Canadian is yet to win a Grand Slam title. She came tantalisingly close to claiming the US Open women’s singles crown in 2021 but succumbed to Emma Raducanu in the summit clash.
A promising player, Fernandez has won nearly USD 5 million in prize money to date. She ranks among the highest-paid female athletes in 2024, and the future looks bright for her.
Nelly Korda
Sport: Golf
Age: 25 years
Debut: 2016
Total earnings: USD 8.2 million
Hailing from Florida, Nelly Korda is often regarded as one of the finest female golfers in the sport’s history. Her embellished career stands testament to her legendary status.
Here are the American golfer’s career highlights:
- Ranked first in the Women’s World Golf Rankings,
- As many as 14 title wins on the LPGA Tour,
- Olympic gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
While golf is one of the highest-paying sporting disciplines, Korda is the only golfer who ranks among the top 15 highest-paid female athletes in 2024. She also made it to Forbes‘ list of ’30 under 30’ — a list of highest earners under the age of 30 — in 2021 (Korda held the 23rd spot on that list).
Candace Parker
Sport: Basketball
Age: 38 years
Debut: 2008
Total earnings: USD 8.1 million
Salary: USD 100,000
Widely considered to be among the greatest basketball players in the sport’s history, Candace Parker is famously known for her stint with the Los Angeles Sparks. She has a rich portfolio, which looks like this:
- Three-time WNBA champion (2016, 2021, 2023)
- Two-time WNBA MVP (2008, 2013)
- WBNA Finals MVP (2016)
- Seven-time WNBA All-Star (2011, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022)
- WNBA All-Star Game MVP (2013)
- WNBA Rookie of the Year (2008)
Her earnings from the recent WNBA contract with Las Vegas Aces, however, are far outweighed by her earnings off the field (approximately USD 8 million). With sponsorship deals with multinational brands like Adidas, CarMax and Gatorade, Parker ranks among the highest-paid female athletes in 2024.
Alex Morgan
Sport: Football
Age: 34 years
Debut: 2008
Total earnings: USD 7.8 million
Salary: USD 475,511
Arguably one of the greatest female footballers of all time, Alex Morgan is a legend. The American superstar earns a yearly paycheck of USD 475,511 from her club side, San Diego Wave. But it is her earnings off the football field that gives Morgan’s yearly income a huge boost.
Morgan endorses some of the biggest brands in the world such as Swiss luxury watchmakers Hublot, Coca-Cola’s sports drink subsidiary brand Bodyarmor and Michelob Ultra, a beer brand under Anheuser-Busch.
Besides her sponsorship deals, the American footballer earns a fortune from her investments. She is one of the co-founders of the media company Togethrx alongside celebrities like Chloe Kim, Simone Manuel and Sue Bird. Morgan is the highest-paid female footballer in the world in 2024 and ranks among the highest-paid female athletes at present.
Qinwen Zheng
Sport: Tennis
Age: 21 years
Debut: 2021
Total earnings: USD 7.2 million
A WTA top 10 player, Qinwen Zheng is one of the most exciting prospects in the modern era. She reached the quarter-finals in her debut French Open appearance (in 2022) and was named the WTA Newcomer of the Year for 2022.
In January 2024, Zheng reached her first Grand Slam final at the Australian Open. Even though she lost the summit clash, the performance helped her break into the top 10 of the WTA singles rankings. In the process, she became the first Chinese player to do so after Li Na.
P.V. Sindhu
Sport: Badminton
Age: 28 years
Debut: 2011
Total earnings: USD 7.1 million
Summing up the list of the highest-paid female athletes in 2024 is P.V. Sindhu, a superstar of the Indian sports fraternity.
There are several reasons why Sindhu is considered to be one of the most influential sports personalities in India. Notably, she is…
- The only Indian to date to win the BWF World Championships (2019) irrespective of gender
- The second Indian athlete to win two consecutive medals at the Olympic Games (2016 and 2021)
- The first Indian badminton player to reach the final of the Olympics (in 2016)
- The only Indian to win the BWF World Tour Finals (in 2018)
According to a report by CAknowledge, PV Sindhu, as of May 2024, boasts a net worth of USD 6 million, and is the richest female badminton player in the world. Forbes featured her in its list of The Highest-Paid Female Athletes in 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
(Main Image Credits: Iga Świątek/Instagram and Alex Morgan/Instagram; Featured Image Credits: Iga Świątek/Instagram)
This article first appeared here
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
– Who is the highest-paid female athlete in 2024?
Iga Świątek is the highest-paid female athlete in 2024.
– Which is the highest-paying sport for female athletes?
Tennis is widely considered to be the highest-paying sport for female athletes.
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Written by
Uddipta writes about sports and watches besides occasionally venturing into the world of automobiles and technology. He was associated with the Indian Express in the capacity of a sub-editor at their Lifestyle desk. A journalism and mass communication student from Xavier Institute of Communications, Mumbai, Uddipta devotes most of his leisure time to photography and filmmaking. He has contributed photographs to Vogue Italia and several exhibits, and has directed award-winning short films screened at film festivals in India and abroad.
