UPDATE: Serena Williams is officially now the highest paid female athlete. According to Forbes, she ranks only behind LeBron James in terms of marketing pull for all active athletes. So enjoy your new No.1 ranking, Serena; you deserve it. Continue to read why this is such a big deal!
We (meaning #TeamSerena) were always baffled Serena Williams was not the highest paid female athlete of our decade. Given everything she’s achieved in tennis—21 Grand Slams, four Olympic gold medals and two Serena Slams—she is arguably the world’s greatest female athlete and undeniably the world’s best female tennis player, for which she does hold the No.1 ranking.
However, she has not earned the title as the top-grossing female athlete. For the past 11 consecutive years that distinction has gone to Maria Sharapova. According to Forbes, Russian-born tennis sensation Sharapova earned $29.7 million last year in prize money, endorsements and appearances. Williams comes in second at $24.6 million.
The fact that the seventh-ranked Sharapova, who is only 2 and 19 against Williams, earned more in endorsements than Williams has bothered a lot of us (again, meaning #TeamSerena). But we understand, companies are free to endorse/sponsor/hire the athlete who best fits their brand, which is not necessarily the best athlete. Side note: I guess that’s why a Kardashian can get a Puma contract and Olympic silver medalist marathoner Meb Keflezighi gets a Sketchers deal (no disrespect to Sketchers).
But all that may soon change. Sharapova came forward Monday, admitting she tested positive for a banned substance. Whether she’s guilty or not, that’s murky, so we’ll let the sports pundits debate that. But what is evident is that companies as soon as yesterday already started pulling their endorsements from the tennis star … So, not to gloat or take joy in Sharapova’s fall from grace, Williams, who offered her support for Sharapova in a Tuesday news conference, may be next up for title of the world’s highest paid female athlete.
BMWK, what do you think about the news? Do you find fault in companies who choose to endorse any other qualities ahead of winning?