Record increases in prize money at Wimbledon are positive signs for the top players in tennis.
Amidst ongoing talks of a merger that could infuse $2 billion into the sport, top earners will only rake in more with attendance up at major tournaments.
The top five highest-paid tennis players have won the most singles major championships. Out of 83 championships won by the highest-paid tennis players, 67% of the championships are owned by the top five.
Novak Djokovic is the highest-paid tennis player in the world, with $184.5 million in career earnings. He’s also won the most singles major championships with 24.
Djokovic has been ranked number 1 for 428 weeks in 13 different years, both records. His last major tournament win was the 2023 U.S. Open, where he earned $3 million along with the trophy.
Rafael Nadal is second having earned $134.9 million in his 23-year career.
He owns the record for most consecutive wins on clay courts with 81 wins. Nadal became ranked number 1 for the first time in 2008, the same year he won an Olympic singles gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Andy Murray takes third with $64.7 million in career earnings.
Murray has won three Grand Slam singles titles including two at Wimbledon. When he won the U.S. Open in 2012, he became the first British major singles champion since 1977.
After her sister’s retirement, Venus Williams became the highest-paid female tennis player on the list, ranking 5th overall with $42.7 million in career earnings.
Venus has won 7 major championships and defeated her sister Serena in her last win at Wimbledon in 2008.
Ten women are among the highest-paid tennis players, totaling $331.2 million in career earnings.
Equality is still an issue, as women aren’t guaranteed equal pay outside of major tournaments. The 50th anniversary of the Battle of the Sexes helped to push tennis forward for women, but more work is still left to be done.
Ranking The Highest-Paid Active Tennis Players in the World
Here is the list of the top 25 highest-paid tennis players, compiled using data from Spotrac.
- Updated: July 30, 2024
| Rank | Player | Singles Major Championships | Career Earnings |
| 1 | Novak Djokovic | 24 | $184.5 million |
| 2 | Rafael Nadal | 22 | $134.9 million |
| 3 | Andy Murray | 3 | $64.7 million |
| 4 | Alexander Zverev | 0 | $43.3 million |
| 5 | Venus Williams | 7 | $42.7 million |
| 6 | Daniil Medvedev | 1 | $41.1 million |
| 7 | Simona Halep | 2 | $40.2 million |
| 8 | Victoria Azarenka | 2 | $37.8 million |
| 9 | Petra Kvitová | 2 | $37.3 million |
| 10 | Stan Wawrinka | 3 | $36.9 million |
| 11 | Caroline Wozniacki | 1 | $35.9 million |
| 12 | Angelique Kerber | 3 | $32.5 million |
| 13 | Carlos Alcaraz | 4 | $31.6 million |
| 14 | Stefanos Tsitsipas | 0 | $31.4 million |
| T-15 | Iga Świątek | 5 | $31.3 million |
| T-15 | Marin Čilić | 1 | $31.3 million |
| 17 | Dominic Thiem | 1 | $30.2 million |
| 18 | Grigor Dimitrov | 0 | $27 million |
| 19 | Karolína Plíšková | 0 | $25.9 million |
| 20 | Kei Nishikori | 0 | $25.2 million |
| 21 | Aryna Sabalenka | 1 | $24.1 million |
| 22 | Andrey Rublev | 0 | $23.8 million |
| 23 | Elina Svitolina | 0 | $23.6 million |
| 24 | Jannik Sinner | 1 | $22.7 million |
| 25 | Gaël Monfils | 0 | $22.4 million |
