Like very year around these dates, the prestigious Forbes Magazine has published the list of highest paid tennis players in 2015 by combining their income from prize money and endorsements. Unsurprisingly the bulk of these players’ income comes from their off-court activities and, between the twelve highest paid players, they made a combined total of $71 million in prize money between June 2014 and June 2015, and a total of $216 million from endorsements and other off-court appearances. This combined total of $286 million reflects a 4% increase from last year, showing that there is still a huge demand for the sport.
The top 12 earners from 2015 are as follows:
12. Petra Kvitova
Prize Money: $5.9 million
Endorsements: $1.8 million
Combined Total: $7.7 million
11. Grigor Dimitrov
Prize Money: $2.3 million
Endorsements: $5.5 million
Combined Total: $7.8 million
10. Ana Ivanovic
Prize Money: $1.8 million
Endorsements: $6.5 million
Combined Total: $8.3 million
9. Stan Wawrinka
Prize Money: $3.6 million
Endorsements: $7.5 million
Combined Total: $11.1 million
8. Caroline Wozniacki
Prize Money: $3.6 million
Endorsements: $11 million
Combined Total: $14.6 million
7. Kei Nishikori
Prize Money: $4.5 million
Endorsements: $11 million
Combined Total: $19.5 million
6. Andy Murray
Prize Money: $6.3 million
Endorsements: $16 million
Combined Total: $22.3 million
5. Serena Williams
Prize Money: $11.6 million
Endorsements: $13 million
Combined Total: $24.6 million
4. Maria Sharapova
Prize Money: $6.7 million
Endorsements: $23 million
Combined Total: $29.7 million
3. Rafa Nadal
Prize Money: $4.5 million
Endorsements: $28 million
Combined Total: $32.5 million
2. Novak Djokovic
Prize Money: $17.2 million
Endorsements: $31 million
Combined Total: $48.2 million
1. Roger Federer
Prize Money: $9 million
Endorsements: $58 million
Combined Total: $67 million
The results go to show there is a great deal of equality between the women and the men, with five and seven apiece included in the top twelve. It is perhaps surprising to see Kei Nishikori so high up or Grigor Dimitrov even on the list but it goes to show that certain factors, which have nothing to do with on-court results, are appealing from a marketing point of view. In Nishikori’s case, the fact that he is a top level Asian player which attracts a huge market, and in Dimitrov’s, his eternal promise tag and his camera-friendly looks.
On a more negative note, this list only deepens the feeling amongst middle and lower class tennis players that the gulf between the top and the rest is too big, a situation which enables the existence of match-fixing as a means of surviving on tour.
