American tennis star Coco Gauff has been named Forbes’ highest-paid female athlete of 2025, earning an estimated $33 million over the past year and securing the top spot for the second consecutive year.
The 21-year-old generated roughly $8 million in prize money, boosted by her French Open victory in June, while the remaining $25 million came from endorsements, the highest off-court earnings among all female athletes on the list.
Gauff’s endorsement portfolio includes major global brands such as New Balance, Bose, Rolex, and Mercedes-Benz, reinforcing her status as one of the most marketable athletes in the world.
Top Earners on Forbes’ 2025 Female Athletes List
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka finished second with $30 million, combining prize money — including her US Open title defence — with endorsement deals from Nike, Audemars Piguet, and Master & Dynamic.
Polish tennis star Iga Świątek, a six-time Grand Slam champion, ranked third with $25.1 million. She was followed by freestyle skiing sensation Eileen Gu with $23.1 million, and Chinese tennis player Qinwen Zheng, who earned $22.6 million, largely from endorsements despite an elbow injury limiting her season.
Tennis Dominates the Rankings
According to Forbes, the top 20 highest-paid female athletes earned a combined $293 million in 2025, representing a 13% increase from the previous year. A record 14 athletes surpassed the $10 million mark, highlighting the continued growth of women’s sports.
Tennis remained the most represented sport on the list, with five of the top 10 athletes competing on the WTA Tour. Other notable earners include:
Madison Keys – $13.4 million
Naomi Osaka – $12.5 million (tied)
Elena Rybakina – $12.5 million (tied)
Jessica Pegula – $12.3 million
The rankings underscore the increasing commercial power of elite female athletes, particularly in tennis, where global appeal and sponsorship opportunities continue to drive record earnings.
