Top 10 Richest Tennis Players of All-time

What do we connect our favorite tennis players with? We mostly connect them with their performance, some magical shots, and victories. Sometimes though, it's their wealth that is the center of attention. That is exactly what we are gonna be looking at today, but with a difference. We are gonna rank them based on career prize money won.

Players may earn some wealth from endorsements, advertisements, and other such things. But, as tennis fans what matters is the wealth they have earned from their performance, that is, their prize money. So, here we have a look at the Top 10 richest tennis players of all-time in terms of prize money:

---

#10. David Ferrer (ESP)

Tennis - Olympics: Day 4

David Ferrer has been a familiar name in the tennis circuit. For a man who has spent most of his career in the shadow of his Spanish compatriot Rafael Nadal, he has performed quite well. He has got a career-high ranking of 3rd. He has got quite a few ATP Titles under his name. This has got Ferrer into our Top 10 list today.

If you're wondering why he's not higher up the list, well he has won just a single major final. When we talk about major events, the Spaniard has appeared in 7 masters' finals, winning a sole title. He has appeared in one final in the French Open where he lost to Rafael Nadal. Ferrer also lost in his only appearance in the final of the ATP World Tour Finals. But, he does have 26 more titles in ATP 500 & 250 events.

Although he has not been the most talented player on the tour he has been a fighter to the core. David Ferrer has won a total prize money of 31,284,696 US dollars so far in his professional tennis career spanning over 13 years.

#9. Stan Wawrinka (SUI)

2016 US Open - Day 10

Stan Wawrinka, for the most portion of his career, has played second fiddle to fellow countryman Federer. But he didn't let that affect his tennis. The Swiss has won 16 titles in his career. Then why is David Ferrer, who has 27 in his kitty placed below him in career prize money earnings?

Well, that is because 3 of Wawrinka's 16 titles came in Grand Slam tournaments while the Spaniard has none. He's also appeared in 4 finals at the Grand Slams, while Ferrer did only once. The prize money for reaching a Grand Slam final is significantly more than in any other tournament.

Stan the man has also won a Masters event at Monte Carlo where he beat Federer in the final. He has a career-high ranking of No. 3 with his best year-end ranking being 8th. One of the most powerful tennis players, Stan Wawrinka's career prize money earnings stand at US$31,594,107 right now and Wawrinka's net worth is estimated to be around $19.2 million.

#8. Maria Sharapova (RUS)

2018 US Open - Day 8

Now we come to the first female player in our list, Maria Sharapova. Turning pro in 2004 she is one of the most experienced players on the tour. Although she was banned for 15 months from 2015 for doping charges there is no denying her might as a tennis player.

She is the 3rd highest active grand slam winner in the women's circuit, winning a total of 5 titles. The Russian is only behind Serena Williams in the active players' race for most WTA Premier Mandatory & 5 event titles which are like the Masters for women. She has won such events 14 times, 8 of which came after it was reconstructed from Tier-1 to the way it is now.

Sharapova has also won the WTA Tour Championship once. Including the other WTA events, she has won 36 titles. Maria Sharapova has earned US$38,342,119 in career prize money until now and Sharapova’s net worth is estimated to be around $196 million.

#7. Venus Williams (USA)

Day Eight: The Championships - Wimbledon 2017

The elder of the Williams sisters, Venus Williams is one of the evergreen players in tennis today. Even though she has lost quite a few titles to her younger sister Serena, she has held on to a place of her own. Venus has got 7 grand slam titles, with 5 of them coming in Wimbledon. She is just 1 short of a half-century of titles overall.

The American has won 9 titles in the WTA Premier Mandatory & 5 tournaments. To complete the full house, she had also clinched the WTA Tour Championship and the Singles Olympic gold once each.

In doubles, she has 21 titles, 14 of which came in Grand Slams. She also has 2 WTA Premier Mandatory & 5 titles to go with 3 Olympic doubles gold medals. With her graceful style of play Venus Williams has won a total of US$40,931,048 in career prize money so far and Venus has an estimated net worth of $95 million.

#6. Pete Sampras (USA)

Nike's 'NYC Street Tennis' Event, last time in action

One of the greats of the game, Pete Sampras has been an idol for many including Federer. He is remembered by fans for his exceptional serving but not many know how much he made in his career! Sampras is placed at 3 in the all-time male Grand Slam winners' list with 14 titles to his credit. He won the ATP World Tour Finals 5 times. If that is not enough the he has won 11 Masters titles and 2 other major titles.

When retiring the American Starwalt had an amazing overall tally of 64 championships to show for his efforts. For a career spanning 15 years those are some amazing numbers, especially since he played only 266 official tournaments! His brilliant serve & volleys and astounding aces were the main weapons behind such statistics. Pete Sampras tormented many an opponent on his way to earning a total career prize money of US$40,931,048 and Sampras has an estimated net worth of a staggering $160 million.

#5. Andy Murray (GBR)

2018 US Open - Day 3

Andy Murray, recent injuries aside is the best active British tennis player. He has won 3 grand slams with 2 Wimbledon titles and 1 victory at the US Open. He is the only current player to have 2 Olympic singles gold medals.

Murray has had a decent run in the Masters circuit as well, winning 14 titles. He has also won the ATP World Tour Finals twice. His overall tally of titles stand at 45. The highlight of his career without an iota of doubt is becoming the first British player to win Wimbledon in 77 years when he won the tournament in 2013.

The Brit's double handed backhand is one of the best of all-time. That combined with his accurate first serves and great net presence have led him to all the achievements mentioned above. Andy Murray has earned a prize money of US$ 61,024,985 in his ongoing career and Murray has a whopping net worth of US$100 million.

#4. Serena Williams (USA)

2018 US Open - Day 11

Serena Williams is daylights ahead of her competition in both records and prize money. She's the greatest female tennis player ever, maybe even the best among both men and women.

The younger Williams sister has been one of the most inspiring players, overcoming life-threatening circumstances to come back to the game. She is the most successful Grand Slam player ever in tennis, with an extraordinary 23 titles to boast. She also holds the record for most WTA Premier Mandatory & 5 championships with the same number of titles.

Apart from that Serena has won the WTA Tour Championship five times. In terms of Olympics, she has won the singles gold once and the doubles gold medal thrice. In total, believe it or not, she has got 72 titles to her name. With an extremely powerful gameplay, Serena Williams has won US$88,233,301 in career prize money earnings so far and Williams' has an estimated net worth of $170 million.

#3. Rafael Nadal (ESP)

Rogers Cup presented by National Bank - Day 6

Rafael Nadal is the greatest clay court player the world has ever seen. He is the only left-handed player in our Top 10 list today. Rafa, as he is fondly called by fans is in the reckoning to become the GOAT (Greatest of all-time).

He is the second highest Grand Slam winner with 17 titles to his name. Of the 17, he has won 11 in the French Open. In the ATP Masters circuit, he has got 33 titles which is the most by any player.

The Spaniard has won a grand total of 80 titles overall and is best known for his relentless defence and forehand top spins. He puts his body on the line every time he reaches for the ball. When it comes to turning defence into attack there's certainly no one better than him. So far, Rafael Nadal has career prize money earnings of US$103,251,975 and Nadal's net worth is estimated to be around US$160 million.

#2. Roger Federer (SUI)

Barclays ATP World Tour Finals - Day Three

Roger Federer is a great example for longevity, playing tennis for 20 years since turning pro in 1998. He will probably finish with more years under his belt. The way he has managed workload since getting injured in 2016 has been near perfect.

The Swiss Maestro has the most grand slam titles in Gentlemen's tennis winning a total of 20. He has recorded the most appearances in the finals of Wimbledon in any era, reaching it 11 times. In the Masters series, Federer has won as many as 27 titles. He has won the ATP World Tour 6 times, which is the most by any man. In overall titles, the former World No. 1 is just 2 short of reaching a hundred.

The secret of winning so many titles is just him finding the aces when under pressure. Probably the most elegant player, Roger Federer has won US$117,773,812 in prize money and Federer's net worth is estimated to be around $320 million.

#1. Novak Djokovic (SRB)

2018 US Open - Day 14

Novak Djokovic became the no. 1 in the prize money rankings just recently. He was the player who ended the dominance of Grand Slams by Federer and Nadal. In 15 years since turning pro, he has racked up 14 Grand Slam titles. The Serb has won the ATP World Tour finals 5 times. He has won 31 titles in the Masters' circuit and 71 titles overall.

While this is significantly less than Nadal and Federer, the number of finals that he's appeared in gets him to the top in prize money.

Djokovic has an insane court covering capability that's not matched by many. The great stamina he has got has helped him win many matches from being down and out. If he keeps playing with similar levels he might even finish with the most Grand Slams. An incredible athlete, Novak Djokovic has earned a total career prize money of US$119,110,890 and Djokovic's net worth is estimated to be around $175 million.