DURBAN - Serena Williams, one of the most successful tennis players in the world, has been named the Forbes Highest Paid Female Athletes for 2018.
Serena Williams has been at the top of this ranking for the past three years. Williams is also the most marketable female athlete according to Forbes.
The 10 highest paid female athletes collected $105 million from prize money, endorsements and royalties between 1 June 2017 and 1 June 2018.
Here are the top 10 Highest Paid Female Athletes for 2018:
1. Serena Williams
Total earnings: $18,1 million
Prize money: $62000
Endorsements: $18 million
Williams launched her fashion collection Serena in May that includes dresses, denim and jackets. She has also done collections for HSN and Nike. Williams only made $62000 in prize money because she gave birth to a baby recently. Williams also has lucrative endorsements with companies like Nike, Gatorade and Beats.
Her career total prize money is $86 million which is twice the amount of her sister Venus who ranks second all-time.
Serena Williams launched her fashion collection Serena in May that includes dresses, denim and jackets. Photo: Facebook
2. Caroline Wozniacki
Total earnings: $13 million
Prize money: $7 million
Endorsements: $6 million
Wozniacki's endorsement partners include Adidas, Rolex and Usana amongst others. She has also partnered with Ovvo Optics for her own line of sunglasses. The sunglasses will have 11 styles for men and women and named after her family, friends and fellow famous Danes.
Caroline Wozniacki's endorsement partners include Adidas, Rolex and Usana amongst others. Photo: Facebook
3. Sloane Stephens
Total earnings: $11,2 million
Prize money: $5,7 million
Endorsements: $5,5 million
After winning her first Grand Slam, the 2017 US Open, new endorsement deals started to roll in for the tennis player. Her new deals were with companies like Nike, Mercedes-Benz, Rolex and more.
After winning her first Grand Slam, the 2017 US Open, new endorsement deals started to roll in for Sloane Stephens. Photo: Facebook
4. Garbine Muguruza
Total earnings: $11 million
Prize money: $5,5 million
Endorsements: $5,5 million
Garbine Muguruza won her second Grand Slam last year at Wimbledon. Photo: Facebook
Garbine Muguruza won her second Grand Slam last year at Wimbledon. The title meant a big bonus from her sponsor Adidas and it helped her land a deal with Rolex. She also signed a multi-year global marketing campaign with Evian. Other sponsors include Beats by Dre and Maui Jim sunglasses.
5. Maria Sharapova
Total earnings: $10,5 million
Prize money: $1 million
Endorsements: $9,5 million
Maria Sharapova has a multiyear deal with UBS as well as endorsements with Nike, Evian and Porsche. Photo: Facebook
Sharapova has a multiyear deal with UBS as well as endorsements with Nike, Evian and Porsche. She also expanded her Sugarpova brand with agreements with the Hudson Group and the SBE Hotel Group. The candy brand is available in 322 countries and should hit $20 million by 2019.
6. Venus Williams
Total earnings: $10,2 million
Prize money: $4,2 million
Endorsements: $6 million
Venus Williams' total earnings are $10,2 million Photo: Facebook
Williams worked with Alcon this year to launch a new lubricant to combat dry eye. She is also a popular choice on the speaking circuit and charges as much as $100000 for an appearance.
7. PV Sindhu
Total earnings: $8,5 million
Prize money: $500000
Endorsements: $8 million
PV Sindhu is the first Indian female athlete to win silver. Photo: Facebook
Sindhu, an Indian badminton player burst on the scene in 2016 when she won a silver medal at the Summer Olympics. She became the first Indian female athlete to win silver. Her sponsors include Gatorade, Nokia, Panasonic and more.
8. Simona Halep
Total earnings: $7,7 million
Prize money: $6,2 million
Endorsements: $1,5 million
Halep had a deal with Adidas that ended in 2017. In January 2018, she stepped onto the Australian Open court in a dress that she designed herself. The next month, Nike signed a multiyear deal with the tennis player. She is currently number on the WTA rankings.
Simona Halep has an endorsement deal with Adidas Photo: Facebook
9. Danica Patrick
Total earnings: $7,5 million
Salary/prize money: $3 million
Endorsements: $4,5 million
Patrick who is the most successful race car driver hung up her suit in May. She launched a clothing line called Warrior by Danica Patrick in 2018. She is also the author of a fitness book called Pretty Intense. Her earnings include six months of salary and winnings from the 2017 Nascar season.
Danica Patrick has launched a clothing line called Warrior by Danica Patrick, Photo: Facebook
Patrick who is the most successful race car driver hung up her suit in May. She launched a clothing line called Warrior by Danica Patrick in 2018. She is also the author of a fitness book called Pretty Intense. Her earnings include six months of salary and winnings from the 2017 Nascar season.
10. Angelique Kerber
Total earnings: $7 million
Prize money: $3 million
Endorsements: 4 million
Kerber's biggest endorsement deal is with Adidas. Her endorsements are with Porsche and Rolex amongst others. Her $3,3 million winnings from the 2018 Wimbledon are not included because it falls out of the counting period.
Angelique Kerber's biggest endorsement deal is with Adidas. Photo: Facebook
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