Serena Williams leads all women in career prize money at about $95.0 million, followed by Aryna Sabalenka at $53.3 million and Iga Swiatek at $47.9 million, based on official WTA figures as of October 12, 2026. This list ranks the 10 women’s tennis stars with the biggest on-court earnings and, for most of them, the largest brands off the court, from endorsement deals to media and fashion work.
Tennis is one of the few sports where women’s earnings and fame match the men’s, and the game’s biggest names are also global brands. We rebuilt this list around transaction data we can check, official career prize money, rather than opinions about looks, and added what each star has done beyond the court.
Top 10 women’s tennis stars by career prize money (October 2026)
| Rank | Player | Country | Career prize money | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Serena Williams | USA | $94,966,162 | Inactive |
| 2 | Aryna Sabalenka | Belarus | $53,284,864 | Active |
| 3 | Iga Swiatek | Poland | $47,942,729 | Active |
| 4 | Venus Williams | USA | $43,351,940 | Active |
| 5 | Simona Halep | Romania | $40,236,618 | Retired in 2025 |
| 6 | Victoria Azarenka | Belarus | $38,890,473 | Listed as active or inactive |
| 7 | Maria Sharapova | Russia | $38,777,962 | Retired |
| 8 | Petra Kvitova | Czech Republic | $37,653,615 | Retired in 2025 |
| 9 | Coco Gauff | USA | $36,836,617 | Active |
| 10 | Caroline Wozniacki | Denmark | $36,479,231 | Likely retired |
Ranking basis: career prize money listed in the WTA’s records as of October 12, 2026. Prize money is only part of the picture, because top players earn more from endorsements than from tournaments.
1. Serena Williams: $94,966,162 in career prize money
Serena Williams was ranked world No. 1 for 319 weeks and won 73 WTA Tour singles titles, including 23 major singles titles, the most in the Open Era. She is the only player to complete a Career Golden Slam in both singles and doubles, and with her sister Venus she won 14 major doubles titles.
How we valued it: the WTA career total, the highest of any woman in the sport’s history.
2. Aryna Sabalenka: $53,284,864
Sabalenka has been world No. 1 for 107 weeks in total and finished as year-end No. 1 in 2024 and 2025. She has won four major singles titles, two at the Australian Open and two at the US Open, plus eleven WTA 1000 events.
How we valued it: the WTA career total as of October 12, 2026.
3. Iga Swiatek: $47,942,729
Swiatek, the first Pole to win a major singles title, has six majors: four at the French Open, one at Wimbledon and one at the US Open. She has held the No. 1 ranking for 125 weeks and won the 2023 WTA Finals. She has earned more than $9.8 million in each of 2022, 2023 and 2025.
How we valued it: WTA career total, as of the same date.
4. Venus Williams: $43,351,940
Venus Williams has won seven major singles titles (five at Wimbledon, two at the US Open), 49 singles titles, and Olympic gold in singles at Sydney in 2000. In 2002 she became the first African-American woman to be ranked No. 1 in the Open era. She has 14 major doubles titles, all with Serena.
How we valued it: WTA career total, which reflects a long career at the top.
5. Simona Halep: $40,236,618
Halep was world No. 1 for 64 weeks, finishing 2017 and 2018 at the top of the rankings, and won two majors: the 2018 French Open and the 2019 Wimbledon Championships. She was in the top 10 for 373 consecutive weeks. She announced her retirement in 2025.
How we valued it: WTA career total, with her retirement in 2025 closing the figure.
6. Victoria Azarenka: $38,890,473
Azarenka won two Australian Open titles in 2012 and 2013, was world No. 1 for 51 weeks and won an Olympic singles bronze and a mixed doubles gold at the 2012 London Games. She was also the runner-up at the US Open three times.
How we valued it: WTA career total only; sponsorships are not included.
7. Maria Sharapova: $38,777,962
Sharapova won 36 singles titles including five majors, and is one of ten women to complete the career Grand Slam. She won Wimbledon at 17 in 2004 and was the first Russian woman to be ranked world No. 1. Off court, she has been a high-profile face of brands, appearing in ads for Nike, Prince and Canon and for fashion houses, and has been a United Nations goodwill ambassador since 2007.
How we valued it: WTA career total only. Her endorsement income is not reflected in this figure.
8. Petra Kvitova: $37,653,615
Kvitova won 31 singles titles including two Wimbledon championships in 2011 and 2014, the 2011 WTA Championships, and a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. She reached a career-high ranking of world No. 2 and retired in 2025.
How we valued it: WTA career total, closed by her 2025 retirement.
9. Coco Gauff: $36,836,617
Gauff is the youngest on this list, born in 2004. She reached the fourth round at Wimbledon in 2019 as a 15-year-old, won the 2023 US Open and the 2025 French Open, and took the 2024 WTA Finals. She has also been world No. 1 in doubles. She earned over $9.3 million in 2024 alone, so she is climbing the list quickly.
How we valued it: WTA career total, still growing as she plays.
10. Caroline Wozniacki: $36,479,231
Wozniacki was world No. 1 for 71 weeks, finishing 2010 and 2011 at the top, and won the 2018 Australian Open and the 2017 WTA Finals. She retired after the 2020 Australian Open, became a commentator, and returned to competition in 2023, though in November 2025 she indicated she was likely done with pro tennis.
How we valued it: WTA career total, closed by her retirement.
Who just missed the top 10?
Elena Rybakina ($35.4 million), Angelique Kerber ($32.5 million), Elina Svitolina ($31.1 million) and Jessica Pegula ($27.6 million) are close behind. Rybakina earned about $10.9 million in 2026 alone, the fourth-highest single season in WTA history, so she is the player most likely to break into the top 10 next.
FAQ
Who is the highest-earning female tennis player of all time?
Serena Williams, with about $95.0 million in career prize money as of October 12, 2026, ahead of Aryna Sabalenka at $53.3 million.
Who is the highest-earning active player?
Aryna Sabalenka, at $53.3 million in career prize money, followed by Iga Swiatek at $47.9 million.
Who has won the most major titles among these players?
Serena Williams, with 23 major singles titles, the most in the Open Era.
How much did Elena Rybakina earn in 2026?
About $10.9 million in prize money, the fourth-highest single season ever recorded on the WTA Tour.
Does prize money include endorsements?
No. Prize money covers only tournament earnings. Stars like Sharapova and the Williams sisters earn considerably more from endorsements and business ventures.
Why did this list change from the earlier version?
We rebuilt it on verifiable career earnings rather than appearance, so it reflects achievement and commercial pull and stays current.
How we put this list together
We ranked players by career prize money from the WTA’s official records, as of October 12, 2026, and added each player’s major titles and rankings from public records. Off-court and endorsement details are described, not ranked.
Last updated: October 2026.
