At just 21, Coco Gauff continues to redefine what dominance looks like both on and off the court. For the second consecutive year, the American tennis star has claimed the top spot on Forbes’ list of the world’s highest-paid female athletes, earning an estimated $33 million over the past 12 months.
While Gauff’s French Open victory in June delivered roughly $8 million in prize money, it was her off-court presence that truly set her apart. An impressive $25 million came from endorsement deals with global brands including New Balance, Bose, Rolex, and Mercedes-Benz, marking the highest endorsement income of any woman on the 2025 ranking.
Close behind is World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who earned an estimated $30 million through a combination of prize money bolstered by her successful US Open title defence and endorsement partnerships with Nike, Audemars Piguet, and Master & Dynamic.
Iga Świątek, a six-time Grand Slam champion, ranks third with $25.1 million, followed by freestyle skiing star Eileen Gu at $23.1 million. Rounding out the top five is Chinese tennis player Qinwen Zheng, who earned $22.6 million, largely from endorsements, despite an elbow injury limiting her time on court this season.
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, with tennis continuing its dominance — five of the top ten come from the WTA Tour.
Other notable names on the list include Madison Keys ($13.4 million), Naomi Osaka and Elena Rybakina (tied at $12.5 million), and Jessica Pegula ($12.3 million).