Roger Federer, the Swiss masterclass who is arguably regarded as the best tennis player ever is undoubtedly the only billionaire in the tennis world. However, while Nadal and Djokovic have won more career slams, Federer is still way ahead in his monetary achievements.
With a net worth of over $550 million, Roger Federer is undoubtedly one of the wealthiest athletes in the world. Let’s have a look at what made Federer go way ahead of his competition off the court.
Roger Federer is on his way to becoming the first tennis billionaire.
But did you know…
It was three clever $300M business moves that helped him get there, not tennis.
Federer’s 3 best investments: pic.twitter.com/GAzBap4GPN
— Andrew Petcash (@AndrewPetcash) July 5, 2022
Roger Federer’s massive earnings are the result of a combination of his success on the court, his business ventures, and his endorsement deals. Moreover, he was considered as the most marketable athlete in the world in his prime.
What made Roger Federer so marketable?
Federer has a strong and consistent brand image that has been carefully crafted over the years. He is known for his elegant playing style, gracious behavior on and off the court, and his commitment to charitable causes. His brand image resonates with fans and helps to build trust and loyalty with sponsors.
Nadal’s ‘fighter’ and ‘never give up’ attitude is fairly attractive to young audiences. Similarly, Djokovic’s mental strength and ‘ignore the hate’ are decently captivating. However, none of the two has Federer’s charisma and his attached attributes of sportsmanship and elegance. He is a living example of why it is called ‘gentlemen’s singles’.
Always a gentleman, this Roger Federer! @rogerfederer https://t.co/dNbycQ9SVB
— Zan (@RakitaMode) August 9, 2022
Roger Federer has all the elements a marketing company looks for. Moreover, his personal philanthropic mindset and educated business investments from his team have made his earnings significantly higher than either one.
Exactly how much more does Roger Federer earn?
Till the present day, Federer has earned more than $1 billion. Only $131 million is his prize money earnings. Apart from this, all of them are endorsement deals with tycoon brands. Both Djokovic and Nadal have significantly more prize money with them, which is 167 and 135 million dollars respectively.
Nadal has earned roughly $100 million in endorsements and other deals throughout his career. Djokovic on the other hand, falls even behind with only $30 million.
Career prize money (rounded to the nearest million)
$148 million Novak Djokovic
$130 million Roger Federer
$124 million Rafael Nadal
$94 million Serena Williams
$62 million Andy Murray
$43 million Pete Sampras
$42 million Venus Williams
$39 million Maria Sharapova pic.twitter.com/WfgXvrDV0q— Christopher Clarey 🇺🇸 🇫🇷 🇪🇸 (@christophclarey) March 8, 2021
One of the major reasons for Federer’s ridiculous bank balance is his 2018 deal with Uniqlo. The Japanese clothing brand reportedly signed a deal worth $300 million over the decade.
This was a significant change for Federer, who had previously been sponsored by Nike for more than 20 years. Federer’s move to Uniqlo was a strategic shift, as he approached the end of his tennis career and looked to build his brand and legacy beyond the court.
