Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic transformed tennis with their intense and entertaining rivalry over the years. The trio raised the bar with their performances, and surpassed everyone’s expectations with their unbelievable feats.
Djokovic remains the only active player of the “Big 3”. Federer was the first to call it quits in 2022, and Nadal is set to follow in his footsteps at the end of the current season.
Their achievements made them a global phenomenon, which naturally translated into financially lucrative deals for all three of them. They’re three of the most accomplished players on the court, as well as off it by virtue of their massive fortune
On that note, here’s a look at which legend of the sport comes out on top with regards to the highest net worth:
#3 Rafael Nadal
Nadal has made considerable earnings not only through his on-court performances but also off the court. His 22 Major titles put him in second place among men. Aside from being the most prestigious tournaments, Grand Slams are also the most lucrative.
It is no wonder that Nadal is second when it comes to prize money earned as well, and has claimed approximately $135 million since the start of his career. He became an overnight sensation as the swashbuckling teenager who won the French Open in 2005 on his first attempt.
The Spaniard’s popularity has endured the test of time, and his squeaky clean image meant that sponsors thronged to him in droves. Nike has been with him since the start of his career, and he became the face of many prominent brands over the years.
Richard Mille, Babolat, Heineken, KIA, Infosys, Telefonica, and Cantabria Labs are among some of his most notable sponsors. Nadal earned $23 million over the past year and it landed him in sixth place on Forbes’ highest paid tennis athletes in 2024.
Given his year-long hiatus, it is a testament to Nadal’s popularity that he continued to earn through his off-court endeavors. He has been a mainstay on the Forbes’ list for two decades now. His current net worth is estimated to be around $220 million. While it is a lot, it is still a tad bit less than his two greatest rivals.
#2 Novak Djokovic
Djokovic played catch up for most of his career, and now he has finally overtaken both Federer and Nadal in terms of achievements. He leads the duo, and the rest of the field in almost every key metric. He has even raced ahead in terms of prize money, and is now the all-time leader with a massive $185 million to his name.
Djokovic’s lengthy list of achievements has seen his sponsorship deals skyrocket over the years. His current sponsors include Head, Asics, Hublot, Lacoste, UKG, and Raiffeisen Bank International. He was previously sponsored by Uniqlo, Audemars Piguet, and other high-profile brands as well.
The Serb has been a regular feature on Forbes’ highest earning tennis players list, and was placed second in 2024 with a total of $37 million. His overall net worth is estimated to be around $240 million at present. Having cemented his status at the greatest to ever play the sport, his fortune is only going to improve massively in the coming years.
#1 Roger Federer
Federer’s aesthetically pleasing brand of tennis made him a favorite even before his breakthrough. Once he started to rack up one Major after another, his popularity shot through the roof. His dominance in the mid-2000s not only made him one of the highest-earning athletes in tennis but across all sports.
Federer retired in 2022, and by then he had earned $130 million in prize money. However, his off-court earnings easily outpaced whatever he made by winning titles. He frequently topped the Forbes’ list of highest paid tennis players, and even made the cut for the overall list of highest paid athletes across all sports.
Such is Federer’s influence that even after his retirement, he made $95 million in 2023, and was the ninth-highest paid athlete that year according to Forbes. A lucrative endorsement portfolio has made it possible for him to achieve this.
Federer is currently sponsored by Barilla, Credit Suisse Group (ADS), JURA, Lindt & Sprungli, Mercedes-Benz, On, Rolex, Switzerland Tourism, Uniqlo, and Wilson Sporting Goods, among others.
With such an impressive list of sponsors, it is hardly surprising to note that Federer’s current net worth has shot to $550 million. It is also more than the combined net worth of his two rivals. With his endorsement deals still going strong, that number is going to change in no time as well.
