Serena Williams has become the first athlete to make the list of America’s richest self-made women.
With an estimated fortune of $225 million, the 37-year-old tennis star was added to Forbes’ annual list of the country’s Richest Self-Made Women on Tuesday.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion, who has made $89 million in career prize money, finished off the list of 80 women but landed the cover of the magazine.
Williams made about $29 million in the last year alone, mostly as a result of endorsement deals with Nike and JPMorgan Chase and the clothing line she launched in 2018 called S by Serena.
Serena Williams has become the first athlete to make Forbes’ list of America’s richest self-made women with an estimated fortune of $225 million
Her clothing brand, which is slated for a show at New York Fashion Week this year, skyrocketed when Meghan Markle, her close friend and the Duchess of Sussex, was spotted wearing one of her blazers during a royal tour.
Williams, who is married to Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, has also invested in 34 startup business in the past five years alone via her Serena Ventures firm.
The mother-of-one’s venture investments, which make up a portfolio worth about $10 million, are mostly focused on e-commerce, food, fashion and health.
‘I want to be a part of it,’ she told Forbes of her investments.
‘I want to be in the infrastructure. I want to be the brand, instead of just being the face.’
The magazine described the vast majority of her fortune coming ‘via her brain and brand rather than her backhand’.
Williams made about $29 million in the last year alone, mostly as a result of endorsement deals with Nike and the clothing line she launched in 2018 called S by Serena
The 23-time Grand Slam champion, who has made $89 million in career prize money, finished off the list of 80 women but landed the cover of the magazine
Williams, who only publicly announced news of her Serena Ventures firm in April, said she wanted to invest in companies that embrace diverse leadership and opportunity.
The majority of her investments – about 60 percent so far – have gone towards companies that have been founded by women and minorities.
Among the best performing companies she has backed include: Billie, Daily Harvest, MasterClass and The Wing.
Williams estimated that she still had two to three years left in tennis and would continue prioritizing the sport but admitted that she had laid the foundation for her investment firm.
‘I am in no rush to get out of this sport,’ she said.
‘I want to create a brand that has longevity, kind of like my caree.
‘It’s not fancy, it’s not here, it’s not out, it’s not trendy, it’s a staple, like my tennis game.’
The news of her Forbes list debut came just days after losing to American Sofia Kenin in the third round of the French Open.
The youngest woman on the list is 21-year-old Kylie Jenner, who came in at 23 with an estimated wealth of at least $900 million. Jenner, who last year was named the youngest billionaire ever, has made most of her fortune selling cosmetics.
The richest female musician on the list at number 37 is Rihanna (worth $600 million) thanks to her partnership with LVMH and the Fenty Beauty brand she co-owns with them.
Taylor Swift, who made this same list as the youngest woman in 2016, was at number 60 this year with a $360 million fortune.
Beyonce Knowles came in at 51 on the list with a $400 million fortune, while Kim Kardashian West was listed at 57 with a $370 million fortune.
Reese Witherspoon, 43, was listed at number 77 with a $270 million fortune, while 51-year-old Celine Dion came in at number 46 with $450 million in wealth.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion is married to Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian and they share a toddler daughter Olympia