FOS Explains: Serena Williams's $340 MILLION Empire

Serena Williams made headlines at this year’s Super Bowl with her surprise appearance during Kendrick Lamar’s Halftime Show.

But before Crip walking to ‘Not Like Us’, Williams retired from the tennis court having earned $95 MILLION in prize money.

On the Court

Throughout her career, Serena Williams took home 23 Grand Slam singles titles—more than any other man or woman during the Open Era. During that time, she secured four Olympic Gold medals.

In 1998, when she was only 17-years-old, Williams inked a deal with Puma, reportedly making her $13 million in the first few years of her career.

In December 2003, she left the company to join Nike on an eight-year endorsement deal. The move was reported to be worth up to $55 million with performance incentives.

During her 27-year career, Serena also secured deals with some of the world’s biggest brands, like Disney, Ford, Gatorade, and Gucci. When she retired in 2022, Williams was the second-highest paid female athlete in the world. According to Forbes, she had earned $45 million off the court that year.

Serena Ventures

While Serena was at the top of her tennis career, she was planning ahead for her life after sports. Williams started a venture capital company called Serena Ventures in 2014.

Serena learned most VC firms weren’t investing women or minorities. Less than 2% of venture funding went to women—and even less to women of color. Serena saw this and realized she could do something about it.

According to their website, Serena Ventures’ portfolio comprises of 79% underrepresented founders, 54% women founders, 47% Black founders, and 11% Latino founders.

Serena Ventures’ investments are made in early stage companies aka “seed investments.” In 2022, Serena Ventures announced an inaugural fund to $111 million to continue its mission. Today, Serena and her team invested in over 85 companies—including around 14 major wins that the business would refer to as “unicorns.”

Other income

In addition to her prize money, deals, and VC firm, Serena has a slew of other projects and income as well. She’s dabbled in sports team ownership.

Serena and her husband Alexis Ohanian are owners of the new Los Angeles Golf Club in Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s TGL.?

Serena and her sister Venus also purchased a stake in the Miami Dolphins in 2009. They became the first Black women to invest a minority stake in an NFL team–and their investment has only increased.

The $340 Million Empire

Serena Williams retired with about $95 million in prize money—but it’s clear her smart business moves have driven her net worth up to $340 million.

Now, the tennis GOAT is one of America’s richest self-made women.

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