Serena Williams still one of the highest paid athletes in the world despite retirement with Nike deal bringing in big money still

WTA legend Serena Williams may have hung up her racket, but the American is still racking in the millions as she remains close to the top of the list among the highest paid athletes in the world today.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion retired at the 2022 US Open, ending an illustrious career that spanned over 20 years. However, she remains actively involved in other business endeavors, including several endorsements and her own fashion line and other start-up investments.

Deal with Nike catapulted Williams into financial freedom

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As Williams stardom reached new heights at the early stages of her career, the American signed a deal with sporting giants Nike in 2003. The initial deal was worth a then-record $60 million spread over 6 years, along with various incentives. Due to her unparalleled success on the court, it was only a matter of time before she renegotiated a new deal. In 2016, she became the highest paid female athlete with an annual salary of $29 million.

However, Williams topped this mark when she collaborated with Nike to launch the Serena Williams Design Crew (SWDC), an apprenticeship program that helped less privileged children. Along with the SWDC deal and her fashion brand, Williams continued to rake in the profits even after retirement. The former World No.1 was ranked 49th on the world's highest paid athletes list by Forbes in 2023, she in fact currently has a net worth of $250 million.