Andy Murray aims to overtake Roger Federer as the world's highest-paid tennis player, but has admitted he must win more Grand Slam titles to do so, reports BBC Sport. I want to become one of the best tennis players of all time, said the Scot, who won Wimbledon in 2013 and 2016 and Olympic gold in 2012. To do that I feel I need to be consistently ranked in the top four.
Why Are Tennis Players Richer than Footballers?
According to a recent Forbes report, tennis players are getting richer than ever—John Isner’s $12.3 million in earnings last year made him one of just two men to break $10 million in winnings in 2017.
This has sparked an interesting discussion as to why tennis players are earning more than footballers and how long it will last, as football is by far more popular and generates more revenue.
One factor that seems to be helping tennis stars pull ahead is endorsement money. With lucrative global sponsorships now common for top-tier tennis stars, they can out-earn even their highest-paid counterparts at rival sports like football.
How Did Roger Federer Make His Money?
No, really. How did he do it? Tennis fans and investors alike want to know—and Andy Murray has something to say about it. The British tennis star was asked how much money he believed it would take to get him away from his current sponsorship deal with Under Armour.
When Murray said he'd want somewhere in the neighborhood of $100 million, someone brought up Roger Federer's astonishingly high net worth as a point of comparison—and that led Murray to chime in with a jab at his rival. I still don’t think I could match [Federer’s] off-court earnings because obviously you can put more time into your brand, Murray said.
How Did The Other Tennis Stars Earn Their Wealth?
Our first example of tennis earnings comes from John Isner. Isner is currently ranked 11th in men’s singles, with a career-high ranking of 8th place, which he attained in February 2017.
While he has earned $12.5 million from tournaments and exhibitions (without prize money), his wealth pales in comparison to that of Andy Murray or Novak Djokovic.
Isner resides primarily in Jacksonville, Florida with his wife and daughter... He was born in Greensboro, North Carolina and attended the University of Georgia where he played for the Georgia Bulldogs.
Did You Know That the Seven Biggest Earners Earned Their Money Entirely Off Court?
If you’re looking to make it in tennis, there are many different paths you can take. The one path that most players don’t really talk about is off-court earnings; instead, they focus on their specific playing career and what kind of opportunities will be available once they retire.
But for those who choose to pursue off-court income opportunities, there are big paydays waiting around every corner. So far in 2016, a total of seven men have earned over $14 million in non-tennis related income. Here’s a quick breakdown of how each guy earned his money
Conclusions on How to Become a Millionaire from Playing Tennis
Unlike most elite athletes, Andy Murray has made most of his fortune not through endorsements but by playing tennis. His career prize money earnings are now at an astonishing $31.2 million, which is obviously more than double that of any other player in the world.
And while it took him six years to start earning over a million dollars a year, he’s been making well over that every single year for several years now. In addition to his successful career as a professional tennis player, he’s also invested wisely over time and set himself up for life once his athletic career is over.
Who Are The Richest Players Right Now?
Andy Murray has set his sights on beating Roger Federer’s record of 17 Grand Slam titles and appears to be taking a step in that direction after reaching his first Wimbledon final in 2016.
The 29-year-old has earned $33.2 million over his tennis career so far and an estimated $32 million during 2017, making him one of just five active players in Forbes’ list of top 100 highest-paid athletes.
Having reached four straight Grand Slam finals, he is currently ranked number 2 by ATP. Andy is also ranked 24th overall with an estimated wealth of $100 million thanks to endorsement deals with leading brands like Under Armour, Head Racquet Sports and Tag Heuer among others.