The World’s Highest-Paid Female Athletes 2024

Explore the 2024 Forbes ranking, spotlighting the top-earning female athletes and featuring influential women in tennis, soccer, basketball and more.
Juan Schulist III · about 3 hours ago · 3 minutes read


Women in Sports: Breaking Barriers and Rising Earning Powers

11 Athletes Surpass $10 Million in Earnings

For the first time, 11 women athletes have surpassed $10 million in earnings, led by tennis sensation Coco Gauff.

Women's Sports on the Rise

Women's sports are gaining momentum, and the tide is lifting players' pay. Indiana Fever's Caitlin Clark broke the WNBA record for rookie earnings, matching Candace Parker's previous high. Thai golfer Jeeno Thitikul won a record $4 million at the CME Group Tour Championship, while Nelly Korda set a new mark for female golfers with $12.5 million in income.

Gauff's Record-Breaking Year

20-year-old Coco Gauff's $34.4 million in earnings places her second only to Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams all-time. This year, she has won the China Open and the WTA Finals in Riyadh.

Financial Gap with Men Still Remains

Despite progress, women athletes still earn significantly less than men. The top 20 highest-paid female athletes account for less than 12% of the earnings of the top 20 male athletes. Key differences include fewer and lower-paying endorsement opportunities, as well as lower playing salaries in women's leagues.

Investment in Women's Sports is Growing

There are signs of increasing financial viability in women's pro sports. The WNBA will receive $200 million annually from national TV money, while the LPGA Tour is offering a record $131 million in prize money for 2025. New women's leagues are also emerging, such as the Professional Women's Hockey League and the Athletes Unlimited Softball League.

Diversity in Women's Athletes

The list of the highest-paid female athletes is becoming more balanced. This year's ranking includes three golfers, two basketball players, a soccer player, a gymnast, a freestyle skier, and a badminton player.

The Future is Female

Eleven athletes surpassed $10 million in earnings for the first time. Seventeen of the top 20 are under 30, indicating that the best is yet to come for these rising stars.

Methodology

Forbes' ranking reflects earnings from the calendar year 2024. On-field earnings include salaries, bonuses, and prize money. Off-field earnings include endorsements, licensing, appearances, and investments. Forbes does not deduct for taxes or agents' fees.

Forbes List of the Highest-Paid Female Athletes 2024

  1. Coco Gauff, Tennis, $34.4 million
  2. Iga Świątek, Tennis, $23.8 million
  3. Eileen Gu, Freestyle Skiing, $22.1 million
  4. Zheng Qinwen, Tennis, $20.6 million
  5. Aryna Sabalenka, Tennis, $18.7 million
  6. Naomi Osaka, Tennis (tie), $12.9 million
  7. Emma Raducanu, Tennis (tie), $12.9 million
  8. Nelly Korda, Golf, $12.5 million
  9. Serena Williams, Tennis, $12.1 million
  10. Simone Biles, Gymnastics, $11.2 million
  11. Jessica Pegula, Tennis, $10.2 million
  12. Jeeno Thitikul, Golf, $9.3 million
  13. Caitlin Clark, Basketball, $8.1 million
  14. Jasmine Paolini, Tennis, $8 million
  15. Elena Rybakina, Tennis, $7.9 million
  16. Alex Morgan, Soccer, $7.6 million
  17. PV Sindhu, Badminton, $7.1 million
  18. Leylah Fernandez, Tennis, $6.5 million
  19. Sabrina Ionescu, Basketball (tie), $6.3 million
  20. Lydia Ko, Golf (tie), $6.3 million