The highest-paid female athletes in 2025 — roughly the top 15 worldwide — all earning US$ 10 million+ over the prior 12 months.
The earnings reflect a mix of “on-field” (prize money, salaries, bonuses) and “off-field” income (endorsements, appearances, licensing, business) (Forbes)
🥇 Top Earning Female Athletes 2025 (≈ Top 15)
Rank |
Athlete & Sport |
Estimated Earnings (USD) |
Key Income Sources / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Coco Gauff — Tennis |
~ US$ 34–37M (Tennis World USA) |
~$9.4M prize money + ~$25M+ endorsements. Dominant year: WTA Finals champion, multiple big-money sponsorships. (Women’s Tennis Association) |
|
2. Eileen Gu — Freestyle Skiing / Winter Sports |
~ US$ 22.1M (Just Women’s Sports) |
Nearly all from endorsements (~$22M); skiing generates lower prize money. (Just Women’s Sports) |
|
3. Iga Świątek — Tennis |
~ US$ 21.4M (Forbes) |
Solid on-court earnings + major sponsorship deals. (Women’s Tennis Association) |
|
4. Zheng Qinwen — Tennis |
~ US$ 20.6M (Forbes) |
Mix of prize money and growing endorsements; Olympic success and high visibility in China helped. (Women’s Tennis Association) |
|
5. Aryna Sabalenka — Tennis |
~ US$ 17.7M (Just Women’s Sports) |
Strong WTA season; steady sponsorship income. (Forbes) |
|
6. Naomi Osaka — Tennis |
~ US$ 15–16M (Just Women’s Sports) |
Little prize money in 2024, but very high-value endorsements make up the difference. (Women’s Tennis Association) |
|
7. Emma Raducanu — Tennis |
~ US$ 14–15M (Just Women’s Sports) |
Lower on-court earnings, but lucrative off-court brand deals keep her in the top 10. (Women’s Tennis Association) |
|
8. Nelly Korda — Golf |
~ US$ 14.4M (Just Women’s Sports) |
Among top-earning golfers in women’s sport; prize money + endorsements. (Forbes) |
|
9. Simone Biles — Gymnastics |
~ US$ 11.1M (Just Women’s Sports) |
Income mostly from sponsorships, endorsements, exhibitions and media, rather than competition winnings. (Forbes) |
|
10. Caitlin Clark — Basketball (WNBA / Women’s Basketball) |
~ US$ 11.1M (Just Women’s Sports) |
Rookie breakout + major endorsements. Signifies growing commercial appeal of women’s basketball. (Forbes) |
|
**11. Jasmine Paolini — Tennis |
~ US$ 10.0M (Just Women’s Sports) |
Lower-tier earnings compared to top stars, but still among top-15 globally. (Forbes) |
What Explains the Surge in Female Athlete Earnings
– Tennis still dominates
Most of the top-15 are tennis players: 9 of 15 come from women’s tennis — thanks to big prize purses at Grand Slams, equal pay at major tournaments, and strong sponsorship interest. (Tennis.com)
– Endorsements & business deals matter more than ever
For many — like Gu, Osaka, Raducanu, Biles, Clark — off-field income accounts for the bulk of their earnings.
As women’s sports grow in popularity, big global brands are more willing to back female athletes. (Just Women’s Sports)
– Rising popularity of women’s sports beyond tennis
Golf (e.g. Nelly Korda), gymnastics (Biles), basketball (Clark) are getting more media attention, better sponsorships, and — slowly — higher pay.
That’s a positive sign for diversity of sports among top earners. (Just Women’s Sports)
– More athletes crossing $10M threshold than ever before
In 2023 the number was six; in 2024, it rose to 11. That jump reflects both improved athletic performance AND commercial backing. (Forbes)
What That Doesn’t Mean (Yet): The Gender Pay Gap Persists
While these women are earning millions, overall they still lag far behind male athletes.
For example, the top male athletes in 2025 pulled in well above US$ 50-100M+ — meaning even elite female stars often make a fraction of their male counterparts. (Reuters)
Moreover, many women — even top-15 — rely heavily on endorsements: a sign that prize money and salaries in women’s sports remain relatively modest compared to men’s leagues. (new/day studio)
What to Watch in the Next Few Years
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As women’s leagues (basketball, golf, soccer, gymnastics, others) expand and attract more sponsors, expect the top-15 list to diversify further beyond tennis.
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Endorsement deals will remain key — athletes who can build a brand (on social media, media, activism) may earn more off the field than on it.
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But raising salaries and prize money remains critical.
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If men’s leagues and women’s leagues can narrow the revenue gap, we may eventually see more women earning as much as men.
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The momentum is already visible: 2024’s list saw a 27% increase over the previous year. (Forbes)
