Read More: Nine of the Top 15 highest-paid female athletes in 2024 were women’s tennis players
With investment and attention on women’s sports rising, Forbes’ list highlights the strides in pay increases, marketing and business opportunities now more available than ever for women’s athletes. Still, it’s a stark reminder of the gap that still exists between the top female athletes and the top male athletes.
Case in point: This year’s Top 20 women—a list that includes Osaka, Emma, Raducanu and Venus Williams, as well as gymnast Simone Biles and golfer Nelly Korda—combined for an estimated total of $258 million in 2024. That’s still less than the $260 million that Cristiano Ronaldo, the highest-paid athlete overall, pocketed in 2024.
All of the Top 10 overall earners made more than $100 million each, a list that includes soccer players Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, as well as basketball stars LeBron James and Stephen Curry.
Forbes’ Top 10 Highest-Paid Female Athletes in 2024:
1. Coco Gauff, Tennis – $34.4M ($9.4M on-field, $25M off-field)
2. Iga Swiatek, Tennis – $23.8M ($8.8M on-field, $15M off-field)
3. Eileen Gu, Freestyle Skiing – $22.1M ($0.1M on-field, $22M off-field)
4. Zheng Qinwen, Tennis – $20.6M ($5.6M on-field, $15M off-field)
5. Aryna Sabalenka, Tennis – $18.7M ($9.7M on-field, $9M off-field)
~6. Naomi Osaka, Tennis – $12.9M ($0.9M on-field, $12M off-field)
~6. Emma Raducanu, Tennis – $12.9M ($0.9M on-field, $12M off-field)
8. Nelly Korda, Golf – $12.5M ($4.5M on-field, $8M off-field)
9. Venus Williams, Tennis – $12.1M ($0.1M on-field, $12M off-field)
10. Simone Biles, Gymnastics – $11.2M ($0.2M on-field, $11M off-field)
