Serena Williams has become the first athlete to make the list of America’s richest self-made women.
With an estimated fortune of $225 million, the 37-year-old tennis star was added to Forbes’ annual list of the country’s Richest Self-Made Women on Tuesday.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion, who has made $89 million in career prize money, finished off the list of 80 women but landed the cover of the magazine.
Williams made about $29 million in the last year alone, mostly as a result of endorsement deals with Nike and JPMorgan Chase and the clothing line she launched in 2018 called S by Serena.
Serena Williams has become the first athlete to make Forbes’ list of America’s richest self-made women with an estimated fortune of $225 million
Her clothing brand, which is slated for a show at New York Fashion Week this year, skyrocketed when Meghan Markle, her close friend and the Duchess of Sussex, was spotted wearing one of her blazers during a royal tour.
Williams, who is married to Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, has also invested in 34 startup business in the past five years alone via her Serena Ventures firm.
The mother-of-one’s venture investments, which make up a portfolio worth about $10 million, are mostly focused on e-commerce, food, fashion and health.
‘I want to be a part of it,’ she told Forbes of her investments.
‘I want to be in the infrastructure. I want to be the brand, instead of just being the face.’
The magazine described the vast majority of her fortune coming ‘via her brain and brand rather than her backhand’.
Williams, who only publicly announced news of her Serena Ventures firm in April, said she wanted to invest in companies that embrace diverse leadership and opportunity.
Williams made about $29 million in the last year alone, mostly as a result of endorsement deals with Nike and the clothing line she launched in 2018 called S by Serena
The 23-time Grand Slam champion, who has made $89 million in career prize money, finished off the list of 80 women but landed the cover of the magazine
FAMOUS NAMES ON THE RICHEST SELF-MADE WOMEN LIST
23. Kylie Jenner (age 21): $1 billion
37. Rihanna (age 31): $600 million
39. Madonna (age 60): $570 million
46. Celine Dion (age 51): $450 million
51: Beyonce Knowles (age 37): $400 million
57: Kim Kardashian West (age 38): $370 million
60: Taylor Swift (age 29): $360 million
63: Ellen DeGeneres (age 60): $330 million
77: Reese Witherspoon (age 43): $270 million
80: Serena Williams (age 37): $225 million
TOP 10 RICHEST SELF-MADE WOMEN IN U.S.
1. Diane Hendricks (age 72): $7billion roofing
2. Meg Whitman (age 62): $3.8billion eBay
3. Marian Ilitch (age 86): $3.7billion Little Caesars 4. Judy Faulkner (age 75): $3.6 billion health IT
5. Thai Lee (age 60): $3billion IT provider
6. Judy Love (age 81): $2.9billion retail
7. Lynda Resnick (age 76): $2.8billion agriculture
8. Doris Fisher (age 87): $2.7billion Gap
8. Johnelle Hunt (age 87) $2.7billion trucking
10. Oprah Winfrey (age 65): $2.6billion
The majority of her investments – about 60 percent so far – have gone towards companies that have been founded by women and minorities.
Among the best performing companies she has backed include: Billie, Daily Harvest, MasterClass and The Wing.
Williams estimated that she still had two to three years left in tennis and would continue prioritizing the sport but admitted that she had laid the foundation for her investment firm.
‘I am in no rush to get out of this sport,’ she said.
‘I want to create a brand that has longevity, kind of like my career.
‘It’s not fancy, it’s not here, it’s not out, it’s not trendy, it’s a staple, like my tennis game.’
The news of her Forbes list debut came just days after losing to American Sofia Kenin in the third round of the French Open.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion is married to Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian and they share a toddler daughter Olympia
The youngest woman on the list is 21-year-old Kylie Jenner, who came in at 23 with an estimated wealth of at least $1 billion.
Jenner, who last year was named the youngest billionaire ever, has made most of her fortune selling cosmetics via her brand Kylie Cosmetics. She started selling $29 lip kits in 2015 and sold roughly $360 million worth of cosmetics last year.
Her source of wealth caused controversy when she was named the youngest billionaire ever with many claiming she isn’t self-made due to her famous family.
The richest female musician on the list at number 37 is Rihanna (worth $600 million) thanks to her partnership with luxury brand LVMH and the Fenty Beauty brand she co-owns with them.
She founded Fenty in 2017 and the company last year made about $570 million.
Taylor Swift, who made this same list as the youngest woman in 2016, was at number 60 this year with a $360 million fortune.
Kylie Jenner, 21, came in at 23 on the list with an estimated wealth of $1 billion. Rihanna was the richest musician on the list at number 37 with a $600 million fortune
Taylor Swift, who made this same list as the youngest woman in 2016, was at number 60 this year with a $360 million fortune. Beyonce Knowles came in at 51 on the list with a $400 million fortune
Swift’s ‘Reputation’ stadium tour last year raked in $266.1 million, which is the highest-grossing tour in American history.
Beyonce Knowles came in at 51 on the list with a $400 million fortune. The On The Run II stadium tour she did with her husband Jay-Z grossed more than $250 million.
Meanwhile, Kim Kardashian West was listed at 57 with a $370 million fortune. The majority of her fortune comes for her cosmetics line KKW Beauty. She has also previously sold a mobile game and emojis.
Reese Witherspoon, 43, was listed at number 77 with a $270 million fortune, largely in part due to the production company she started in 2012 – Pacific Standard.
Singer Celine Dion, 51, came in at number 46 with $450 million in wealth. She has earned the majority of her wealth performing ongoing residencies in Las Vegas.
Kim Kardashian West was listed at 57 with a $370 million fortune. Reese Witherspoon, 43, was listed at number 77 with a $270 million fortune
