How tennis legend Roger Federer made and continues to make millions

Roger Federer continues to earn millions despite the fact that it has been three years since his retirement from the world of tennis. The winner of 20 Grand Slams continues to attract interest from brands and his business success away from the court has led him to reach $1.1 billion in net worth according to the prestigious Forbes magazine.

The man who was the highest-paid tennis player in the world for 16 seasons has come to amass his fortune thanks to the small stake he has in the footwear and clothing company On, which is listed on the stock exchange, and his continuing advertising appeal. Brands such as Uniqlo, Barilla, Lindt, Mercedes-Benz, Rolex and Moët & Chandon continue to trust him to be one of their visible faces.

During his career, Federer reached 157 ATP finals, of which he managed to win 103. His performance on the court allowed him to generate roughly 131 million dollars (before taxes) in prize money, the third highest sum in the history of tennis, only behind Novak Djokovic (189 million) and Rafa Nadal (135). However, off the court he also made a difference through sponsorships and different businesses that allowed him to double the profits of his two greatest rivals. In addition, in 2020 he became the highest-paid athlete on the entire planet, reaching 106.3 million dollars in income.

Once he said goodbye to tennis, he has not only succeeded in business thanks to On and his advertising deals, but also through investments that have ended up being remarkably successful. So much so that he has become the seventh athlete to surpass one billion after Ion Tiriac, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, LeBron James, Junior Bridgeman and Tiger Woods.

A good example of his investments is Team8, a company he founded with his agent Tony Godsick. Through it, they organize the Laver Cup each season, one of the most anticipated tennis tournaments of the year, which this year is estimated to exceed 20 million in profits from both ticket sales and sponsorships.

Federer has partners such as the private jet operator NetJets, the eyewear brand Oliver Peoples and the bank UBS. And, as if that were not enough, his income could experience exponential growth in the coming years after becoming an investor in NotCo, a Chilean company that develops plant-based foods and is valued at 1.5 billion dollars. All of this, added to the fact that he continues to be the second tennis player with the most followers on social networks in the world (43.5 million), surpassed only by Rafa Nadal (51.6), makes the formula for his success difficult to improve.

The Swiss, who will return to the court next October in Shanghai to play an exhibition match, continues to demonstrate that, with the right steps, a successful athlete’s bank account can continue to grow after retirement.

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