As of early 2026, American tennis star Coco Gauff leads the pack. Forbes’ most recent rankings (covering 2025 earnings) list Gauff at roughly $33 million in total compensation – making her the highest-paid female athlete for the second year running. This total far outpaces the next competitors (Aryna Sabalenka at ~$30M and Iga Swiatek ~$25.1M).

Gauff’s combined income (sports earnings plus endorsements) reflects her two Grand Slam titles and a slew of major sponsorships. (For context, Forbes notes she is only the fourth woman ever to cross $30M in a single year, behind Naomi Osaka’s $57.3M and Serena Williams’ $45.9M in 2021.)

Earnings Breakdown – Prize Money vs. Endorsements

Gauff’s ~$33M is split roughly into on-court prize money and off-court endorsements. According to Forbes’ accounting, about $8 million came from on-court earnings (prize money, bonuses and appearance fees) – boosted by her 2025 tournament wins. In contrast, roughly $25 million came from off-court deals (sponsorships and endorsements).

Notably, Gauff’s endorsement portfolio is vast: deals with brands like New Balance, Bose, Rolex, Mercedes‑Benz (and others) together accounted for her $25M off-court haul. In bullet form:

• On-Court (Prize Money & Salaries): ≈ $8.0M (from tournaments including her 2025 Roland Garros and Wuhan titles).

• Off-Court (Endorsements/Appearances): ≈ $25.0M (sponsorships with New Balance, Bose, Rolex, Mercedes, etc.).

These figures show Gauff as the only female athlete clearing $25M off-court in 2025, a testament to her global appeal. (By comparison, her year-end world No.1 rival Sabalenka had a more even split – $15M in prize money and $15M in endorsements.)

Key Achievements and Career Highlights

Gauff’s earning power is built on high-profile victories. Her landmark achievements include:

• 2023 U.S. Open Champion (Grand Slam) – Gauff won her first major title at the 2023 US Open, rallying to beat Aryna Sabalenka in the final.

• 2025 French Open Champion (Roland-Garros) – She claimed her second Grand Slam at Roland-Garros in 2025, defeating Sabalenka again on clay.

• 2025 Wuhan Open (WTA 1000) Champion – In October 2025 Gauff won the prestigious Wuhan Open, her second title of that year.

• Career Titles: As of late 2025 Gauff has won 11 WTA singles titles, including two Grand Slams.

Each of these results brought substantial prize money (for example, a record ~$3M for the 2023 US Open win) and raised her profile for endorsements.

Her sudden rise – from winning an Olympic silver in 2021 to dominating hard courts – has cemented her status as a star. (By age 21 Gauff “was crowned Grand Slam champion for the second time,” highlighting her rapid ascent.)

Historical Context – Past Top Earners

Gauff’s $33M haul ranks among the highest ever, but it still trails the historic peak years of Osaka and Williams. For comparison, Naomi Osaka earned about $57.3M in 2021 (when she won multiple Slams) and Serena Williams had $45.9M in 2021. Even Serena’s 2016 record ($29M) is below Gauff’s current level.

In recent years only Osaka and Serena have crossed the $45–57M mark. By contrast, Gauff’s 2025 total is roughly on par with the likes of Sanchez-Vicario in 1995 or Clijsters in 2010 (adjusted), underlining how she has joined an elite circle. In short, while Gauff leads 2026, her earnings still sit comfortably below the all-time single-year highs of past legends.

Trends in Women’s Sports Earnings (2026)

The rise of Gauff mirrors broader trends: women’s sports incomes are growing rapidly, and tennis still dominates the top spots. Analysts at Sportico note that tennis players made up 10 of the top 15 earners in 2025. The combined pay of the top women athletes is climbing double-digits: Sportico reports the top 15 women earned $249M in 2025 (up ~12% from 2024). Forbes similarly observed the total for the top 20 jumped about 13% year-over-year.

Several notable patterns emerge: many of the highest-earning women earn the bulk of their income from sponsorships (rather than salaries). For example, freestyle skier Eileen Gu made ~$23M in 2025 virtually all from endorsements. Likewise, basketball phenom Caitlin Clark (WNBA) and gymnast Simone Biles were each noted by Sportico as earning ~99% of their income off the court.

Beyond tennis, the Forbes 2025 list included athletes from diverse sports: the top-paid non-tennis athlete was Eileen Gu (skiing, $23M) and WNBA stars like Clark, Sabrina Ionescu ($10.5M) and Angel Reese ($9.4M) all made the top-20.

Overall, the 2026 outlook suggests continuing growth: major brands and media rights are pouring into women’s leagues, pushing salaries and endorsement deals higher. The fact that 5 WNBA players cracked the Forbes list (e.g. Clark, Ionescu, Reese) along with top golfers and skiers shows a diversification.

In summary, Gauff’s $33M leads a cohort of stars benefitting from rapidly expanding women’s sports revenue – but her figure also provides a benchmark to watch as the industry evolves in 2026.