Serena tops list of highest-paid female athletes of 2018
Ezra Shaw / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Owing to her maternity leave, Serena Williams hasn't exactly been collecting winner's purses at the rate to which tennis fans have grown accustomed. In fact, she's credited with winning just $62,000 since June 2017.
But not even a sizable dent in her on-court winnings could dislodge Williams from her place atop the list of highest-paid female athletes, thanks to approximately $18 million in endorsements.
Here are the top 10 earners in women's sport from June 2017 to June 2018, according to Forbes' Kurt Badenhausen:
| Rank | Athlete | Sport | Prize $ | Endorsement $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Serena Williams | Tennis | $0.06M | $18M |
| 2 | Caroline Wozniacki | Tennis | $7M | $6M |
| 3 | Sloane Stephens | Tennis | $5.7M | $5.5M |
| 4 | Garbine Muguruza | Tennis | $5.5M | $5.5M |
| 5 | Maria Sharapova | Tennis | $1M | $9.5M |
| 6 | Venus Williams | Tennis | $4.2M | $6M |
| 7 | P.V. Sindhu | Badminton | $0.5M | $8M |
| 8 | Simona Halep | Tennis | $6.2M | $1.5M |
| 9 | Danica Patrick | Racing | $3M | $4.5M |
| 10 | Angelique Kerber | Tennis | $3M | $4M |
Tennis continues to dominate in terms of both prize money and endorsement deals. The only two athletes in the top 10 who aren't tennis players are Indian badminton great P.V. Sindhu and now-retired race car driver Danica Patrick.
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