Roger Federer is officially one of the highest-paid tennis players — and richest people — ever.
On Friday, August 22, Forbes announced Federer, 44, had increased his net worth to $1.1 billion.
The outlet, which regularly publishes the wealth status and rankings of celebrities and notable figures, also reported Federer is also one of only seven athletes who have earned over $1 billion in pretax income while still playing their sport. (The other six include LeBron James, Tiger Woods, Phil Meckelson, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Floyd Mayweather.)
Federer was the world’s highest-ranked tennis player for over five years, a feat that included winning 103 tournaments and earning $131 million. After becoming the highest-paid tennis player in the world for 16 years, he retired in 2022.
Endorsement deals also played a part in his wealth, including a multi-decade $150 million arrangement with Nike, per Forbes and a $300 million deal with clothing brand Uniqlo. Federer further helped the Swiss brand On design their own court-friendly tennis shoes, and has held a 3 percent stake in the company since it went public in 2021.
Retirement has suited Federer, who has continued to focus on his financial investments (including his work with management company Team8 and the Chilean plant-based food company NotCo). In 2024, he told GQ that he’s also spent part of retirement focusing on doing as much as he possibly can outside of sports, something he prioritized while actively playing professional tennis, too.
“I know some players who do hotel, club, hotel, club, room service, watching sports all day, and that’s it,” he explained of attending the Met Gala in 2023 and his frequent trips around the world.
Federer continued, “Just staying in the narrow tennis mind is not enough. I feel like going out and meeting people and doing different things to me is very appealing, even though I used to dread red carpets and small talk and all that stuff.”
The former tennis star was pushed to elaborate about what prompted that dread. “Just, what do you say? What are we doing here? Why do I have to wear this? It was all those questions when you’re a teenager, like, ‘My God, I feel like I can’t breathe in the tie,’” Federer revealed.
Retirement left him feeling “relieved,” he added, “So when it’s all said and done and you’re over the line and you’re retired officially, you take a deep breath and you’re like, ‘Wow, OK, that was good.’”
No longer playing tennis has also given Federer the gift of spending more time with his wife, Mirka, and their four children: twin daughters Myla and Charlene, 16, and twin sons, Leo and Lenny, 11.
“It’s been really smooth. Super happy in my life. We have four beautiful children. There are twin boys that are 10, twin girls that are 14, and then my wife,” Federer told Extra in June 2024. “We’ve just been traveling around the world, having the best time, and obviously helping them with school, and then having projects like this one. So, I’m keeping busy with that and it’s been wonderful.”
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