After winning the US Figure Skating Championships nine times, Michelle Kwan has become one of the biggest names in the sport. But her career wasn’t always so full of winning streaks. Kwan started out as an underdog until her consistent training on the rink began paying off in the 90s.
Though she may not have a gold medal on her shelf, Kwan has made the most of her endorsement deals and guest celebrity appearances on TV shows. And with a net worth of $16 million, she will be good as gold, medal or not.
Saina Nehwal – $24 Million
Badminton player Saina Nehwal has made quite a name for herself as she was awarded India’s top honors in sports. However, she’s more than just a badminton champion. On a larger scale, Nehwal represents Indian-born athletes who have successfully been breaking into the pro sports world.
She has now become a notable sports figure in India, which allowed for some TV appearances that have added to her net worth. She even released an autobiography, which later inspired a 2018 biopic. A star in the making, Nehwal is currently worth around $24 million.
Li Na – $50 Million
Li Na, is the first Chinese player to make it to the top in the tennis world. Na, who ranked number two in the world, won both the 2011 French Open and 2014 Australian Open. Being the top player in China, she has raked in many endorsement deals and is the first Asian tennis player to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
As of today, Na has obtained $16 million in winnings and, along with her endorsement deals, has a net worth of $50 million.
Garbiñe Muguruza – $12 Million
At 26, Garbiñe Muguruza has achieved a net worth of $12 million not only from her prize money but also from her endorsements from Adidas, Babolat, Rolex, and Maui Jim. Muguruza has only been competing professionally since 2012, but she has defeated a number of players who have ranked number one in the world, including Serena Williams and Caroline Wozniacki.
Muguruza was also able to claim the number one ranking after she won Wimbledon in 2017. Having a career patterned with successes like these, Murguruza will probably be worth more than $12 million in a few short years.
Steffi Graf – $30 Million
Steffi Graf is another legendary tennis pro who dominated from the end of the ’80s to the mid-’90s. Originally from Germany, in her 17 years on the court, Graf’s career was marked by her 22 singles tournament wins.
Graf has capitalized on her opportunities off the court and, along with her $22 million in winnings, has picked up many lucrative endorsements. With her prize money and years of endorsement deals, she is worth about $40 million.