In a significant milestone for women's sports, the total earnings for the world's top female athletes have seen a notable increase in 2025. According to the latest Forbes list, sportswomen collectively earned $293 million before taxes and agent fees, marking a 13% jump from the $258 million recorded in 2024.
Gauff Claims the Crown, But Gender Gap Looms Large
Leading the charge is 21-year-old American tennis sensation Coco Gauff, who has been named the world's highest-paid female athlete for the year. Gauff's total estimated earnings stand at an impressive $33 million. A substantial portion, approximately $8 million, came from her on-court success, including her French Grand Slam singles title in June. However, the lion's share of her income, around $25 million, was generated off the court through lucrative endorsements with major brands like New Balance, Mercedes-Benz, Bose, and Chase Bank.
Despite this progress at the top, the report highlights a persistent and stark disparity. The combined income of the top 20 female athletes ($293 million) is eight times less than the $2.3 billion earned by their male counterparts in the same bracket. The gap is widening, with the cutoff to enter the general Forbes top 50 highest-paid athletes list (dominated by men) rising to $53.6 million—more than double Gauff's total earnings.
Notable Absences and List Diversity
The Forbes list for 2025 is notable for both who is on it and who is not. Legends like Venus Williams and Simone Biles were excluded due to sporting inactivity during the assessment period. Williams played only three tournaments in 2025, while Biles has not competed since the Paris Olympics.
The list showcases diversity across sports, featuring:
- 10 tennis players, dominating the rankings.
- 4 basketball players.
- 2 golfers and 2 skiers.
- 1 athlete each from track and field and rugby.
The minimum earnings to break into the top 20 also rose significantly to $8.1 million, up from $6.3 million in 2024.
The Full Forbes 2025 Ranking
Here is the complete list of the world's highest-paid female athletes in 2025, according to Forbes:
- Coco Gauff (Tennis, USA) - $33 million
- Aryna Sabalenka (Tennis, Belarus) - $30 million
- Iga Swiatek (Tennis, Poland) - $25.1 million
- Eileen Gu (Freestyle Skiing, China) - $23.1 million
- Qinwen Zheng (Tennis, China) - $22.6 million
- Madison Keys (Tennis, USA) - $13.4 million
- Nelly Korda (Golf, USA) - $13 million
- Naomi Osaka (Tennis, Japan) & Elena Rybakina (Tennis, Kazakhstan) - $12.5 million each
- Jessica Pegula (Tennis, USA) - $12.3 million
- Caitlin Clark (Basketball, USA) - $12.1 million
The list continues with Amanda Anisimova, Sabrina Ionescu, Jeeno Thitikul, Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers, Jasmine Paolini, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Lindsey Vonn, and Ilona Maher rounding out the top 20.
Gauff's achievement places her in rare company. Only twice before on the Forbes list have female athletes earned more: Naomi Osaka ($57.3 million) and the now-retired Serena Williams ($45.9 million), both in 2021. Her success story extends beyond the court, as she is also developing digital content and shows with Religion of Sports and runs her own management firm, Coco Gauff Enterprises.
While the rising earnings and higher cutoffs signal commercial growth in women's sports, the eight-fold pay gap compared to men underscores the long road ahead for true financial parity in the athletic world.
