Serena Williams Trails Naomi Osaka’s $37.4 Million Earnings In Forbes’ Richest Sportswomen List

KEY POINTS

Naomi Osaka is on the top spot of the 2020 Forbes richest sportswoman
Osaka has been a prominent marketing figure for the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics
Serena Williams comes at second with her total earnings of $36 million

The pair of Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka once again intertwined as they both spearhead the 2020 Forbes' richest sportswomen list. This year’s list features Osaka reigning on top of Williams on the list.

The Forbes list indicates that Osaka has total earnings of $37.4 million that consists of $3.4 million in prize money and $34 million in endorsements. Born in Japan, Osaka was a key figure in promoting the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics. In addition to this, deals with Nippon Airways and Nissin have been her key partners in her career.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion Williams follow the list with the figure of $36 million. The 38-year-old has garnered $4 million in terms of prize money and $32 million with endorsements. Being one of the main faces of Nike, Williams also has a strong social media presence with millions of followers on her Twitter, Instagram and Facebook accounts.

The two have always been connected to one another ever since Osaka’s rise to stardom back in the 2018 US Open. The 22-year-old was able to upset Williams in the finals of the Grand Slam to secure one of the biggest accomplishments of her career. The victory will be remembered as how a young up and coming star took down a legend of the sport. This was also the same night that infamously featured an altercation between Williams and the head umpire.

That moment propelled Osaka as one of the top players in the sport as she has at one point achieved the top ranking in the world. The 22-year-old has also bagged the Australian Open in 2019 and etched her name as one of the best stars of the sport.

It’s interesting to note that nine out of the ten sportswomen on the list are tennis professionals. The current world number one player Ashleigh Barty ranks third with $13.1 million with a breakdown of $10.1 million from prize money and only $3 million from endorsements.

It has been a difficult year for tennis given how the global pandemic has canceled the majority of the events. It will be crucial to see how these top athletes bounce back and continue their consistent play in years to come.