The Billion Dollar Journey of Legendary Tennis Player Roger Federer

Tennis legend Roger Federer has officially joined the billionaire club as his fortune reaches $1.1 billion.

Roger Federer has just joined the billionaire club - Photo: AFP

Although legendary Roger Federer (44 years old) retired from professional tennis in September 2022, his success in this sport has helped the Swiss tennis player achieve a desirable fortune.

Forbes recently estimated his net worth at $1.1 billion, a figure that is largely attributable to his sizable stake in the On sportswear and shoe brand, which is valued at more than $375 million.

During his 24-year ATP Tour career, Federer spent 310 weeks as world number one and won 103 tournaments. This earned him nearly $131 million in prize money - the third highest in tennis history.

But his off-court success is even more impressive. Federer has earned around $1 billion (before taxes) from endorsements and other business ventures, more than double that of rivals Djokovic and Nadal.

With a unique sponsorship portfolio, Federer has been the highest-paid tennis player in the world for 16 consecutive years. In 2020, he was the highest-paid athlete in the sports world, with an estimated $106.3 million in pre-tax earnings.

Federer is one of only seven athletes to have surpassed $1 billion in pre-tax earnings while playing, including LeBron James, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Floyd Mayweather.

He is now also the seventh member of the billionaires club in sports, joining legends such as Ion Tiriac, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Junior Bridgeman, LeBron James and Tiger Woods.

Federer's business success stems from his strong appeal, with a portfolio of high-profile sponsors including Lindt, Mercedes-Benz, Rolex and Moët & Chandon.

Roger Federer invested in the Swiss shoe and sportswear brand On in 2019 - Photo: Tatler

Lisa Delpy Neirotti from George Washington University commented: "Personality and likeability are important factors. Federer is elegant, handsome, polite and sophisticated and his brands reflect that." This is the reason why the Swiss tennis player attracts many big brands.

In 2018, Federer left Nike to sign a $300 million, 10-year apparel deal with Uniqlo, opening up a golden opportunity with On, a Swiss shoe brand.

After his wife used On shoes, Federer contacted the founders. In 2019, he took a stake and became not only a passive investor but also helped develop the tennis shoe and clothing line.

The investment quickly paid off when On went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 2021. With a stake of about 3% in a company with a market capitalization of nearly $15 billion, Federer's stake is now worth more than $375 million.

Marc Maurer, co-CEO of On, affirmed that Federer is the one who drives the brand's development in the tennis field.

The success of "billionaire" Federer is the dream of any tennis player - Photo: AI created

Federer has also found success in other investments. In 2013, he co-founded the management company Team8. Four years later, he created the Laver Cup, a highly successful annual team tennis tournament. Federer also participated in a $235 million funding round for plant-based food company NotCo in 2021, valuing the startup at $1.5 billion.

Federer maintains partnerships with more than 10 major brands and remains one of the most beloved athletes. With 43.5 million social media followers and a 2.3% engagement rate (nearly double Djokovic’s and 4x Nadal’s), Federer’s appeal to advertisers is unwavering.

Professor Delpy Neirotti affirmed: "I think his value will last forever."

THANH DINH

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/chang-duong-ti-do-cua-tay-vot-huyen-thoai-roger-federer-20250827092936614.htm