Roger Federer is Officially the Newest Billionaire in the World of Sports
Forbes has estimated that Roger Federer’s net worth currently stands at $1.1 billion, and the retired tennis star has become the seventh athlete in history to cross that mark. His career ended in 2022, but his business reach expanded well past his final match. Federer built lasting value through selective endorsements, equity-focused deals, and a global image that brands trusted for more than two decades. His strategy shows how a champion can extend influence long after competition and still reshape an entire sport’s economy.
His Rise Beyond Prize Money
The tennis player collected nearly $131 million in prize earnings across 24 years on the ATP Tour. That total ranks third in tennis history behind Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. However, his financial leap did not come through tournament checks. Instead, Federer built his fortune through vision and consistency during his prime.
He remained tennis’ highest-paid player for 16 straight years and generated roughly $1 billion in off-court income before retirement through appearance fees and corporate partnerships. His timeline included 20 Grand Slam singles titles, 310 weeks at No. 1, and victories at 103 ATP events.
Consequently, the athlete closed his career with an emotional final run that ended in 2022, three years after lifting his last trophy at the Swiss Indoors in Basel.
The Deal That Shifted His Wealth
The turning point in Federer’s financial story began in 2018 when he signed a $300 million apparel contract with Uniqlo. The agreement left his footwear category open and led to a partnership with the Swiss running brand On. Federer then invested in the company in 2019 and secured an estimated 3% equity stake. He helped form product concepts and worked with the founders. On went public in 2021 and reached a market capitalization of nearly $15 billion.
His stake is now worth more than $375 million and stands as his most successful business move. Soon after, Federer became a visible part of the company’s expansion while gaining a long-term asset. The deal rewarded his decision to seek ownership rather than a traditional endorsement structure, and it became the single largest factor in his journey to billionaire status.
Team8, The Laver Cup, And His Tennis Ventures
Image via Wikimedia Commons/Tigre Municipio
Federer went on to build additional business pillars through Team8, the management company he launched in 2013 with his longtime agent, Tony Godsick. Team8 represents select athletes and helped create the Laver Cup, an annual event that matches European men against players representing the rest of the world.
The tournament is now an official stop on the ATP calendar and draws elite talent each season. Except for a year of infrastructure spending in 2023, the competition has produced reliable profit, and projections for the 2025 edition exceed $20 million in sponsorship and hospitality revenue.