Who is Richer – Serena Williams or Venus Williams?
Let‘s settle this right up front – when it comes to the question "Who is richer, Serena or Venus?", the numbers show Serena Williams has a substantially higher net worth than her sister Venus. According to financial estimates, Serena‘s net worth is around $260 million compared to $95 million for Venus.
As a longtime fan of these legendary sisters, I‘ve done a deep dive into their careers over the years. In this guide, we‘ll explore where this large $165 million difference in net worth comes from – including tennis earnings, business ventures, endorsements, spending habits and more. Let‘s compare their fascinating financial pictures side-by-side!
Tennis Prize Money: Serena Has Earned Double Venus‘ Total
A significant source of wealth for both Williams sisters has been the huge prize money purses they‘ve accumulated over their illustrious tennis careers. However, Serena has earned about twice as much as Venus in total.
According to WTA records, Serena has amassed $94,518,971 in career prize money as of November 2021, making her the #1 highest earner of all time. Venus is #2 on the list with $42,280,541 earned. That‘s a difference of over $50 million more for Serena.
To put their dominance into perspective, the next closest active player is Victoria Azarenka with $33 million in prize money.
| Player | Career Prize Money |
|---|---|
| Serena Williams | $94,518,971 |
| Venus Williams | $42,280,541 |
It‘s worth noting that Venus‘ career started earlier in 1994, while Serena turned pro in 1995. But Serena has had more consistency winning majors through the 2000s and 2010s.
Endorsements: Serena Lands Bigger Deals with Nike, Gatorade
When it comes to endorsements, both Williams sisters have benefited from lucrative deals given their worldwide, cultural icon status. But again, Serena tends to land the higher paying partnerships.
According to Forbes, Serena earns about $10 million annually from her blue-chip sponsors like Nike, Gatorade, Beats by Dre, Intel, and others. She also has equity stakes in some brands she works with.
Some key examples:
- Serena‘s 5-year endorsement deal with Nike from 2003-2008 was worth an estimated $60 million
- She has appeared in dozens of Nike commercials and launched her "Serena" line with the brand
- Her Gatorade deal in the early 2000s was at one point paying her $20 million annually
- She collaborated with Beats by Dre on the "Serena" line of headphones
Venus also has lucrative deals, but with lower profile brands like Wilson Sporting Goods and Ralph Lauren. She earns around $2 million annually from endorsements according to MoneyInc.
Business Ventures: Serena More Active as Investor and Entrepreneur
Beyond tennis and endorsements, Serena has proven to be an active and successful investor and entrepreneur. She founded her venture capital firm, Serena Ventures, in 2014. Since then, the firm has backed over 60 startups across diverse industries like financial services, health, e-commerce, and consumer products.
Serena also takes an active role advising the startups she invests in. Some of her firm‘s investments include:
- Daily Harvest – Frozen and prepared healthy foods ($43 million raised)
- MasterClass – Online education platform ($175 million raised)
- Noom – Weight loss app ($540 million valuation)
- Impossible Foods – Plant-based meat products ($1.3 billion valuation)
Additionally, Serena has founded companies and initiatives of her own:
- S by Serena – Fashion line launched in 2018 featuring sustainable, inclusive clothing
- Serena Williams Jewelry – Fine jewelry collection in partnership with KP Sanghvi
- Serena Ventures – Her investment company focusing on diversity and inclusion
Venus is not as active in entrepreneurial ventures, though she has some real estate ownership interests.
Real Estate Portfolios: Homes in Florida and Beyond
Not surprisingly given their stratospheric career earnings, both Williams sisters own impresive real estate portfolios. They each have homes in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida where they grew up and often train together.
Beyond Florida, Serena owns more high-end properties including:
- A 6,000+ square foot mansion in Beverly Hills purchased for $6.6 million
- A condo in Miami‘s Oceana building purchased for $2.7 million
- She sold her Bel Air mansion for $8.1 million after buying it for $6.7 million
- She owned a Paris apartment near the Eiffel Tower she listed for €7 million
Venus also owns real estate, though her portfolio is not quite as extensive:
- She owns multiple condos at Marina Vista in Palm Beach Gardens
- She sold a Hollywood Hills home for $2.6 million after purchasing for $1.2 million
Spending: Serena Drops Big Money on Bling
Based on the size of that massive diamond ring from husband Alexis Ohanian, it‘s clear Serena spends more freely than her sister!
Let‘s compare some examples of their spending habits:
- Serena‘s 12 carat engagement ring cost an estimated $2 million
- She gave birth to daughter Olympia at the luxury Cedars Sinai hospital where rooms cost $3,500 a night
- Her daughter has doll versions of mom and dad worth $5,000
- She invested in a $20,000 bathroom door covered in artificial grass for Olympia
- She reportedly spends $140,000 a year on beauty treatments and upkeep
Venus is known to be very frugal and leads a low-key lifestyle outside tennis. She reportedly drives a Toyota Camry hybrid car and is careful not to overspend.
Philanthropy: Sisters Are Both Generous
While this guide has focused on their financial picture, it‘s important to note that both Williams sisters have been very generous in giving back through their philanthropic foundations.
Some examples:
- Serena Williams Fund – Founded to provide education opportunities and fight violence
- Serena Williams Secondary School – Built in Kenya in partnership with Build Africa
- The Venus Williams Fund – Provides tuition and school supplies to youth in need
By all accounts, Serena contributes more in scale based on her net worth. But Venus is passionate about giving back in her own right.
The Bottom Line: Serena Is Far Richer Than Venus
While both sisters are among the wealthiest and most successful athletes ever, the numbers show Serena Williams‘ net worth is far higher. With superior on-court earnings, more lucrative endorsements, higher-value investments and real estate, and a greater penchant for lavish spending, Serena has accumulated a net worth of approximately $260 million.
Venus Williams is still extremely wealthy, especially for an athlete with a net worth estimated at $95 million. But there‘s no denying that Serena has ended up substantially richer thanks to her stellar career across tennis, business, and more.