Introduction

Serena Williams is an American professional tennis player with an estimated net worth of $350 Million

Her talent for the sport was first recognized when she attended Rick Macci’s tennis academy at the age of 3. Williams was also recognized for her unique playing style. She has recently made a career comeback after taking a break to care for her pregnancy.

Earnings & Prize Money

In 1995, Serena Williams competed in her first professional tournament, earning just $240 for the year. By 1997, her winnings had increased to $37,927, and just a year later, she had her first six-figure year, taking home $239,945.

In 1999, Williams won her first official Grand Slam title at the US Open, earning $750,000 in prize money. That year, she also won the Grand Slam Cup, which earned her $900,000. In total, she earned $2.55 million for the year.

From 2000 to 2005, Williams typically earned anywhere between $900,000 and $3.66 million annually. She earned the latter figure in 2002 when she won all three of the Grand Slam tournaments she competed in. This included $818,000 for winning the US Open, $632,000 for winning Wimbledon, and $679,000 for winning the French Open. 

Williams took a short break in 2006, earning just $131,705. However, she returned in 2007 and picked up right where she left off. From 2009 to 2016, Serena was at the peak of her career, earning between $6.8 million and $12.1 million annually in prize money. Her two most successful years were 2013 and 2015, during which she earned $12.1 million and $10.6 million, respectively.

In 2013, she won eight singles tournaments, including the WTA Championships, which paid out $2.15 million in prize money. She also had two other seven-figure paydays: $3.55 million for winning the US Open and $1.87 million for winning the French Open.

Total Prize Money

Throughout her professional tennis career, Serena Williams earned an estimated $92 million in prize money, with $89.15 million coming from singles tournaments. She also earned roughly $2.84 million from doubles tournaments, most of which she entered with her sister Venus. 

According to the WTA, Serena earned a total of $94.8 million, which we assume includes bonuses from winning various Grand Slams. 

How does this compare to her sister, Venus Williams?

Venus earned approximately $42.6 million from prize money during her career. Serena and Venus both had successful careers with high longevity. They competed against each other in Grand Slam tournament finals on nine occasions, with Serena winning seven and losing two. 

Endorsement Income

Despite earning $94.8 million on the court, the bulk of Serena’s income has been generated through her highly lucrative endorsement deals. In fact, since 2013, she has earned approximately $326 million from endorsements alone. That’s almost quadruple the figure she earned from prize money. Estimates of her annual endorsement income are as follows:

• 2013 – $12 million
• 2014 – $11 million
• 2015 – $13 million
• 2016 – $20 million
• 2017 – $19 million
• 2018 – $19 million
• 2019 – $25 million
• 2020 – $32 million
• 2021 – $40 million
• 2022 – $45 million
• 2023 – $45 million
• 2024 – $45 million

Puma Contract

In February 1998, Serena Williams signed a five-year, $13 million endorsement contract with Puma. The company was reportedly not involved in tennis at the time, but saw Serena’s potential and wanted to be a part of it. Williams also received offers from Nike, but turned them down as she felt Puma was the best fit for her. Serena was just sixteen years old at the time.

Nike Endorsement Contract

When Serena’s contract with Puma concluded in 2003, she signed a five-year, $40 million contract at Nike, equating to at least $8 million per year. She was also given various performance bonuses, potentially earning up to $11 million per year overall. The contract broke the record for the most valuable endorsement deal ever signed by a female athlete.

Additional Endorsements

Throughout the years, Williams has endorsed an extensive portfolio of brands, including:

• AT&T
• Audemars Piguet
• Beats by Dre
• Gatorade
• Gucci
• IBM
• Intel
• JP Morgan Chase
• Lincoln Motor Company
• Subway
• Wilson

Miami Dolphins Investment

In 2009, both Serena and Venus Williams reportedly invested a total of $10 million in the Miami Dolphins, which equated to an estimated 1% stake in the NFL team. Surprisingly, this made the sisters the first African American women to hold ownership in an NFL franchise.

At the time, the team was worth approximately $1 billion, and according to Forbes’ most recent calculations, the Dolphins are now worth $6.2 billion. If it’s the case that the sisters did not sell their stake or have it diluted, and they own 0.5% each, Serena’s stake is likely worth around $31 million.

Highlights

Here are some of the best highlights of Serena Williams’ career:

• ESPY Awards (Best Female Athlete, 2003, 2013)
• Glamor Award for The Athlete (2009)
• Teen Choice Award (Best Female Tennis Player (2010, 2012, 2014)
• Laureus World Sports Award for this year (2010,2016, 2018)
• Espy Awards (Best Female Tennis Player, 2015-2017)
• Sports Person Of The Year (2015)
• BET Award for this year’s female athlete (2015-2017)
• Shorty Award for Best in Sports (2018)

Introduction

Robert Pattinson is an English professional actor with an estimated net worth of $100 Million. 

Pattinson is best known for starring in movies such as Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Twilight. The Twilight franchise consisted of five films released between 2008 and 2012, which collectively grossed over $3.3 billion worldwide.

Quick Facts

• Earned an estimated $91 million from the Twilight franchise
• Signed a three-year, $12 million endorsement deal with Dior Homme (2012)
• Still works with the brand to this day
• Paid $5.3 million for a 2,725-square-foot Los Angeles home (2022)
• His films have grossed almost $6 billion at the global box office

Film Salaries

Twilight Saga Earnings

Pattinson was paid just $2 million for the first Twilight movie in 2008. His salary then increased to $12 million for The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009). Pattinson negotiated a deal for a percentage of the backend profits for the two Breaking Dawn films. He was paid a $12.5 million upfront salary per film. After the backend was considered, he’s estimated to have earned $37 million for Breaking Dawn: Part 1 and $42 million for Breaking Dawn: Part 2. That would bring his total earnings from the franchise up to $91 million.

Other Notable Film Salaries

His other notable film salaries include $1.5 million for Water for Elephants (2011) and $3 million for The Batman (2022).

Dior Homme Endorsement Deal

In October 2012, Robert Pattinson signed a lucrative three-year, $12 million endorsement deal with Dior Homme, earning him $4 million per year. Midway through 2013, he was unveiled as the face of Dior Homme, and according to reports, the campaign contributed to a 35% increase in the brand’s sales. 

Pattinson continued working with Dior as an ambassador for several years after the initial contract concluded; however, the financial details of this deal were never publicly disclosed. His role evolved from cologne campaigns into menswear, and reportedly still works with the brand at the time of writing.

Highest-Grossing Movies

Pattinson has been involved with several enormous franchises throughout his career. His highest-grossing film is Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005), which grossed $897 million on a $150 million budget. Pattinson’s role in The Twilight Saga contributed to five of his ten highest-grossing films, with Breaking Dawn—Part 2 performing the best, grossing $849 million. Part 1 grossed $712 million, followed by New Moon at $711 million, and Eclipse with $699 million. The original 2008 film grossed $408 million at the box office but only cost $37 million to produce.

The Batman (2022) sits in between the two Breaking Dawn films, having grossed $772 million worldwide. Other notable films to make Pattinson’s top ten include Tenet ($365 million), The Boy and the Heron ($174 million), and Water for Elephants ($117 million).

Here’s a complete list of Robert Pattinson’s ten highest-grossing movies:

1. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – $897 Million (2005)
2. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 – $849 Million (2012)
3. The Batman – $772 Million (2022)
4. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 – $712 Million (2011)
5. The Twilight Saga: New Moon – $711 Million (2009)
6. The Twilight Saga: Eclipse – $699 Million (2010)
7. Twilight – $408 Million (2008)
8. Tenet – $365 Million (2020)
9. The Boy and the Heron – $174 Million (2023)
10. Water for Elephants – $117 Million (2011)

Real Estate

In October 2014, Robert Pattinson paid $2.18 million, which was $380,000 over the asking price, for a 1,940-square-foot, two-bedroom, two-bathroom home in Los Angeles, California. The property is a single-storey home located on Woodrow Wilson Drive. Pattinson sold the property for $3 million in October 2023.

In June 2022, a year before selling his old home, Pattinson paid $5.3 million for a 2,725-square-foot, three-bedroom, four-bathroom property in Los Angeles. The home’s exterior is concealed by tall hedges for privacy. Based on professional estimates, it’s currently valued at just $5.1 million.

Introduction

Weird Al Yankovic is an American professional singer-songwriter, record producer, actor, and comedian with an estimated net worth of $20 Million. 

With a career spanning five decades, Weird Al has released fourteen studio albums and sold at least 12 million albums globally. He’s earned millions of dollars primarily through album royalties, streaming royalties, live performances, and endorsement deals. 

Quick Facts

• Sold over 12 million albums worldwide
• Turned down a $5 million beer endorsement due to ethical reasons
• Filed a $5 million breach of contract lawsuit against Sony Music Group
• Paid $2 million for a 6,914-square-foot home in California.

Endorsements

Not one to be bought easily, Yankovic has been very selective about endorsements and brand deals throughout his career. He has maintained a reputation for carefully choosing partnerships that align with his values and the expectations of his audience, considering the ethical implications of associating with certain products over financial gain.

In 1990, one such instance of this was when Yankovic made headlines for turning down a $5 million paycheck from a beer company to be their commercial spokesperson because he felt it would be unethical to promote alcohol to his fans, as many were underage and impressionable. To put that into perspective, $5 million in 1990 would be equivalent to nearly $11.6 million today, taking into account inflation and changes in purchasing power over the past three decades.

Aside from that, not much else is known about Yankovic’s choice of endorsements and brand deals, as he’s mainly chosen to keep that side of his career private and out of the limelight.

Sony Music Group Lawsuit

In 2012, Yankovic filed a lawsuit against Sony Music Group through his company, Ear Booker Enterprise, claiming $5 million for breach of contract, underpayment of royalties, and other dishonest business practices.

The suit claimed that Sony Music Group had not been distributing Yankovic’s royalties correctly, paying them as a straight royalty instead of a percentage of revenue. This meant that the royalties were defined as sales instead of licenses, meaning Yankovic stood to lose nearly $2 million. He was only receiving about 15 percent of the shared income, instead of the 50 percent agreed upon in their contract.

Additionally, the suit claimed that Yankovic was owed a share of Sony’s equity from their licensing deal with Google, which he helped them obtain. The deal allowed them to show Yankovic’s music videos on YouTube, estimated to be worth approximately $2.5 million in revenue. This, along with royalty miscalculations, is why the lawsuit sought $5 million in damages.

Yankovic settled the lawsuit privately, out of court, in 2013 for an undisclosed amount. The specific terms were not publicly revealed.

Real Estate

In 2001, Weird Al paid $2 million for a 6,914-square-foot, four-bedroom, four-bathroom home in Los Angeles, California. He’s now owned the house for more than two decades and, according to public records, pays roughly $33,000 per year in property taxes. The perceived value from the tax assessor is $2.9 million. However, Zillow estimates the home to be worth roughly $5.4 million.

Highlights

Here are some of the best highlights of Weird Al Yankovic’s career: 

• Dare to Be Stupid (Comedy Record, 1986) 
• Off the Deep End (1992) 
• White & Nerdy (2006) 
• The Hamilton Polka Online (Song, 2018)