Devendra KumarOn Thursday morning, Forbes released the list of the world’s highest paid female athletes 2024. 2024 is considered a great year for female athletes. According to the Forbes, the 20-year-old Coco Gauff’s tennis star is estimated to earn $34.4 million, which is considered a great year for a female athlete.
Nelly Korda has earned the most money earned by a female golfer in the last 17 years. She earned a total of $12.5 million this year on the LPGA Tour. Thai golfer Jeeno Thitikul won a check of $4 million at the CME Group Tour Championship, which is the biggest prize ever for a female golfer.
Female athletes receive fewer brand endorsements than male athletes, whether on or off the field. In 2024, female athletes earned around $191 million off the field, while male athletes earned $624 million. Of the 20 athletes on Forbes’ list of Highest Paid Female Athletes, 17 are under the age of 30, with the average age being 26.
“Forbes” list of World’s Highest-Paid Female Athletes 2024
| Rank | Athlete | Earnings (in million $) | Sport | Nationality | Age | On-Field Earnings (in million $) | Off-Field Earnings (in million $) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coco Gauff | 34.4 | Tennis | U.S. | 20 | 9.4 | 25.0 |
| 2 | Iga Świątek | 23.8 | Tennis | Poland | 23 | 8.8 | 15.0 |
| 3 | Eileen Gu | 22.1 | Freestyle skiing | China | 21 | 0.1 | 22.0 |
| 4 | Qinwen Zheng | 20.6 | Tennis | China | 22 | 5.6 | 15.0 |
| 5 | Aryna Sabalenka | 18.7 | Tennis | Belarus | 26 | 9.7 | 9.0 |
| 6 | Naomi Osaka | 12.9 | Tennis | Japan | 27 | 0.9 | 12.0 |
| 6 | Emma Raducanu | 12.9 | Tennis | U.K. | 22 | 0.9 | 12.0 |
| 8 | Nelly Korda | 12.5 | Golf | U.S. | 26 | 4.5 | 8.0 |
| 9 | Venus Williams | 12.1 | Tennis | U.S. | 44 | 0.1 | 12.0 |
| 10 | Simone Biles | 11.2 | Gymnastics | U.S. | 27 | 0.2 | 11.0 |
| 11 | Jessica Pegula | 10.2 | Tennis | U.S. | 30 | 4.2 | 6.0 |
| 12 | Jeeno Thitikul | 9.3 | Golf | Thailand | 21 | 7.3 | 2.0 |
| 13 | Caitlin Clark | 8.1 | Basketball | U.S. | 22 | 0.1 | 8.0 |
| 14 | Jasmine Paolini | 8.0 | Tennis | Italy | 28 | 6.5 | 1.5 |
| 15 | Elena Rybakina | 7.9 | Tennis | Kazakhstan | 25 | 3.9 | 4.0 |
| 16 | Alex Morgan | 7.6 | Soccer | U.S. | 35 | 0.6 | 7.0 |
| 17 | P.V. Sindhu | 7.1 | Badminton | India | 29 | 0.1 | 7.0 |
| 18 | Leylah Fernandez | 6.5 | Tennis | Canada | 22 | 1.5 | 5.0 |
| 19 | Sabrina Ionescu | 6.3 | Basketball | U.S. | 27 | 0.3 | 6.0 |
| 20 | Lydia Ko | 6.3 | Golf | New Zealand | 27 | 3.3 | 3.0 |
Earnings Gap Between Male and Female Athletes
The earnings gap between male and female athletes remains a significant issue in the world of sports, arising from factors such as media representation, marketing potential, and sponsorship opportunities. On the field, female athletes often face significant differences in prize money and pay compared to men. For example, women at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup earned only 25 cents for every dollar compared to the previous men’s World Cup. Furthermore, in team sports such as basketball and soccer, female athletes earn only a small fraction of what men earn.
Off the field, endorsement opportunities further exacerbate this gap, where male athletes secure higher-paying deals due to marketability and greater media visibility. Despite progress in equal prize money in some sports such as tennis, women’s sports still do not receive the same level of commercial support and visibility. Addressing these inequalities will require continued efforts to increase the visibility of female athletes, promote them, and ensure equal pay in the industry.
Record-Breaking Year for Female Athlete Earnings
Several factors have driven a significant increase in female athlete earnings in 2024, signalling a shift in the landscape of women’s sports. Improved media coverage has been a key factor, with the visibility of women’s sports tripling since 2019. For example, during the Paris 2024 Olympics, women’s events in Australia received more media mentions than men’s events, reflecting the growing recognition of female athletes.
Increasing sponsorship deals have further fuelled this growth, such as Caitlin Clark’s eight-year deal with Wilson and a $28 million contract with Nike, which highlight the commercial potential of women’s sports. Revenue from women’s elite sports is projected to increase to over $1 billion in 2024, driven by broadcast rights and commercial partnerships, such as the WNBA’s $2.2 billion media rights deal.
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In addition, cultural shifts, including investment by celebrities and prominent figures, have increased financial resources and visibility for female athletes. Together, these factors point to a promising future for gender equality in sports, although challenges in pay equality still exist.
Final Through
The 2024 earnings of female athletes highlight significant progress, with a record number surpassing $10 million in earnings. However, despite this progress, the overall compensation gap between male and female athletes remains substantial, primarily due to fewer and lower-paying endorsement opportunities for women. As women’s sports continue to see increased investment and media deals, there is hope that this gap will narrow, paving the way for greater financial equality in the future.
Devendra Kumar
