Naomi Osaka continues her winning streak.
Forbes just released its list of highest-paid female athletes, and once again, the rising tennis superstar tops the list. The outlet reports that Naomi Osaka brought home nearly $60 million in 2021, more than every other female athlete on the list.
The list also includes Serena Williams, who took the runner-up spot with a cozy $45.9 million in take-home pay.
And according to the outlet, their handsome salaries are due to a new — and exciting — trend of capital infusion in female sports. More than any other year prior, sports insiders are saying that women’s sports are being taken seriously as money-makers. And this also means that other female athletes in different sports are also beginning to dominate the field.
“New money and new sponsors are pouring into women’s sports; it’s just that the dollars are being spread among more athletes and finding their way into new leagues. For the first time in at least a dozen years, a gymnast (Simone Biles, No. 4 with $10.1 million) and a basketball player (Candace Parker, No. 10 with $5.7 million) rank among the highest-paid women,” reports the outlet.
What’s more, Forbes reports that Naomi Osaka has made the money she’s made thanks to the money she’s made off the court, not just on it. Nearly all of her nearly $60 million in earnings comes from a diverse, and robust, investment portfolio, and she’s had more than 10 brand partnerships in 2021 alone.
“The tennis ace had a bit of a tougher time on the court in 2021, falling to 13th in the women’s rankings and crashing out of the Tokyo Olympics in the third round, but she did capture her fourth Grand Slam title, at the Australian Open in February,” explains the outlet.
Congratulations are in order, once again, to Naomi Osaka!
What Are Some of Naomi Osaka's Investments?
AfroTech has been sharing all of Naomi Osaka’s wins for years. One of her first investments was in a premium sake brand. She then invested in a soccer team and became a Louis Vuitton brand ambassador.
She followed that up with an investment in Sweetgreen and a partnership with a dermatologist in Ghana for a melanated skincare line.
Naomi Osaka followed that up with a seat on the Met Gala committee, and the release of her own Barbie doll (which sold out within hours of its release). Then, like many celebrities, she released a line of NFTs, and invested in StatusPRO alongside the likes of LeBron James.
Her most recent success involved releasing a gender-neutral line with longtime collaborators, Nike.
