Roger Federer is the world's highest-paid athlete for the first time ever. Here's how he earned $106 million last year.

Tom Murray,Taylor Nicole RogersJun 5, 2020, 23:37 IST

Roger Federer of Switzerland poses for a photo on the black court at La Rotonde ahead of The Laver Cup Press Conference on February 08, 2019 in Geneva, Switzerland. (Photo by Christopher Lee/Getty Images for The Laver Cup)Christopher Lee / Getty Images for The Laver Cup

Roger Federer earned $106.3 million in pretax earnings over the last year, making him the highest-paid athlete in the world, according to Forbes.
This is the first time Federer has taken the top spot.
Most of Federer's wealth did not come directly from tennis. The majority of his earnings come from lucrative sponsorship deals with the likes of Rolex, Mercedes, and Uniqlo.
The tennis star won his first Grand Slam at Wimbledon in 2003 — his first of a record 20 Grand Slam singles titles.

Roger Federer is not only one of the most talented athletes on the planet, but also the most profitable.

Between winning the Wimbledon men's singles tournament eight times since 2003, as well as 20 total Grand Slam singles titles all over the world, Federer turned his tournament trophies into lucrative sponsorship deals. The 38-year-old earned $106.3 million from professional wins and sponsorship deals between June 2019 and May 2020, making him the highest-paid athlete in the world during that time period, according to Forbes.

That figure is likely to only go up, as the Swiss star signed a $300 million sponsorship deal with Japanese clothing brand Uniqlo in July 2018.

From tailored tennis rackets to Swiss mansions, here's how Federer makes and spends his fortune.

This is an updated version of a post originally written by Edith Hancock published on January 31, 2017.

This is 38-year-old Roger Federer, the highest-paid tennis player in the world.

Tennis player Roger Federer holds his awards for Laureus World Comeback of the Year 2018 and Laureus World Sportsman of the Year 2018 during the Laureus World Sports Awards 2018 at Salle des Etoiles, Sporting Monte-Carlo on February 27, 2018 in Monaco, Monaco. Boris Streubel / Getty Images for Laureus

As of March 16, Federer is ranked fourth in the men's singles tennis ATP world rankings.

Roger Federer of Switzerland returns the ball to Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany during their match at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Monday, Feb. 25, 2019. AP Photo / Kamran Jebreili

He hasn't been too interested in his rankings in recent years, though. "For me, the ranking, at 37 years old, is no longer really the priority," Federer said at a media event in 2019.

Getty Images

He hasn't been too interested in his rankings in recent years, though. "For me, the ranking, at 37 years old, is no longer really the priority," Federer said at a media event in 2019.

His success trails back to the age of eight, when he started playing tennis. Born in Basel, Switzerland, on August 8, 1981, his Swiss father, Robert Federer, and South African mother, Lynette Du Rand, encouraged him to play from an early age.

Getty Images

His success trails back to the age of eight, when he started playing tennis. Born in Basel, Switzerland, on August 8, 1981, his Swiss father, Robert Federer, and South African mother, Lynette Du Rand, encouraged him to play from an early age.

At 14, Federer became the national junior champion in Switzerland. He joined the junior tennis circuit in 1996 and won the junior Wimbledon title in 1998.

In this photo from Wimbledon 2000, Federer is 19 years old. Getty Images

Federer's big break came in 2003, when he won his first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon against runner-up Mark Philippoussis. He was just 21 at the time. He received £575,000 ($714,460) for his victory.

Reuters photographer/Reuters

Federer's big break came in 2003, when he won his first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon against runner-up Mark Philippoussis. He was just 21 at the time. He received £575,000 ($714,460) for his victory.

One year later, he signed a sponsorship deal with watchmaker Maurice Lacroix. Later, Rolex struck an endorsement deal with Federer worth a reported $15 million.

Federer wearing an impossible-to-find, $14,000 Rolex Sky-Dweller in 2018. Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

The majority of the $106.3 million Federer made over the last year is from endorsement deals and partnerships. He won $3 million in prize money from tennis tournaments in the first half of 2019 alone, bringing his career total prize winnings to more than $123 million.

Getty Images

The majority of the $106.3 million Federer made over the last year is from endorsement deals and partnerships. He won $3 million in prize money from tennis tournaments in the first half of 2019 alone, bringing his career total prize winnings to more than $123 million.

In 2007, he was signed by Gillette, starring in a number of ads for the company.

A man holds a Gillette razor. Federer not pictured. Koy_Hipster / Shutterstock.com

In 2008, Federer signed a 10-year sponsorship deal with Nike worth almost $120 million. The partnership ended in March 2018.

Toby Melville/Reuters

Federer made headlines in 2018 when he swapped Nike for Uniqlo in a 10-year deal estimated to be worth $300 million. The deal with the Japanese brand had been "a long time coming," Federer said at Wimbledon 2018.

Roger Federer of Switzerland celebrates match point against Lukas Lacko of Slovakia during their Men's Singles second round match on day three of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 4, 2018 in London, England. Clive Mason / Getty Images

Federer made headlines in 2018 when he swapped Nike for Uniqlo in a 10-year deal estimated to be worth $300 million. The deal with the Japanese brand had been "a long time coming," Federer said at Wimbledon 2018.

In a 2019 Uniqlo ad, Federer tried his hand at the piano and said he'd like to practice more so he can surprise his wife.

YouTube / Uniqlo

Uniqlo wasn't Federer's first 10-year contract. In 2009, he signed one with Credit Suisse. The firm declined to comment on the contract's value at the time, but it's thought to be worth around $20 million.

Getty Images

Uniqlo wasn't Federer's first 10-year contract. In 2009, he signed one with Credit Suisse. The firm declined to comment on the contract's value at the time, but it's thought to be worth around $20 million.

The player is also known for his charity work. He founded the Roger Federer Foundation in 2003, which has since raised $40 million and hit its goal of educating one million children in Africa by the end of 2018. He still finds time to visit children who benefit from his charity.

In this handout photo provided by the Roger Federer Foundation, World tennis number one Roger Federer poses with local school children during his visit to a school funded by his charity on February 12, 2010 in Kore Roba, Ethiopia. Federer was on a one-day visit to see the work carried out by the Roger Federer Foundation. Federer founded the foundation in 2003 which currently focuses on helping disadvantaged children in his mother's home country of South Africa. Roger Federer Foundation via Getty images

The player is also known for his charity work. He founded the Roger Federer Foundation in 2003, which has since raised $40 million and hit its goal of educating one million children in Africa by the end of 2018. He still finds time to visit children who benefit from his charity.

As a dedicated athlete, Federer spends a lot of money on his equipment. He has his rackets made by P1, a company which also counts Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray as clients.

Susanne Plunkett/Reuters

As a dedicated athlete, Federer spends a lot of money on his equipment. He has his rackets made by P1, a company which also counts Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray as clients.

He likes the finer things in life, too. In 2014, Federer completed construction on a modern-looking mansion on Lake Zurich worth around $8.1 million.

Stars News/Youtube

Thanks to his role as a brand ambassador for Mercedes-Benz, Federer also has a large car collection. He partnered with the German automaker in 2008 and renewed the deal in 2018. The multiyear partnership is estimated to earn the tennis star $5 million a year.

Federer won a brand new CLS 450 4MATIC Coupé $76,000 at the MercedesCup in Stuttgart, Germany, in 2018. Thomas Starke / Getty Images

Thanks to his role as a brand ambassador for Mercedes-Benz, Federer also has a large car collection. He partnered with the German automaker in 2008 and renewed the deal in 2018. The multiyear partnership is estimated to earn the tennis star $5 million a year.

When he's not on the court, Federer is a keen hiker. In 2018, he appeared on "Running Wild with Bear Grylls." "Just slightly upset that he beat me at mini ping-pong on the top of the cliff face," Grylls said.

The biggest match of Federer's career? Ben Simms / NBC / NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

When he's not on the court, Federer is a keen hiker. In 2018, he appeared on "Running Wild with Bear Grylls." "Just slightly upset that he beat me at mini ping-pong on the top of the cliff face," Grylls said.

That's not to say the athlete doesn't like to party in his downtime. He's an ambassador for Moët & Chandon champagne, which released a limited-edition bottle to mark his 20th year in professional tennis in 2018. The 20 bottles made sold for $23,000 a pop — but all the proceeds went to the Roger Federer Foundation.

Roger Federer, winner of ATPWorldTour.com Fans' Favourite Award for the 16th consecutive year, at the Nitto ATP Finals Official Launch presented by Moet & Chandon at London's iconic Houses of Parliament on November 9, 2018 in London, England Clive Brunskill / Getty Images

That's not to say the athlete doesn't like to party in his downtime. He's an ambassador for Moët & Chandon champagne, which released a limited-edition bottle to mark his 20th year in professional tennis in 2018. The 20 bottles made sold for $23,000 a pop — but all the proceeds went to the Roger Federer Foundation.

After winning his eighth Wimbledon title in 2017, Federer complained of a "head-ringing" hangover the day after: "[I] got to bed at 5 a.m., then woke up, and just didn't feel good. The last hour or so I'm somewhat okay again. I'm happy with that."

Getty Images

After winning his eighth Wimbledon title in 2017, Federer complained of a "head-ringing" hangover the day after: "[I] got to bed at 5 a.m., then woke up, and just didn't feel good. The last hour or so I'm somewhat okay again. I'm happy with that."

When Federer goes out for dinner, variety is clearly the spice of life. "I am a lover of Italian, Japanese, and Indian restaurants," he said in 2018.

Harold Cunningham/Getty Images

Some of his fortune also funded his wedding to former professional tennis player Mirka Vavrinec in Basel, Switzerland. The pair had their first kiss at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and married in 2009.

Here they are at the wedding of Kate Middleton's sister Pippa Middleton and James Matthews in 2017. Max Mumby / Indigo / Getty Images

Some of his fortune also funded his wedding to former professional tennis player Mirka Vavrinec in Basel, Switzerland. The pair had their first kiss at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and married in 2009.

They have two sets of twins together. Daughters Charleyne Riva and Myla Rose are 10, while sons Lenny and Leo are six.

Mirka Federer wife of Roger Federer watches her husband take part in the annual Kids Tennis Day also watched by his four children Myla Rose Federer,Charlene Riva Federer,Lenny Federer and Leo Federer during Tennis Australia's Kids Day ahead of the 2018 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 13, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. Clive Brunskill / Getty Images

His wife is his source of fashion advice. "I used to wear jogging shoes, jeans, and a practice shirt, then when Mirka met me, she would look and go, 'Errr, are you sure about this look?'" Federer told GQ in 2018.

Roger Federer and Mirka Federer attend the "Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art Of The In-Between" Costume Institute Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 1, 2017 in New York City. Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images

His wife is his source of fashion advice. "I used to wear jogging shoes, jeans, and a practice shirt, then when Mirka met me, she would look and go, 'Errr, are you sure about this look?'" Federer told GQ in 2018.

Federer's self-professed worst fashion mistake came when he won Wimbledon in 2007.

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Now 38, Federer has taken some time to consider his retirement. In 2018, he told a Swiss newspaper that he has bought "an old bus from the '60s," which he plans to drive around Europe once he has some spare time.

Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Now 38, Federer has taken some time to consider his retirement. In 2018, he told a Swiss newspaper that he has bought "an old bus from the '60s," which he plans to drive around Europe once he has some spare time.

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Roger Federer is the world's highest-paid athlete for the first time ever. Here's how he earned $106 million last year.

This is 38-year-old Roger Federer, the highest-paid tennis player in the world.

As of March 16, Federer is ranked fourth in the men's singles tennis ATP world rankings.

He hasn't been too interested in his rankings in recent years, though. "For me, the ranking, at 37 years old, is no longer really the priority," Federer said at a media event in 2019.

His success trails back to the age of eight, when he started playing tennis. Born in Basel, Switzerland, on August 8, 1981, his Swiss father, Robert Federer, and South African mother, Lynette Du Rand, encouraged him to play from an early age.

At 14, Federer became the national junior champion in Switzerland. He joined the junior tennis circuit in 1996 and won the junior Wimbledon title in 1998.

Federer's big break came in 2003, when he won his first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon against runner-up Mark Philippoussis. He was just 21 at the time. He received £575,000 ($714,460) for his victory.

One year later, he signed a sponsorship deal with watchmaker Maurice Lacroix. Later, Rolex struck an endorsement deal with Federer worth a reported $15 million.

The majority of the $106.3 million Federer made over the last year is from endorsement deals and partnerships. He won $3 million in prize money from tennis tournaments in the first half of 2019 alone, bringing his career total prize winnings to more than $123 million.

In 2007, he was signed by Gillette, starring in a number of ads for the company.

In 2008, Federer signed a 10-year sponsorship deal with Nike worth almost $120 million. The partnership ended in March 2018.

Federer made headlines in 2018 when he swapped Nike for Uniqlo in a 10-year deal estimated to be worth $300 million. The deal with the Japanese brand had been "a long time coming," Federer said at Wimbledon 2018.

In a 2019 Uniqlo ad, Federer tried his hand at the piano and said he'd like to practice more so he can surprise his wife.

Uniqlo wasn't Federer's first 10-year contract. In 2009, he signed one with Credit Suisse. The firm declined to comment on the contract's value at the time, but it's thought to be worth around $20 million.

The player is also known for his charity work. He founded the Roger Federer Foundation in 2003, which has since raised $40 million and hit its goal of educating one million children in Africa by the end of 2018. He still finds time to visit children who benefit from his charity.

As a dedicated athlete, Federer spends a lot of money on his equipment. He has his rackets made by P1, a company which also counts Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray as clients.

He likes the finer things in life, too. In 2014, Federer completed construction on a modern-looking mansion on Lake Zurich worth around $8.1 million.

Thanks to his role as a brand ambassador for Mercedes-Benz, Federer also has a large car collection. He partnered with the German automaker in 2008 and renewed the deal in 2018. The multiyear partnership is estimated to earn the tennis star $5 million a year.

When he's not on the court, Federer is a keen hiker. In 2018, he appeared on "Running Wild with Bear Grylls." "Just slightly upset that he beat me at mini ping-pong on the top of the cliff face," Grylls said.

After winning his eighth Wimbledon title in 2017, Federer complained of a "head-ringing" hangover the day after: "[I] got to bed at 5 a.m., then woke up, and just didn't feel good. The last hour or so I'm somewhat okay again. I'm happy with that."

When Federer goes out for dinner, variety is clearly the spice of life. "I am a lover of Italian, Japanese, and Indian restaurants," he said in 2018.

Some of his fortune also funded his wedding to former professional tennis player Mirka Vavrinec in Basel, Switzerland. The pair had their first kiss at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and married in 2009.

They have two sets of twins together. Daughters Charleyne Riva and Myla Rose are 10, while sons Lenny and Leo are six.

His wife is his source of fashion advice. "I used to wear jogging shoes, jeans, and a practice shirt, then when Mirka met me, she would look and go, 'Errr, are you sure about this look?'" Federer told GQ in 2018.

Federer's self-professed worst fashion mistake came when he won Wimbledon in 2007.

Now 38, Federer has taken some time to consider his retirement. In 2018, he told a Swiss newspaper that he has bought "an old bus from the '60s," which he plans to drive around Europe once he has some spare time.