What do the names Michael Jordan, Roger Federer, Tiger Woods, and Cristiano Ronaldo have in common? Indeed, they are the best in their respective sports, taking home millions of dollars from victories in tournament after tournament, game after game, and match after match. Their off-court endeavours are where their real wealth is found. In the world of sports, billionaires are uncommon, but Carlos Alcaraz might be the man in line to replace Roger Federer in the game.
For the majority of sports, your athletic career finishes in your 30s or perhaps 40s. Your body starts to revolt against playing at a high level, say, tennis with an intense schedule that takes you all over the world beyond a certain point. Furthermore, new blood is constantly ready to replace you. Consider Alcaraz, who is referred to as Rafael Nadal’s protegee due to their same nationality and supremacy on clay. Moving away from the Big 3’s legacy, but rather contributing to it in a different way, Alcaraz is making a tonne of money for both his bank account and the charts.
Easily crowned at the top of Forbes’ most recent ranking of tennis players with the highest salaries is the 2024 Wimbledon winner. With an approximate income of $10.3 million from on-court activities and $32 million from off-court endeavours, the youthful Spaniard is presently making approximately $42.3 million. During his peak, particularly from 2007 until his retirement in 2022, Roger Federer was the most paid tennis player.
The Swiss maestro was not only performing at the greatest level, but he also knew how to take advantage of any sponsorship chances that came his way. According to reports, during his contract with Nike, the company made it plain that tennis players couldn’t make as much money as basketball or soccer players. Federer left Nike because he wanted to explore, then Uniqlo came along after. Federer discovered On Running, a Swiss company, when searching for a show brand to endorse.
A $30 million, ten-year contract from Uniqlo enabled him to continue making money even after he retired. At the height of On’s growth, he entered into an equity transaction with the firm to purchase 3% of its shares. And thus started the journey that turned Federer into a billionaire. Now, what about Alcaraz?
Apart from winning two Grand Slams and an Indian Wells championship in 2024, the young Spaniard has inked several brand deals in addition to his tournament prize money. Nike is leading the pack, with LVMH, Rolex, BMW, Babolat, Calvin Klein, and ISDIN just behind (unlike for Federer, might we add). Alcaraz’s contract with the sports clothing business is expected to pay him $10 million annually; it was signed in 2019 and will be renewed in 2023.
Remember that Alcaraz turned 21 on May 5 and is already outperforming the majority of his contemporaries. Even though he is retired, Roger Federer still makes almost $90 million annually. Even the seasoned Spanish player Nadal may lag behind in the standings as his tennis twilight draws near. However, Alcaraz is only getting started, and Nike is prepared to support him as he takes on the globe.
Nike supports Carlos Alcaraz by creating a unique logo, imitating Federer and Nadal.
It’s hard to overlook the little “RF” or that bull on Federer’s and Nadal’s equipment, respectively. Carlos Alcaraz is next in line! According to the Spanish publication Relevo, the agreement calls for Nike to design a unique emblem for Alcaraz, which is reportedly in the process of being done.
The $15–$20 million a year contract is more than justified for the youngest player to win Grand Slams on three distinct playing surfaces. The agreement between Nike and Alcaraz was initially set to last until 2025, but it appears that it will extend at least until the 2030s. It’s comparable to Jannik Sinner’s $158 million and ten years, minus the customised logo, of course.
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