How Maria Sharapova built a $220 million fortune beyond tennis
Tennis champion Maria Sharapova has successfully transitioned into a business owner and investor, building a $220 million fortune through endorsements and ventures like Sugarpova. Her career path highlights the strategic use of personal branding to create long-term commercial success.
Why it matters
It serves as a case study for how professional athletes can leverage their public profile to build sustainable business portfolios beyond their primary sport.
Maria Sharapova’s financial journey didn’t end when she retired from professional tennis in 2020. The five-time Grand Slam champion had already amassed a large commercial profile during her playing career, with endorsements and business ventures supplementing her tennis earnings. Sharapova made $325 million before taxes during her career, which included endorsement income, Forbes reported.The most obvious example of her leap into entrepreneurship was her candy company, Sugarpova, which she founded in 2012. The venture gave Sharapova hands-on experience in branding, product development and business operations, and established the foundation for her later investing activities.Maria Sharapova built her $220 million fortune beyond tennis successSharapova has built her wealth not just from professional tennis, but from a number of different income streams.
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