Top-earning men’s tennis players of all time
Simon M Bruty // Getty Images
Top-earning men’s tennis players of all time
Roger Federer at Wimbledon 2022
Which men’s tennis players have won the most money? With one of the top-earners of all time, Roger Federer, retiring, Stacker has ranked the 25 top-earning men’s players in history based on data compiled by the ATP Tour. Career earnings totals are current as of Aug. 1, 2022, though they don’t include endorsement income, which can be as much as their prize winnings.
The top of the list should come as no surprise. The Big Three—Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer—have reigned over the sport for many years. No other player has earned even half as much as any of them. And their $421 million in earnings exceeds the next 12 players’ winnings combined. They have also won an astonishing 63 Grand Slam tournaments (the four “majors”: Australian, French, Wimbledon, U.S. Open).
Several factors make an apples-to-apples comparison challenging. First, some of these pros’ careers lasted much longer than others, allowing them to earn far more money. For example, Andy Roddick only played singles for 12 years, while Roger Federer doubled that. Second, these earnings totals are not adjusted for inflation. For example, Stefan Edberg’s $20 million in the 1980s and 1990s was worth far more than John Isner’s $21 million since 2007. But we still think you’ll love the service of seeing this data set.
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#25. Stefan Edberg
Stefan Edberg of Sweden playing in the final of the Men’s Singles Tennis competition of the 1984 Summer Olympic Games
– Career earnings: $20,613,441
– Turned professional: 1983
– Country: Sweden
Edberg is the only Scandinavian player among our top 25 earners. Fellow Swede Bjorn Borg was far more accomplished, with 11 Grand Slam wins compared to Edberg’s six, but hit his prime a decade earlier when purses were much less lucrative.
William Manning // Getty Images
#24. Andy Roddick
Andy Roddick (USA) returning a serve back to Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG) in the third round of the 2005 ATP Masters Series in Cincinnati
– Career earnings: $20,640,030
– Turned professional: 2000
– Country: United States
Roddick was the last American man to win a Grand Slam event (the 2003 U.S. Open) and the last American ranked #1 for the year (also in 2003). He was only 20 that year and seemed headed for greatness, but only made four other Grand Slam finals—each time losing to Roger Federer.
Vincent Laforet // Getty Images
#23. Lleyton Hewitt
Lleyton Hewitt returning the ball during the 1999 Mercedes – Benz Cup match against Alex O”Brien at the UCLA Tennis Court in Westwood, California
– Career earnings: $20,889,965
– Turned professional: 1998
– Country: Australia
In 2001, the lone Aussie on the list became the youngest pro, at 20, to achieve a #1 ranking. That was the same year he won the U.S. Open. But, except for a Wimbledon win the following year, Hewitt never did any better during an 18-year career (22 years if you count doubles).
Icon Sportswire // Getty Images
#22. Gaël Monfils
Gael Monfils (FRA) returning the ball during the third round of the ATP National Bank Open match on August 11, 2022 at IGA Stadium in Montreal, QC
– Career earnings: $20,890,958
– Turned professional: 2004
– Country: France
France’s top player has never made it to a Grand Slam final, but consistency landed him on this list. Monfils has played in at least one ATP tournament final every year since 2005 and has won 11. His parents both immigrated to France from Caribbean countries, and his father was a pro soccer player.
Jean-Yves Ruszniewski // Getty Images
#21. Ivan Lendl
Ivan Lendl hitting a forehand return in a tennis match at the 1982 French Open
– Career earnings: $21,262,417
– Turned professional: 1978
– Country: United States
Lendl is the only tennis star on our list who played in the ’70s when purses were far slimmer, and his eight majors triumphs still put him well shy of the 20 to 22 won by the Big Three. But his pioneering of the inside-out forehand changed the sport and helped him win consistently; no other player has won more than 90% of their matches in five different years.
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Kevin C. Cox // Getty Images
#20. John Isner
John Isner returning a backhand to Jenson Brooksby during the Atlanta Open at Atlantic Station on July 29, 2022
– Career earnings: $21,455,192
– Turned professional: 2007
– Country: United States
Benefiting from his 6-foot-10 height, Isner has been one of the sport’s most powerful servers. He’s never made a Grand Slam final, but he broke the all-time record for aces at 2022 Wimbledon. Wimbledon is also the site of his most talked-about performance ever—the longest Grand Slam match ever played, a win over fellow serving ace Nicolas Mahut in 2010 when the 70-68 final set stretched the match to more than 11 hours over the course of three days.
Minas Panagiotakis // Getty Images
#19. Grigor Dimitrov
Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria hitting a return against Alexis Galarneau of Canada during day 4 of the National Bank Open at Stade IGA on August 9, 2022 in Montreal, Canada
– Career earnings: $21,498,490
– Turned professional: 2008
– Country: Bulgaria
Dimitrov made this list despite never making a Grand Slam final due to consistent play; his current streak of 46 straight Grand Slam appearances leads all male pros. The 6-foot-3, 31-year-old became the first Bulgarian player to qualify for and win the ATP Finals in 2017.
John Berry // Getty Images
#18. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France during day 3 of the French Open 2022
– Career earnings: $22,458,018
– Turned professional: 2004
– Country: France
By the time he retired after the 2022 French Open, Tsonga established himself as one of France’s greatest in the sport. He made just one Grand Slam final, the 2008 Australian Open, but has made at least the quarterfinal round in all four majors and is one of only three men to have beaten the Big Three at majors. Tsonga is the son of a Congolese father and French mother.
Pierre Lahalle // Getty Images
#17. Yevgeny Kafelnikov
Yevgeny Kafelnikov from Russia during the final of the men’s singles at the 2000 Olympics
– Career earnings: $23,883,797
– Turned professional: 1992
– Country: Russia
This 1996 French Open, 1999 Australian Open, and 2000 Olympic singles champion has been busier in retirement than he was during his 11-year pro tennis career. Since 2003, the Renaissance man Kafelnikov has been a pro golfer, pro poker player, and tennis coach.
DOMINICK REUTER // Getty Images
#16. Daniil Medvedev
Daniil Medvedev of Russia reacting to his point against Dominik Koepfer of Germany in their Round Four Men’s Singles tennis match during the 2019 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York
– Career earnings: $24,151,740
– Turned professional: 2014
– Country: Russia
This 2021 U.S. Open champion will surely move up on this list because he’s only 26 and is currently ranked #1 in the world. Medvedev came oh-so-close to winning his second major at the 2022 Australian Open, only to be beaten by Rafael Nadal (2-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5) in the second-longest match in majors history.
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#15. Kei Nishikori
Kei Nishikori of Team Japan hitting a forehand during his Men’s Singles First Round match against Andrey Rublev of Team ROC on day two of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Tennis Park
– Career earnings: $25,065,492
– Turned professional: 2007
– Country: Japan
Nishikori is the only Asian player to make this list, although the WTA features Japanese superstar Naomi Osaka. Besides becoming the first Asian man to reach a majors final (2014 U.S. Open), he has proven to be stellar in the clutch, winning 27 of his 34 five-set matches—a record 79.4% winning percentage.
Bob Martin // Getty Images
#14. Boris Becker
Boris Becker of Germany diving to make a return during the Men’s Singles semifinal of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championship against Goran Ivanisevic on July 1, 1994
– Career earnings: $25,080,956
– Turned professional: 1984
– Country: Germany
Sadly, Becker’s life trajectory is further proof that money and fame aren’t everything. He was a teen sensation, winning six majors between the ages of 17 and 28 (including Wimbledon three times) and attained a #1 ranking. But in April 2022, he was sentenced by a British court to serve two and a half years in prison for hiding assets related to his 2017 bankruptcy.
Clive Brunskill // Getty Images
#13. Juan MartÃn del Potro
Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina celebrating winning a point during the men’s singles gold medal match against Andy Murray of Great Britain
– Career earnings: $25,896,046
– Turned professional: 2005
– Country: Argentina
Del Potro’s moment in the sun came at the 2009 U.S. Open when he beat Nadal and Federer in succession. That made him the only winner of a major who wasn’t one of the Big Three between 2005 and 2012. Injuries since his glorious 2009 season have caused him to say he will likely retire in 2022.
Matthew Stockman // Getty Images
#12. Dominic Thiem
Dominic Thiem of Austria returning a volley during his Men’s Singles quarterfinals match against Alex de Minaur of Australia on Day Ten of the 2020 US Open
– Career earnings: $29,059,949
– Turned professional: 2011
– Country: Austria
Fourth time’s the charm? Thiem lost consecutive French Open finals to Nadal in 2018 and 2019 and the Australian Open final in a five-set loss to Djokovic in 2020. But he finally broke through by winning the U.S. Open title over Alexander Zverev, coming back from a two-set deficit.
Julian Finney // Getty Images
#11. Tomáš Berdych
Tomas Berdych of The Czech Republic playing a backhand during the Men’s Singles first round match against Ivan Dodig of Croatia on day two of the 2016 Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships
– Career earnings: $29,491,328
– Turned professional: 2002
– Country: Czech Republic
Here’s your Berdych checklist: Grand Slam finalist (a 2010 Wimbledon loss to Nadal after defeating Federer and Djokovic)? Check. A career-high #4 ranking in 2015? Check. Method of payment? Check. Nationality? Czech.
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Clive Brunskill // Getty Images
#10. Marin Čilić
Marin Cilic of Croatia serving in his second round match against Joao Sousa of Portugal on day three of the 2018 Australian Open
– Career earnings: $30,588,972
– Turned professional: 2005
– Country: Croatia
This winner of the 2014 U.S. Open and runner-up at the 2017 Wimbledon and 2018 Australian Open (both times losing to Federer) has been ranked as high as third in the world in 2018. Čilić also won the Olympic silver medal in doubles with Ivan Dodig for his native Croatia at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Jean-Yves Ruszniewski // Getty Images
#9. Andre Agassi
Andre Agassi playing in 1988
– Career earnings: $31,152,975
– Turned professional: 1986
– Country: United States
Agassi famously wrote in his 2010 memoir, “Open”: “I hate tennis…and always have.” Maybe so, but fans loved watching the eight-time Grand Slam champion play. And he apparently didn’t mind the income as his net worth has more than doubled since he began investing in resorts and other businesses with his wife and fellow retired tennis star Steffi Graf.
Alex Pantling // Getty Images
#8. David Ferrer
David Ferrer of Spain serving in his match against Roberto Bautista Agusta during day four of the Mutua Madrid Open
– Career earnings: $31,483,911
– Turned professional: 2000
– Country: Spain
Ferrer played in the shadow of fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal for almost his entire 18-year career, but he beat him occasionally. That pattern also held up in his only majors final at the 2013 French Open, when Ferrer lost to the “King of Clay,” 6-3, 6-2, 6-3.
Clive Brunskill // Getty Images
#7. Alexander Zverev
Alexander Zverev of Germany celebrating a point against Team World Kevin Anderson of South Africa during their Men’s Singles match on day three of the 2018 Laver Cup
– Career earnings: $32,407,055
– Turned professional: 2013
– Country: Germany
At only 25 years old, Zverev has taken full advantage of increasingly generous purses in tennis, earning more than every player but the Big Three and three others since he started winning tournaments in his teens. The 2020 U.S. Open winner has earned even more than accomplished countryman Daniil Medvedev, #1 in the world to Zverev’s #2 ranking as of August 2022.
Adam Pretty // Getty Images
#6. Stan Wawrinka
Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland playing a backhand during mens singles semi-final match against Andy Murray of Great Britain on day 13 of the 2017 French Open
– Career earnings: $35,058,754
– Turned professional: 2002
– Country: Switzerland
Just as David Ferrer spent a career in the shadow of fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal, this three-time Grand Slam winner has toiled in the shadow of fellow Swiss citizen Roger Federer. Federer is nearly four years older but has won nearly $100 million more, so it doesn’t appear that Wawrinka will catch up in career winnings. But the Swiss people should be proud that their nation of less than 9 million has two players among the top six earners in the world.
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#5. Pete Sampras
Pete Sampras of the United States making a back hand return to Jim Courier during their Men’s Singles Semi Final match of the 1992 United States Open Tennis Championship
– Career earnings: $43,280,489
– Turned professional: 1988
– Country: United States
Only the Big Three have won more Grand Slam titles than Sampras. His 14 between 1990 and 2002—including 7 Wimbledons and 5 U.S. Opens—make him America’s GOAT in tennis. The only man who came close to matching him, Andre Agassi, lost to Sampras in Sampras’ last major match—the 2002 U.S. Open finals, where Sampras became the only player to ever win the final major at which he competed.
Dan Mullan // Getty Images
#4. Andy Murray
Andy Murray of Great Britain reacting during the Mens Singles Final against John Isner of the United States on day seven of the BNP Paribas Masters
– Career earnings: $62,913,301
– Turned professional: 2005
– Country: Great Britain
The Big Three were once the Big Four, but Murray—despite being younger than Federer and Nadal and the same age as Djokovic—hasn’t been close to their level since 2019 due to constant hip pain. The Scot won three Grand Slam titles, including two Wimbledons in front of wildly cheering British fans, but lost eight—every one of them to either Djokovic or Federer.
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#3. Roger Federer
Roger Federer of Switzerland in action against Marin Cilic of Croatia during the Gentlemen’s Singles final of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships
– Career earnings: $130,594,339
– Turned professional: 1998
– Country: Switzerland
The eldest of the Big Three is 41, and finally announced his retirement in September 2022 after a career spanning 24 years. With 20 Grand Slam titles, rivals Nadal (22) and Djokovic (21) have overtaken him, but many still consider him to be the GOAT of men’s tennis. He is also a promoter of the sport and Switzerland, which he promotes as a brand ambassador.
Clive Brunskill // Getty Images
#2. Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrating a point against Albert Ramos-Vinolas of Spain in the final on day eight of the Monte Carlo Rolex Masters
– Career earnings: $131,338,131
– Turned professional: 2001
– Country: Spain
“Rafa” is beloved everywhere he goes, especially in Spain. His hustling style is ideally suited to clay courts, leading to his unfathomable 14 French Open wins, but he’s also won each of the other three majors at least twice, proving his mettle on any surface. Though Djokovic holds the top spot for career cash winnings, Nadal has the most Grand Slam wins with 22, beating Djokovic by one.
Matthew Stockman // Getty Images
#1. Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic of Serbis celebrating his win over Roger Federer of Switzerland during the men’s final of the Western & Southern Open
– Career earnings: $158,996,253
– Turned professional: 2003
– Country: Serbia
Djokovic is the all-time biggest earner in tennis. He has earned the most money by a margin of $27 million over runner-up Nadal, but has won the second-most majors with 21. Any further earnings and majors wins, however, may be limited by Djokovic’s refusal to be vaccinated against COVID-19, which has already cost him his participation at the 2022 Australian Open.
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