Michael Jordan, Cristiano Ronaldo, Tiger Woods, Roger Federer – what do these names have in common? Yes, they’re aces in their respective sports, earning millions by winning match after match, game after game, tournament after tournament. But their true wealth lies in pursuits off the court. It’s not common for a sportsperson to become a billionaire, but we may already have a name lined up to join Roger Federer in the tennis billionaires’ list – Carlos Alcaraz.

Career as an athlete ends in your 30s, or 40s at a stretch, on average for most sports. After a certain point, your body rebels against playing a high level of, say, tennis with a grueling schedule that takes you around the world. And there is always fresh blood waiting in the wings. Take Alcaraz’s example, who is termed Rafael Nadal‘s protegee, given their common nationality as well as dominance on clay. But veering off from, or rather adding to Big 3’s legacy in a different way, Alcaraz is raking in numbers on the charts as well as his bank account.

The latest list by Forbes compiling the highest-paid players in tennis easily crowns the 2024 Wimbledon champion at the top. With an estimate of $10.3 million from on-court adventures and $32 million from off-court pursuits, the young Spaniard is roughly earning $42.3 million currently. In his heyday, especially beginning from 2007 to his retirement in 2022, Federer was the top earner in tennis.

Not only was he playing at the highest level, the Swiss maestro knew how to make the best of opportunities he could find for endorsements. When he had a deal with Nike, the brand was reportedly clear on how tennis players could not earn as much as basketball or soccer players. But Federer wanted to explore, and then came Uniqlo, and he parted ways with Nike. Looking for a show brand, Federer came upon ON Running, a Swiss brand to lend his name.

Uniqlo offered him a 10-year, $30 million deal that allowed Federer to earn even after he retired. With ON, he bought 3% of the company in an equity deal, at a time when ON was reaching its peak. And so began the process that made Federer a billionaire. What about Alcaraz now?

Apart from his tournament prize money, including two Grand Slams and an Indian Wells trophy in 2024, the young Spaniard has signed multiple brand deals. LVMH, Rolex, BMW, Babolat, Calvin Klein, and ISDIN are just the beginning, with Nike taking the lead now (unlike for Federer, might we add). Alcaraz will reportedly earn more than $10 million every year with the sports apparel giant, with the original deal signed in 2019 and renewed in 2023.

Keeping in mind that Alcaraz turned 21 on May 5, he is already doing better than most of his peers. Federer is retired and still earning around $90 million each year. With Nadal’s twilight in tennis fast approaching, even the Spanish veteran can fall behind in the earnings list. Alcaraz, on the other hand, is only just beginning, and Nike is ready to help him conquer the world.

Nike backs Carlos Alcaraz with custom logo, following in Federer and Nadal’s footsteps

The little ‘RF’ or that bull on Federer and Nadal’s gear is unforgettable. Next, it’s Carlos Alcaraz’s turn! First reported by the Spanish journal Relevo, the deal will see Nike create a custom logo for Alcaraz, which is apparently being designed currently.

The deal is valued at $15-$20M annually and is more than appropriate for the youngest player to win Grand Slams on three different surfaces. The original deal in 2019 was supposed to see Nike x Alcaraz till 2025, but the extension is reported to be in place till the 2030s at least. It’s similar to Jannik Sinner’s 10-year, $158 million deal, sans the personalized logo of course.

The terms of the deal might not be crystal clear just yet but what’s starting to look increasingly possible is that Alcaraz might very well become the next billionaire in tennis. Federer’s team knew how to get him situated where, and now it’s Alcraraz’s team’s turn. What do you think about the Spaniard’s future prospects? Let us know in the comments.