Venus Williams: 2024 net worth, stats, salary, and more

Who is Venus Williams? 

Venus Williams, considered one of the greatest tennis players in history, has secured three Olympic women's doubles titles. As the elder sister of Serena Williams., she made history by becoming the first to achieve the singles and doubles 'double' at Sydney 2000, a feat her sibling replicated 12 years later.

Venus Williams’s early life

Venus Williams was born in Lynwood, California, on June 17, 1980. She picked up a tennis racket under the tutelage of their father, Richard Williams in Compton, California. He began coaching Venus when she was four years old. Even before her and her sister's birth, Richard had meticulously crafted an 85-page plan to transform his daughters into tennis stars. His inspiration stemmed from watching Virginia Ruzici play on TV and earn a significant sum, which led him to choose tennis as their path to success.

Venus Williams's talents shone through at the age of seven when Tony Chesta, a local professional tennis player, spotted her and promptly recognized her potential in the sport. Venus, along with her family, moved to Florida to train under coach Rick Macci, who was the first professional coach for both Williams sisters.

Venus was withdrawn from the junior circuit along with her sister by their father, Richard Williams. Richard reasoned that the girls were young and should also focus on having fun and going to school, instead of just tennis. He was also focused on safeguarding his daughters from racial abuse, having heard several parents on the circuit disparaging his daughters.

Her father's words stuck with Venus as she went on to attain two degrees. Venus received her associate degree in fashion design from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale in 2007. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Indiana University East in 2015.

Venus Williams’s boyfriend

The tennis champion is currently single. However, there were rumors that she was dating Nicholas Hammond, a successful financier and an heir to the Annenberg family fortune. But, Venus never publicly confirmed the relationship. The two had been spotted together on several occasions. There were reports that the two ended their relationship in 2019.

Venus Williams's net worth 2024

Venus, a seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, has a net worth of over $12 million. Back in 2019, she was the 10th highest-paid female athlete in the world, earning $5.9 million, of which $5 million came in endorsements. As per her official WTA page at the time, Williams earned a massive sum of $42,513,897.

Venus Williams’s career

Venus embarked on her professional career at the tender age of 14. By the time she was 17, in 1997, she made history as the first unseeded player in the Open Era to advance to a Grand Slam final, reaching the US Open final, although she was ultimately defeated by Switzerland’s Martina Hingis.

The year 2000 marked a monumental achievement for Venus as she secured her first Grand Slam titles, triumphing at Wimbledon and then the US Open, where she bested fellow American Lindsay Davenport on both occasions.

Shortly after her triumph in New York, Venus traveled to Sydney, where she clinched Olympic gold in the women’s singles final by defeating Russia’s Elena Dementieva with a score of 6-2, 6-4.

The subsequent day, she partnered with Serena for the women’s doubles final, and the sisters dominated the Dutch pair Kristie Boogert and Miriam Oremans, securing victory in just 49 minutes with a score of 6-1, 6-1. With this, Venus became the first woman since Helen Wills Moody in 1924 to claim gold in both singles and doubles events at the same Games.

In February 2002, Venus ascended to the world No. 1 ranking, setting the stage for a remarkable series of four consecutive Grand Slam finals against her sister Serena, beginning from the 2002 French Open to the 2003 Australian Open.

Despite encountering a series of injuries that disrupted her career, Venus established her dominance at Wimbledon, clinching the title a total of five times. Her final victory at the prestigious tournament came in 2008, where she defeated Serena in the final. Following their singles showdown, the sisters teamed up on Centre Court to secure a record 14th Grand Slam doubles title together.

In 2008, the Williams sisters also clinched their second Olympic gold medal in tennis doubles, this time in Beijing. The following year, they faced off again in the Wimbledon finals, with Serena emerging victorious.

In the subsequent years, Venus's performance saw a decline, although in 2016 she secured her 49th tournament win. She did not make a Grand Slam singles final appearance again until the 2017 Australian Open, where she faced defeat against Serena. Later that year, Venus reached the Wimbledon finals but was ultimately defeated.

Venus Williams’s partnerships and endorsements

When Venus was 15 years old in 1995, she secured her first endorsement deal with Reebok. In 2000, she signed yet another five-year agreement with the company for a reported $40 million. Throughout her illustrious career, she has collaborated with various brands including American Express, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Stitch Fix, Wilson, Tide, Kraft, Ralph Lauren, and Lacoste, among many others.

Venus Williams’s investments

In 2006, Venus founded the clothing company EleVen, just four years after launching the interior design firm V Starr, which designed homes including those of her sister and her husband in South Florida. Continuing her journey as a successful businesswoman, Venus expanded her ventures by founding the plant-based superfood nutrition company called Happy Viking in 2020. She is also an investor in Ellevest, an online investment resource, and holds a stake in the NFL team the Miami Dolphins.

In 2023, she invested in LA Golf Club, becoming the first part-owners announced for the revolutionary golf league founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy

Venus Williams’s Records

• First African-American woman to achieve the World No. 1 ranking in tennis


• The first player ranked outside the top 50 to reach the US Open final in 1997, joining Pam Shriver in 1978 as one of only two women to accomplish this feat on their first attempt


• One of two women, alongside sister Serena, to win four Olympic gold medals in tennis


• One of two players, male or female, to win five Olympic medals, achieving this in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, sharing both records with Kathleen McKane Godfree


• The only player to win an Olympic medal in four different editions of the Games


• Holds the record for the most appearances in Grand Slam singles draws, totaling 80


• Achieved the Wimbledon title in 2007 as the lowest-ranked (31st) and lowest-seeded (23rd) woman ever to win the tournament


• Held the record for the fastest serve by a woman, clocking in at 129mph, for seven years until Sabine Lisicki broke it in 2014

Venus Williams’s major achievement and awards

Awards:

1995

• Sports Image Foundation Award for conducting tennis clinics in low-income areas

1997

• WTA Newcomer of the Year


• September's Olympic Committee Female Athlete

1998

• Tennis Magazine's Most Improved Player

2000

• WTA Player of the Year


• WTA Doubles Team of the Year (with Serena Williams)


• Sports Illustrated for Women's Sportswoman of the Year


• Teen Choice Awards ”“ Extraordinary Achievement Award


• Forbes The Celebrity 100 (No.62)


• Women's Sports Foundation Sportswoman of the Year for team sports (with Serena Williams)

2001

• Best Female Tennis Player ESPY Award


• EMMA Best Sport Personality Award


• Forbes The Celebrity 100 (No.57)

2002

• Best Female Athlete ESPY Award


• Best Female Tennis Player ESPY Award


• Forbes The Celebrity 100 (No.60)

2003

• The President's Award of the 34th NAACP Image Awards


• Forbes The Celebrity 100 (No.65)

2004

• Harris Poll Top 10 Favorite Female Sports Star (No.1)


• Forbes The Celebrity 100 (No.77)

2005

• Glamour Magazine's Women of the Year Award


• Forbes The Celebrity 100 (No.81)


• Harris Poll Top 10 Favorite Female Sports Star (No.3)

2006

• Best Female Tennis Player ESPY Award


• BET's Best Female Athlete of the Year


• Harris Poll Top 10 Favorite Female Sports Star (No.1)


• Forbes The Celebrity 100 (No.90)

2007

• Gitanjali Diamond Award


• Harris Poll Top 10 Favorite Female Sports Star (No.3)


• Vogue Magazine Top 10 Best Dressed List for 2007

2008

• Whirlpool 6th Sense Player of the Year Award


• Harris Poll Top 10 Favorite Female Sports Star (No.3)


• Anti-Defamation League Americanism Award


• Whirlpool 6th Sense Player of the Year Award


• ITF Women's Doubles World Champion (with Serena Williams)


• WTA Doubles Team of the Year (with Serena Williams)


• WTA Fan Favorite Doubles Team of the Year (with Serena Williams)


• Doha 21st Century Leaders Awards ”“ Outstanding Leadership


• Forbes The Celebrity 100 (No.77)


• Harris Poll Top 10 Favorite Female Sports Star (No.2)

2010

• Caesars Tennis Classic Achievement Award


• Forbes The Celebrity 100 (No.83)


• YWCA GLA Phenomenal Woman of the Year Award


• WTA Fan Favorite Doubles Team of the Year (with Serena Williams)


• Forbes 30 Utterly Inspiring Role Models


• Forbes 100 Most Powerful Women in the World (No.60)


• Harris Poll Top 10 Favorite Female Sports Star (No.2)

2011

• Forbes The Celebrity 100 (No.86)


• TIME Magazine 30 Legends of Women's Tennis


• Forbes Most Powerful Black Women In The U.S. (No.10)


• Harris Poll Top 10 Favorite Female Sports Star (No.2)

2012

• World TeamTennis Finals Most Valuable Player


• WTA Player Service Award


• WTA Fan Favorite Doubles Team of the Year (with Serena Williams)

2013

• BET Black Girls Rock! Star Power Award


• Harris Poll Top 10 Favorite Female Sports Star (No.3)

2014

• Harris Poll Top 10 Favorite Female Sports Star (No.3)


• WTA Fan Favorite Dress (2014 Wimbledon)


• Tennis Magazine Top 10 Matches of 2014 No.3 (2014 Wimbledon 3rd Round)


• ESPN Tennis Top 10 Women's Matches of 2014 No.3 (2014 Wimbledon 3rd Round)

Venus Williams’s charity and foundation

Venus Williams has not founded any charities on her own. However, she supports charities such as the American Heart Association, Elton John AIDS Foundation, Serena Williams Fund, Great Ormond Street Hospital, and The Truth Heart, among others.

Venus Williams was also one of the main members who made a concerted effort to preserve the late Nina Simone's legacy. Williams launched an online auction that aimed to raise enough money to ensure that the childhood house of Simone was not destroyed.

Venus Williams’s social media accounts

• Active on social media

Personal Information