‘Don’t Think Owning Your House Is the American Dream’- Venus Williams’ ‘Controversial’ Claim Showcases Her True Attitude Towards Money

When it comes to money, Venus Williams knows what she’s doing! The 44-year-old has a net worth of $12.2 million, as per Forbes, which includes $200,000 in salary/winnings, and a staggering $12 million in endorsements. Despite reducing her time on tennis courts these days, the star is still an attractive figure for lucrative deals—she is/was reportedly sponsored by brands like Nestle, Unilever, Reebok, among others—and founded EleVen (an apparel brand) and V Starr (an interior designing firm). So it’s only natural that the tennis icon will have the best financial advice to dish, albeit some she herself considers “controversial”…

The American sensation engaged in an interview with Vivian Tu for the Richer Lives by SoFi podcast. The two deliberated on a wide range of topics, including Williams’ life on and off the court and her plans for the future. During the podcast, the 44-year-old also opened up on the giant American dream of owning a house. 

Speaking in the interview, Williams said that owning a house is not the American dream. Yes, you heard that right. “I don’t think owning your house is the American dream. You should own the house when you have done everything else. Once you’ve invested your money, once it is working for you, then maybe buy the house,” Williams stated. Elaborating on her idea, she highlighted how the money can be used differently. 

“Instead of putting that $100,000, $200,000 on that down payment, should you just rent a place and invest that money? You should compare the returns,” Venus Williams added. Interestingly, this particular idea of Williams also depicts the reality of American society. In a survey conducted by researchers at Minnesota State University, Mankato, on around 500 baby boomers and millennials about their idea of success and the American dream, varied results were observed. 

While having a home was the most popular response among the boomers, it was only the third most accepted aspect for the millennials. For the younger generation, the priority was to have a family, followed by having opportunities and reaching goals. Similar results were observed in a Bankrate survey where 88% of the boomers agreed that owning a home was the ideal definition of success, but this number was less among the youth. 

The reason behind these changing ideas is mostly material. There is a shortage that has been witnessed in terms of supply rather than demand, thereby increasing the prices of the properties and making it difficult for the new generation to make a decision. Hence, while Williams’ ideas might not be well accepted among the older population and they resonate better with what the younger generation tends to believe. Interestingly, this was not the only interesting take of Williams in the interview.

What did Venus Williams unveil about her retirement?

Venus Williams’ recent absence from the tennis courts has sparked major questions about her career. However, the star player has continued to depict her love for the sport and has dished out rumors about her retirement. Her latest take is similar, as she left the fans hanging with her candid response. 

When quizzed about her career ahead in the same interview, Williams gave a positive response. “Will I ever retire? I don’t think completely,” she shared. This year, the seven-time Grand Slam champion has participated in only two events: the Indian Wells Masters and the Miami Open, where she experienced first round exits—a 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 loss to qualifier Nao Hibino at the Indian Wells in March this year and a 6-3, 6-3 loss to Diana Shnaider at the Miami Open that same month.  

Continuing further, she highlighted her plans ahead. “I think there is so much fun to be had in life and work because challenge is a beautiful thing. And I think I will find different challenges over time working with people and teaching them tennis where there are young people or working as a mentor for professional tennis players or athletes,” she added.

For now, it would be interesting to see if Williams can make a return on the courts anytime soon and prove her dominance yet again.